Wedding Entrance Dance

Here's just another reason I'm happy to be moving to the great state of Minnesota. This video had only 133,000 views yesterday, and now it has 1,613,000. Wow - SO much fun :)

Kangaroo Millionaire by Marc Hrisko

This is a short excerpt from chapter 1 of the soon to be released Kangaroo Millionaire by Marc Hrisko.

"There are 6.6 billion people on planet earth, but only 10 million of them are millionaires. Do the math. That means that 99.99851% of the people who live on the planet have never made a million dollars. Does this make them failures? Of course not; that's ridiculous. But it does mean that 99.99851% of the advice you will ever receive about making a million dollars is coming from people who've never done it themselves. Could they get lucky and give you some useful advice? Perhaps. Even a stopped clock is right two times a day. So sure, that's possible.

But the more likely scenario is that they will simply regurgitate something they heard in college, or on TV, or read somewhere that was written by someone who doesn't know what it takes to create massive wealth."

The Sedona Method: Your Key to Lasting Happiness, Success, Peace and Emotional Well-being

I've been reading the Sedona Method over the last several weeks. I usually try and read books a little quicker, but for some reason, I haven't made much progress on it. That said, I don't think it's something you should read in a day anyway. The process itself is something that will take a little while to get used to using on a daily/hourly basis, but I do REALLY recommend making the time to at least learn the ins and outs of the method. It's all about releasing your thoughts and emotions and letting go of them, not suppressing them (the two are very different!)

Here are a few key thoughts and ideas from the method that I certainly think are worth noting:

Hale Dwoskin begins to explain the method in a very simple, physical way. Here's how he begins on page 36: "Pick up a pen, a pencil, or some small object that you would be willing to drop without giving it a second thought. Now, hold it in front of you and really grip it tightly Pretend this is one of your limiting feelings and that your hand represents your gut or your consciousness. If you held the object long enough, this would start to feel uncomfortable yet familiar. Now open your hand and roll the object around it it. Notice that you are the one holding on to it; it is not attached to your hand. The same is true with your feelings, too. Your feelings are as attached to you as this object is attached to your hand. We hold onto feelings and forget that we are holding on to them." So, this is the difference between saying "I AM sad." or "I FEEL sad." If you can start by separating yourself from the feeling, you've already taken your first step towards releasing. Make sense? At least a little bit?

It's also recommended to release and let go of your good feelings. This seems a little odd, but as Dwoskin says, you should "make room throughout your day for the posibility of gains, and stay open to the unexpected."

Lester Levenson, the father of the Sedona method, used to call the method the "bottoms-up method" - this explanation may help you understand it a little further. He says that what you may consider a peak experience right now will eventually become where you bottom out. Imagine a day when the best feelings you can imagine, are the lowest feelings you could ever feel b/c you're capable of an even higher level of happiness than you currently know today.

OK - since I'm still reading the book, I'll leave my thoughts here for now, and write more later. Visit www.sedona.com to learn more.

Kait

Tweets for Treats in NYC!

Check this out!

Decorating Ideas

Here are some of the design ideas I like, and images I pulled from HGTV.com. I'm trying to decorate my apt. without spending much money and for a pretty small space! I think a trip to Hobby Lobby is in order soon :)

Happynews.com

A few months ago, I vowed to never watch the news again.

Now, I still stay up to date on things by reading headlines and eavesdropping mostly, but why inundate yourself? Several of my mentors have recommended this tactic (Timothy Ferriss, Rhonda Byrne, etc) and quite frankly, I'm recommending it to you. This tiny little step (or skipped step) in your day will certainly bring you more happiness - why focus on the world's trials and tribulations? Stop giving your attention to the bad, and focus on the good. Who ever really turns off the news and feels better about going to bed? The news used to be my reminder to lock the doors at night, and nothing more.

This is all a little crazy for me considering I was a journalism major, but our society simply focuses on the negative, and I think it's time for a change.

If you must take in some news (I recommend it in spare amounts) try web sites that focus on the positive, like http://Happynews.com - what an inspiring web site! With great stories, columns, videos, quotes and more, this site will certainly leave you feeling a little bit better about the world than when you first approached the site.

Check it out. Laugh a little. Inspire yourself. After all, who couldn't use a little inspiration in times like these?

"Happy people plan actions, they don't plan results." - Dennis Wholey

Free Rich Dad Training!

Attend a free seminar near you! Get started with like-minded individuals, network and get your foot in the door!! Click here to find a class near YOU!

The Accidental Billionaires...

Accidental or not, we could all learn to at least think like the two men (boys) that revolutionized the face of networking. And believe you me, I'll be at the book store to pick this one up by the end of the week! It's a supposed tale of the two as undergrads and their path to creating the social media phenomenon, Facebook, now just another household name (and verb at times - i.e. "Facebook those pics!")

Ben Mezrich, the author, is a Harvard graduate himself and has published 9 other books.

Read more about Ben, and a few of the reviews of The Accidental Billionaires that have been written thus far. Remember, it was just released yesterday, July 14, so there's not much commentary yet.

Q&A with the author here

Happy Reading!

A Great Way to Start Your Financial Education

Rich Dad Poor Dad - What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money - That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not! by Robert Kiyosaki was the very first book that inspired me to go about working and investing a different way than what is ordinarily accepted in our consumer-debt driven society.

It's an easy read, and a great way to start seeing life from a different perspective. Check out my friend, Trevor's blog here to read a great review on the book's concepts and ideas.

And remember to take these books and ideas in as a guiding force, not as the "end all be all". The way you acheive your wealth will undoubtedly vary, but why not study from some of the best mentors out there?

When do you start making money as an employee?

So, I'm still working on one of Loral Langemeier's programs called Building Your Wealth Cycles. I will write more about it as I continue, but thought you may be interested in this little startling fact that she shares on pg. 29 of the workbook:

"If you're an employee, due to the amount of taxes you're required to pay, you actually don't start making money for yourself until May 10th...so, from January 1st to May 9th...all the money you earn goes to the government for taxes! May 10th is when you start earning money for yourself!"

Now for most of us, it's not a surprise that the government is taking so much of our earned income, but it is shocking when you think about it like this.

Visit http://www.wealthfoundation.com/ for more information. I highly recommend this program, as it is coupled with yet another program by Loral and Bob Proctor - another great mentor.

Onward & upward! Happy Tuesday :)

Generating a Cash Machine

I'm currently working to develop my very own cash machine. Have you ever thought to create one yourself? It's simple, really. You just consider the things that you do well, and turn those strengths into a cash-generating little hobby. For example, do you know how to play an instrument? Teach some little kids how to play. Chances are, parents don't want to spend a lot on their kids who maybe just want to dabble, and you can charge a fee that's less than what an established store/teacher might cost. BAM! So you make $20 extra/week - doesn't seem like much at first, but then again, who couldn't use $20 extra this week and next? Know how to tutor, take photos, design some brochures, babysit, write resumes, mow the lawn...? These things seem simple, but they're easy. And chances are you've got a couple great and overlooked skills up your sleeve. So, have at it - figure out what you can do, and put it to work for you.

I began learning how to develop my own cash machine in one of Loral Langemeier's books. Visit her web site here, and learn how she became financially independent years ago. It doesn't take a million dollar idea to make millions... stop thinking so hard, and just do!

Conspiracy of the Rich

So, I haven't blogged in awhile... from ending my last internship to graduating school and landing a 'real, grown-up' job, let's just say my time has been spent elsewhere. That said, I've taken a few weeks to get my life back in order, or at least it feels like it is. I'm back into a swing that I quite like, and am ready and focused on creating the best life for me.

• PartI: Exercise regularly. Check.
• PartII: Journal/write/blog on a daily basis. Check.
• PartIII: Read, and continue to learn. Check. Check. Check.

Unfortunately for PartIII, there's about 1 billiion things I'd like to be reading at once. On my current reading list:

1. The Sedona Method
2. The Law of Success
3. Eclipse (don't judge me)
4. The Life Guide
5. Conspiracy of the Rich

Number 5 is the one I'd like to currently discuss. It is available online, for FREE, and you can receive updates when new chapters are posted right to your email! I'm just getting started, but let it be known.. I already know that I will enjoy the teachings in this book. Robert Kiyosaki has much knowledge to offer, and if you have any interest in taking control of your financial situation TODAY, take a look at what's happening in the world around us.

Read it here.

Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco

So, I've signed up for my next running event with Team in Training (TNT) and couldn't be more excited!

I'm going to San Francisco in October and will be running the half marathon in the Nike Women's event. The best part of it all is that my mom and two sisters will be completing the race as well!

Each of us has pledged to raise at least $3,950 for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS), a total of nearly $16,000 between the four of us. Visit my web site to check on my progress, as I'll continue to update it as training begins as well.

Way to keep up, MonaVie!

Yesterday was the first day I've actually craved MonaVie. That's right. Craved it. I had forgotten to take it in the AM, and by the time I got home from work, I was more than ready for a glass of it. I just love the stuff!

Even more exciting, MonaVie will be introducing a new energy drink into the marketplace June 20, 2009. From what I understand, the product is 8.5oz., and will be $2.50 per can, and sold in cases of 28. It will be made of 8 ingredients, and leave you without the jitters of those other caffeinated beverages. How cool - I can't wait to try it. I'm not a big fan of energy drinks, but with a recipe similar to MonaVie juice, I'm sure this one will taste great! I'll let you know more, as soon as I learn more.

Make it a great day!

Give me back that filet o fish!

This just happens to be my favorite TV spot right now - McDonald's never fails me. Watch it here.

Thank you, BusinessWeek

I don't usually read each issue of BusinessWeek that arrives in the mailbox, but I do have a tendency to flip through and check the headlines (in the same manner many of you probably read the paper). It's not that I don't want to learn about what's going on in the world of business - I actually have quite an interest in it - which is why I subscribe to the publication in the first place. However, the stories lately only focus on the "failing economy", and similar stories of doom and gloom, and feelings I don't like to perpetuate...

That said, as I sat down for a short bike ride at the gym today and flipped through this issue, I found a wonderful opinion column on page 98 by Jack & Suzy Welch entitled, "Put Your Rage on the Back Burner". Consequently, I read on. It's a fabulous little piece that indirectly touches on the law of attraction (my favorite law). They say that 'rage begets only rage', i.e., like attracts like. That's right, you learned this in Chemistry, and have probably forgotten to continue applying it to the world you live in now. The best part of the entire story is a paragraph that states the following:

You can be sure, too, that legions of people out there aren't frightened by the economy. They're called entrepreneurs. And challenges don't make them surrender; they make them fierce.

This paragraph alone has planted a little seed in me to find those entrepreneurs, believers, yay-sayers, if you will. I'd like to learn their stories and write about them, and in turn will begin my own perpetuation of so-called 'happy thoughts'.

Fables & Fortune Hunters

If you haven't read The 4-Hour Work Week, you should. And if the title doesn't entice you all on it's own, here's one of my favorite little stories Timothy Ferriss includes-

An American businessman took a vacation to a small coastal Mexican village on doctor's orders. Unable to sleep after an urgent phone call from the office the first morning, he walked out to the pier to clear his head. A small boat with just one fisherman had docked, and inside the boat were several large yellowfin tuna. The American complimented the Mexican on the quality of his fish.

"How long did it take you to catch them?" the American asked.
"Only a little while," the Mexican relied in surprisingly good English.
"Why don't you stay out longer and catch more fish?" the American then asked.
"I have enough to support my family and give a few to friends," the Mexican said as he unloaded them into a basket.
"But...What do you do with the rest of your time?"

The Mexican looked up and smiled. "I sleep late, fish a little, play with my children, take a siesta with my wife, Julia, and stroll into the village each evening, where I sip wine and play guitar with my amigos. I have a full and busy life, senor.

The American laughed and stood tall. "Sir, I'm a Harvard M.B.A. and can help you. You should spend more time fishing, and with the proceeds, buy a bigger boat. In no time, you could buy several boats with the increased haul. Eventually, you would have a fleet of fishing boats."

He continued, "Instead of selling your catch to a middleman, you would sell directly to the consumers, eventually opening your own cannery. You would control the product, processing, and distribution. You would need to leave this small coastal fishing village, of course, and move to Mexico City, then to L.A., and eventually New York City, where you could run your expanding enterprise with proper management."

The Mexican fisherman asked, "But, senor, how long will all this take?" The which the American replied, "15-20 years. 25 tops." "But what then, senor?"

The American laughed and said, "That's the best part. When the time is right, you would announce an IPO and sell your company stock to the public an become very rich. You would make millions."

"Millions, senor? Then what?"

"Then you would retire and move to a small coastal fishing village, where you would sleep late, fish a little, play with your kids, take a siesta with your wife, and stroll to the village in the evenings where you could sip wine and play your guitar with your amigos..."

I'm not surprised.

Of course the value of the dollar is declining, and it's going to continue to decline as long as the government believes that printing more paper is going to solve our debt crisis. This isn't news folks. Everyone needs to pick up a book, and enhance their financial education. A little reading can go a long way. A few books on my list of future reads include: Guide to Investing in Gold and Silver, The Creature from Jekyll Island: A Second Look at the Federal Reserve, Crash Proof, and Rich Dad's Prophecy, just to name a few. Luckily for me, that boy keeps me updated on what's going on in the economy. Check out his blog here.

Check out a few recent news articles:
Dollar slides after US Fed plan
What the Fed's action means for you

The State of the Media: Not Good

Time magazine offers some quite negative, albeit realistic insight into the world of journalism, advertising, and the partnership of the two. Predictions about the state of this relationship have called for a downfall like this for years, which leads me to wonder if it's anything but a self-fulfilling prophecy. You decide. Take a look at http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1885349,00.html

Christian, the Lion

Thanks to the Today show, I was able to learn about Christian, the lion - a cat who was raised in the sixties/seventies by two New Yorkers and was later released into the wild of Africa. I'll be researching this more, and potentially writing about it for a class. In the meantime, check out the most recent story here.

A book worth reading

The Art of Possibility by Benjamin and Rosamund Zander is a good reminder about philosophies you know and understand inherently, but may have forgotten. My favorite chapter is entitled "Giving an A", and offers great advice for meeting new people. It's true that in the first seven seconds of meeting someone, you will form at least eleven thoughts about him/her subconsciously. It's known as the 7/11 rule in advertising. So, in an attempt to combat the judgments we knowingly/unknowingly form, the Zanders suggest that we give everyone we meet an 'A' grade. By automatically treating others as though they're 'A' students, and not discounting them based on our immediate judgments, we give them the benefit of the doubt, and create a more open environment in which to interact. Nevertheless, it's a great read. These lessons could be applied to any aspect of your life.

Calling for an optimistic approach

As graduation nears, it's hard to not get caught up in the stress of finding a job. Even I've let it get the best of me at times, but the search won't get me down anymore. I promise. It's a promise I've made to myself and refuse to break. It'd be nice if I didn't stand alone with my optimism though. I seem to be a lone soul in believing that the failing economy just isn't that bad. There. I said it. It's all in your head.

I think we all know the economy isn't ideal, but is it really grounds for perpetuating attitudes of doom and gloom? Do you not understand that you become what you believe? The world is jaded, and it's tiresome watching my peers excuse their in-actions by way of the economy. It's time to step up, and take responsibility for yourself. And I'll take responsibility for myself. If you continue to believe that there are no opportunities for you, inevitably, none will appear. It's not magic, it's just the power of thought; your thoughts. Let's make them positive together. Who knows? Maybe that's all we need.

And lastly, would it be too much for me to ask the bitter boomers to stop raining on our young, innocent parades? I may be naive, but I'm talented and prepared too. And if one more person tells me that I should take any job opportunity that I can get in 'this economy', rest be assured, your name will be taken. I am keeping track of you Negative Nancys, and writing a book about you, so someday you can read about my success, and start to believe in the power of optimistic thought yourself.

So here's to facing life with a new and improved optimistic approach.

I may be a dreamer, but I'm not the only one.

My mind branches and shoots..

For those of you who know me, you're well aware of how neat and tidy I keep my things [insert wink here]. Unfortunately/fortunately that's how my mind works as well. My days consist of an on-going series of random thoughts in which each new one hardly relates to the last. I recently finished Pilgrim at Tinker Creek by Annie Dillard. It was not my choice to read the novel as I'm still on MU's leash, but I did enjoy parts of it. Dillard says very eloquently that "[her] mind branches and shoots like a tree." And for that, I can relate. It's this very reason, that I've decided to finally blog - and this time it is for real, yo. It's challenging keeping track of all those journals, post-its and lists I have scattered about. So, here's to an honest attempt to keep track of my thoughts. Cheers!