- Work on your self-image. You don’t need years of expensive therapy to do this. You just need to picture yourself as a success in everything you do and it will have an impact on your behaviour. And once your behaviour changes – so does your life.
- Your response to setbacks is key: if you turn into a gibbering Mavis Reilly at the first hint of bad news, you’ll be forever trapped by your own limitations. If you learn from your mistakes with a smile on your face – you’ll be fine.
- Fearing failure is not a bad thing. It’s human and it’s healthy. You don’t need to banish this fear – you need to acknowledge it, respect it and work hard to overcome it. Understand the nature of fear and your attitude to risk will change. Once that happens, a whole new world of opportunities opens up.
- No pain, no gain. Stick to your guns no matter what happens. To achieve your goals you’ll have to take risks you never thought you could. And make painful decisions that will test you to the limit. But if you stick to it your learning curve will shoot up quicker than Apollo 11 – and your successes will increase exponentially.
- Train yourself to do things you would normally consider uncomfortable: like speaking out in meetings… presenting in front of large groups of people… and networking at work conferences and seminars. The idea here is that by making these “awkward” things seem like everyday occurrences, you lose the fear that would ordinarily stop you from pushing yourself to achieve.
- Live close to where you work – nothing drains you more than that life-sapping commute to the office. Some of us spend up to two hours a day pounding the dashboard in our cars… or cramming ourselves onto packed train carriages. Whereas if you could walk or cycle to the office in ten minutes you’d have so much more time to spend with the family, or chilling out at home – which makes you feel like you’re more in control of your day.
- Do what you love and love what you do. Your work needs to excite, motivate and inspire you – or there’s no point in doing it. Loving your work is one of the biggest contributory factors to living the rich life. And it’s easier to change jobs than you think. If you REALLY want it, make it happen.
- Love where you live – or move! Your home is your castle, your sanctuary; your domain. It needs to be a place where you relax, luxuriate, raise your family, grow as a person… it’s central to your quality of life. I’m not saying you have to OWN it – just that it needs to FEEL like home, whether you buy or rent. You’ll know right now if it does or not. And if it doesn’t – move. No ifs, no buts.
- Simple pleasures are within everyone’s reach. A good film, book, CD or painting can be enjoyed by everyone from a billionaire to a burger-flipper. Take the time to appreciate the art you like, knowing that your experience of it is not diminished by what’s written on your wage packet!
- You need at least 30 minutes of YOU time every day – this is key. You need to feel like you’re living for YOU sometimes. Not for your boss, your spouse or your kids. It’s not about being selfish. It’s about improving your sense of self-worth. So for 30 minutes EVERY day, luxuriate in your favourite chair… smoke a cigar… have a glass of your favourite single malt, or French red… put on your favourite record… read a good book or magazine… think about all that’s good in your world and be thankful for your blessings.
I hope the above will get you thinking about how easy it is for you – for ANYONE – to start living the rich life.
Remember: billionaires are EXACTLY the same as you and me. They eat, sleep, breathe, work, procreate, go to the lavatory… all of the things that you do. Just because they have more money than you and me, it doesn’t mean our experience of life has to be any poorer than theirs.