29 April 2015

Father To Son

Following is a letter to his son from a renowned Hong Kong TV broadcaster cum Child Psychologist. The words are actually applicable to all of us, young or old, children or parents. This applies to daughters too. All parents can use this in their teachings to their children.


Dear Son ,

I am writing this to you because of 3 reasons.....

1. Life, fortune and mishaps are unpredictable, nobody knows how long he lives. Some words are better said early.

2. I am your father, and if I don't tell you these, no one else will.
 
3. What is written is my own personal bitter experiences that perhaps could save you a lot of unnecessary heartaches. Remember the following as you go through life .....
  • Do not bear grudge towards those who are not good to you. No one has the responsibility of treating you well, except your mother and I. To those who are good to you, you have to treasure it and be thankful, and ALSO you have to be cautious, because, everyone has a motive for every move. When a person is good to you, it does not mean he really likes you. You have to be careful, don't hastily regard him as a real friend.  
  • No one is indispensable, nothing is in the world that you must possess. Once you understand this idea, it would be easier for you to go through life when people around you don't want you anymore, or when you lose what/who you love most.
  • Life is short. When you waste your life today, tomorrow you would find that life is leaving you. The earlier you treasure your life, the better you enjoy life.
  • Love is but a transient feeling, and this feeling would fade with time and with one's mood. If your so called loved one leaves you, be patient, time will wash away your aches and sadness.Don't over exaggerate the beauty and sweetness of love, and don't over exaggerate the sadness of falling out of love.
  • A lot of successful people did not receive a good education, that does not mean that you can be successful by not studying hard! Whatever knowledge you gain is your weapon in life. One can go from rags to riches, but one has to start from some rags!
  • I do not expect you to financially support me when I am old, neither would I financially support your whole life. My responsibility as a supporter ends when you are grown up. After that, you decide whether you want to travel in a public transport or in your limousine, whether rich or poor.
  • You honour your words, but don't expect others to be so. You can be good to people, but don't expect people to be good to you. If you don't understand this, you would end up with unnecessary troubles.
  • I have bought lotteries for umpteen years, but I could never strike any prize. That shows if you want to be rich, you have to work hard! There is no free lunch.
  • No matter how much time I have with you, let's treasure the time we have together. We do not know if we would meet again in our next life.

 Your Dad

13 April 2015

9 Things I Learned from Talking to 9 Millionaires

Jordan Fried is an Internet entrepreneur based in Budapest, Hungary. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a startup company called Buffered VPN. He’s also a CrossFit addict and personal development junkie.

I read this wonderful article written by him, where he is bang on target with his observations and advice. Reproducing it, word by word.


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When I began interviewing business leaders for my new podcast The Inbox Inspiration, I didn’t realize the impact it would have on me. Getting the opportunity to talk to dozens of successful, inspiring individuals has been nothing short of incredible.

Through our conversations, I got VIP access to some of their secrets and advice, what motivated them, what helped them to get where they are today.

Here are nine of their best success lessons (so far!), from them to me to you:

1. You are the sum of the five people you spend the most time with. My mom always used say, “Tell me who your friends are and I’ll tell you who you are.” And she was right on—because millionaires surround themselves with other millionaires.

If we really are the sum of the people we surround ourselves with, it’s so important to surround yourself with the right ones. Successful people are always networking with each other at events, conferences and mastermind groups.

2. Money in itself won’t make you happy. But money can buy you the freedom to do the things that can make you happy. True happiness comes from filling your time and your days with meaningful pursuits that you’re passionate about.

I’ve met rich people who are incredibly unhappy and poor people in Third World countries who are some of the happiest people I’ve ever encountered. The point is that it’s possible to be happy right now, whether you have $20 or $20 million. By being grateful for what you have, for being alive and for having this day, you’ll be more present and have better perspective.

3. “It’s not about the goal. It’s about becoming the type of person that can accomplish the goal,” the great Tony Robbins said. He probably knows what he’s talking about.

Most millionaires will tell you it’s not so much about making the money; it’s about growing as a person, growing your business to a point where it’s capable of making money. The journey is far more valuable than the destination.

And once you’ve arrived, the question becomes, Now what? That’s why it’s so important to enjoy the ride and be grateful for how far you’ve come and what you’ve achieved so far.

4. Get a mentor so you can get growing. Almost every successful person you ask will tell you they had a mentor at some point along the way.

Find someone you admire, look up to—someone who’s where you want to be—and ask them for guidance to help you improve who you are and what you want to become. With their advice, you’ll learn best practices, you’ll be challenged, you’ll be better prepared to succeed.

5. Like to learn. Every entrepreneur and successful person I’ve met is a lifelong learner. They understand the importance of constantly improving, constantly growing.

Driven people self-educate through books, audiotapes, online courses, seminars…. They’re determined to always learn new skills, to keep developing as a person—to never become stagnant. They never stop.

6. Two (or three or four) income sources are better than one. Millionaires know how to put their money and resources to work for them. And almost all of them have at least two more sources of income—investments in financial securities, real estate, angel investing, partnerships.

While multiple sources of income certainly help them increase their wealth, they are laser-focused on one income stream first then diversify once they’ve hit a level of stability.

7. Hate the gym? Well, learn to hate it a little less. Almost every millionaire I’ve interviewed has some sort of rigorous workout routine—weightlifting, marathons and triathlons, running. They’re elite in business and at the gym.

There’s a correlation between breaking down barriers in fitness and breaking them down in business and in your mind. They’re both about strength and confidence, discipline and commitment. Weak won’t cut it. So get workin’ on your fitness—and the rest will seem a little less daunting.

8. Read—a lot. I’ve yet to meet a millionaire who doesn’t do a lot of reading. And I’m not talking about Harry Potter or Hunger Games. I’m talking books with real, practical tips—for personal and professional growth, for people who want to constantly improve themselves and their businesses.

Books are a great way to learn from successful people who may have been where you are now and have something valuable to teach you. It’s like having some of the best business minds of our generation mentor you. Read a lot and read often.

9. Write down your experiences. You don’t have to blog to be a millionaire. But it wouldn’t hurt. A lot of successful people are getting their start from blogging.

It’s a powerful tool, because by documenting your journey and inspirations, you go through a sort of self-discovery, while also growing your reputation and business. If you’re not ready to share everything on a public blog, try keeping handwritten journals instead. The introspective writing process reminds you of what you’ve been through and where you want to go. And writing down your goals is an incredible way to make sure they happen.

Jim Rohn said it best: “It is challenging to be a student of your own life, your own future, your own destiny. Don’t trust your memory. When you listen to something valuable, write it down. When you come across something important, write it down. Take the time to keep notes and to keep a journal” (or in my case, a podcast or blog!).
Jordan is an Internet entrepreneur based in Budapest, Hungary. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a startup company called Buffered VPN. He’s also a CrossFit addict and personal development junkie. - See more at: http://success.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-from-talking-to-9-millionaires#sthash.lob3FPsL.dpuf
Jordan is an Internet entrepreneur based in Budapest, Hungary. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a startup company called Buffered VPN. He’s also a CrossFit addict and personal development junkie. - See more at: http://success.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-from-talking-to-9-millionaires#sthash.lob3FPsL.dpuf
Jordan is an Internet entrepreneur based in Budapest, Hungary. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a startup company called Buffered VPN. He’s also a CrossFit addict and personal development junkie. - See more at: http://success.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-from-talking-to-9-millionaires#sthash.lob3FPsL.dpuf
Jordan is an Internet entrepreneur based in Budapest, Hungary. He’s the co-founder and CEO of a startup company called Buffered VPN. He’s also a CrossFit addict and personal development junkie. - See more at: http://success.com/blog/9-things-i-learned-from-talking-to-9-millionaires#sthash.lob3FPsL.dpuf