Economic Freedom May Not Be What You Think
When I was originally introduced to the world of Network Marketing, I came across the phrases ‘time freedom’ and ‘financial freedom’. A bit of quick thinking reveals they are actually one and the same. Maybe that’s why ‘economic freedom’ works better. It instinctively incorporates time and wealth.
Yet this is a phrase I’ve recently been hearing not in any way associated with Network Marketing, but with the current political and economic turmoil in the United States.
Historically economic freedom was the fundamental reason for the American Revolution. Oppressive taxation with no representation from the American colonies constituted economic servitude to the king – at least from the colonists’ perspective. Getting rid of the king and his unjust laws in favor of self-determination was the aim of the Franklins, Adamses, Jeffersons, Washingtons et al.
But this is not an American history post. Rather it is to examine this idea of ‘Economic Freedom’.
Economic freedom is not about having all the money you could ever dream of but rather freedom from being taxed into debt – or to death – and the freedom to work as you see yourself working – as much or as little as you choose yet living with those consequences.
From my point of view it comes down to each citizen having control of his or her own economic life. Keeping the products of your labor, whether physical or mental work, is an inalienable right, a right that cannot be separated from the individual, and a right that is not granted by any government but given by a Supreme Being to each Human Being.
You hear a lot today about people hoarding food, gasoline, guns and gold. Sorry but this is fueled by fear, and fear is never an effective protector.
Self-sufficiency however is another thing altogether.
Growing food in the quantity and quality you and your family need and desire is worth your time and effort. Finding a home-based business that is ethically run, pays almost immediately to even part-timers, has quality and sought after products and supports your efforts with training and teamwork is yet another pursuit worthy of your time.
It’s a cliché by now but a truism nonetheless: freedom of any kind is never free. But the cost of it should never be crippling or what exactly would be the point.
How Do We Create Anything?
In a previous post (http://liveyourdream-ownyourlife.com/?p=321) I wrote that life has no meaning unless we give it some. In other words, your life is waiting to be defined and formed, molded and created.
(You could say THIS is the meaning of being born again.)
But how do we create meaning and give life form and definition?
The very first stumbling block is our culture, or what we have fed to us by parents, family, school teachers and classmates, religious institutions, any patriotic and political influences. And that’s not to mention whatever socio-economic class we find ourselves plopped down inside of with all those twisted and politicized ideas about money, how to get it and what those people “really” are who already have it.
The idea of “being rich” is one of the most ambiguous memes we ever come across. Today more than ever “rich” is being thrown around because the country is going broke.
Politicians on both sides love Big Government and want to keep things going as is for as long as they can, just pushing the problems onto the next group that takes office.
So they propose more and higher taxes. But not for you and me. Just the rich.
But how the heck does anyone, most especially the government, define the rich?
Here’s how: anyone with more than you is rich. But there’s an immediate problem with that because that sounds more like envy and coveting than it does being wealthy. It sounds divisive and petty and mean. It does not sound like a principled plan.
Thoughts are things. If you’ve spent only 15 minutes on any Self-help or Personal Development book, CD or DVD, you know this to be a truth. Things are real and so thoughts are real. And thoughts manifest in 3-dimensional space. So be careful what you wish for and think about all the time.
If you think the other guy has more money and a better life, well, then, he does. Consequently, if YOU think your way to more money and a better life, well then you’ll have more money and a better life.
This may sound simplistic but I don’t really think it is because it’s not immediate like rubbing Aladdin’s lamp. There’s work involved. And maybe that’s the difficulty – there’s work involved.
Nonetheless, purposeful, directed and focused work effort results in . . . wealth. The more you think about it the more likely you are to acquire it – but it is NOT magic. You’ll need the necessary desire, a professional plan and some help from LIKEMINDED people.
Successful Networking What It Takes To Win Why 98% Fail: creating your life on purpose mindset of success seeking mentorship
by Tony Lauria
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Your World Is Your Word
Michelle (I have changed her name) first appeared to be a sincere and eager seeker of her own stable and secure future. She had downloaded the free eBook that I offer, had read it and had taken the initiative to email me her three deepest reasons for needing to succeed in her network marketing business. I take the sharing of such WHYs as a great honor. She impressed me very much and I was optimistic about our fledgling business relationship.
That’s why I was so taken back by her cancellation again and was moved to ask her a simple question: “Do you think with all that’s going on in the world right now there is one simple explanation for it?” She said she didn’t think there was.
I begged to differ and told her, “The reason there is so much turmoil in the world right now, so much contention right here in our country between political parties, so much anger from the populace is because people don’t keep their word anymore. It is that simple. If members of Congress and parliaments kept to their duties, if presidents and prime ministers kept to their promises, if business leaders and employees kept to their agreements, how different would the world be right now?”
I continued. “Michelle, no matter how hard you work, no matter what skills I am able to help you acquire, no matter how great your company is, if you don’t keep your word you won’t find the success you so deeply desire.”
It is THAT simple. And if you believe that she keeping her word, or you and I keeping our word, is inconsequential, well I’ll end with the words of the master, Mohandas Gandhi:
“As Human Beings, our greatness lies not so much in being able to remake the world – that is the myth of the Atomic Age – as in being able to remake ourselves.”
The Power of Words, The Weight of Words
As a blog writer I’m always on the lookout for ideas that can be turned into content. One of the best ways to gather ideas is to always have your antennae up, scanning for a phrase or a sentence that ignites an idea that can be fleshed out into content.
Just this week my dear, gentle 90-yr-old dad said something that betrayed his life-long belief in his helplessness and victimhood. I jotted down this phrase, “The Weight of Words” as a working title for a blog post. My intention was to explore how the words we choose can either imprison us or free us.
Before I had the chance to develop the idea, I got references to this video. Three in no less than 24 hours.
I like the title of it, The Power of Words. It’s much less ominous than mine. But the principle remains the same: the words we choose reveal how we think and how we perceive the world. And how, consequently we relate to others.
This video portrays how words can reach out and grab the reader/listener. Do you hear yourself when you speak or write? Listen hard. It could mean a world of difference.
Change your words, change your world.
Your Talent Equals Your Money
It always struck me as odd, when I was a child, that the Biblical story of the men given talents where expected to invest them. I was just learning that it was money you invested, not talent.
Talent to us ten-year-olds was being able to run fast or throw a curve ball. Drawing well was a talent, so was playing a musical instrument. We just never thought of talents as something you put into a bank or you could be punished for not developing.
So when I first heard this story and didn’t make any metaphorical leap, I filed it away for further thought. As personal development entered my adult life the leap became more like a simple step and recently I was visiting with my aunt who had just returned from a church service. The reading and sermon had been on this very parable. (The Matthew 25:13-30 version is better than the Luke 19:11-26 one.)
Three men are givens talents (money) to be used while their master is away. The first turns 5 into 10, the second turns 2 into 4 while the third buries his talent.
Buries his talent! Hides it from sight, from criticism, from the possibility of it being lost or diminished! Of course he is the one who is punished and cast out of his master’s house for not turning his talent into more.
For an adult this story’s moral is so obvious: take your talents and make the most of them. If you don’t, you’re cheating not only yourself but the rest of society.
And if you’re not sure what your talent is, here’s how to find out:
Whatever comes easy to you and gathers compliment is your talent. Just get to work making it easier and easier for yourself, to the point where people will not only say good things about you but will pay you for what you do so well.
That’s how not to bury your talent but turn it into money.
