If you ever meet a millionaire, don't gawk. Don't act weird. Just be you. They're just normal people. They're probably just like you, but with a little more money.
Now, one of the things I hate most when talking with people about money is the look on their faces when they find out I'm a millionaire. The whole vibe changes. What was a warm and friendly conversation suddenly becomes awkward. Why? Why should a personal connection become awkward just because someone has a little more money? I'm convinced there's a mental, emotional and spiritual disconnect in our lives when it comes to money. And it's these disconnects that keep many people stuck in life and prevents them from building wealth.
Let's talk about breaking through these disconnects to help you get started on your own journey to becoming a millionaire.
The Mental Disconnect
Money isn't anything mysterious, magical, or difficult. Money is really at its core, very simple. That's right. Money is a simple problem. A simple math problem. As long as you can add 2 + 2 to get 4, you can probably become a millionaire. Are you confused? Don't be confused.
There was a day when becoming a millionaire was a very difficult thing. Wages were much lower then. Our American economy was still developing, and a million dollars was a large some of money. Today, however, a million dollars is not tremendously large some of money, but many of us still carry that impossible to become a millionaire mindset with us. It seems like an unreachable goal. Believe me it's not. Becoming a millionaire is a very attainable goal. How do I know? Because I did it. Because eleven million other families and households in the United States have done it.
According to MillionaireFoundary.com over 40% of the worlds millionaires reside in the United States. Think about that for a moment. The US has a population of roughly 330 million. The global population is 7.5 billion. The US has only 4.4% of the world's population, but 40% of the world's millionaires. The United States is the #1 country in the world for wealth building. If you live in the United States, you need to start thinking with the mindset that you will become a millionaire. It's not a question of "if", it is a question of "when." When will you become a millionaire? If you want to become a millionaire, overcome your mental disconnect. You can become a millionaire. The second mental disconnect is not learning about money. If you want to be good with your money, you need to get money smart. You need to take time to learn about money. What did you learn last week about money? What about last month? What about last year? What about the last 10 years? If you answered nothing to any of those questions, then you've got a mental disconnect with your money. Not a problem. You just need to make the connection. Start taking time to learn more about money. 3 Days you can start getting money smart today.
Read a financial book. Set a goal to read 3-4 books on money per year. Other than the Millionaire Choice, try David Bach's Automatic Millionaire.
Set a goal to listen to a financial podcast at least once a week . Try the Stacking Benjamins Show with Joe Saul-Sehy
Do some stock market research. You'll learn the from the books and shows, but you need to put it into action. Pick out a company you like 1x per week and take time to learn about it's finances, stock growth.
The Emotional Disconnect
Face it. We're emotional creatures. Emotions are powerful things and sometimes our emotions get the best of us. They can be a powerful asset, and they can be a blocker keeping us from accomplishing great things. Emotions can play a powerful role when it comes to your money.
For most of us, we didn't grow up wealthy. Perhaps you grew up in a lower income family, or perhaps you grew up in a family where most of your financial needs were met. You didn't have too much money or too little, but you had just enough. Whether you grew up in poverty, middle income, or even wealthy, you have emotions that are tied to your view of money. These emotions affect how you handle or should I say mishandle your money.
If you grew up in poverty or lower income, you may have an emotional view of money that is barrier to you building wealth. Emotionally, you may feel and believe you will always live a lower income life. False. You don't have to continue living the same way you grew up.
You may have grown up in a middle income family where life was pretty good. Your food needs were met. Your clothing needs were met. The bills were paid. Birthdays and Christmas brought you a cake, presents and joy. Life was good. Still, your emotions around money reflect the life you grew up with and your view of money. It's easy continue your family's status quo. After all, you've had a good life. Why change? You've been limited by your emotions surrounding money. Your ability to imagine a different life have been limited. Your desire for change hindered by your past life experiences.
Perhaps you grew up in a wealthier family with the proverbial silver spoon. It's possible your emotions surrounding money are damaged. Money doesn't grow on trees, but it may have grown out of mom and dad's pockets. Perhaps your parents were savvy with money, but didn't do the best job passing on what they know to you about how you make, manage, and multiply money. You emotions may be influencing the role money plays in your life and limiting your life's potential.
Regardless of what life was like growing up, it is likely that your emotions are affecting your financial life. Align your emotions with your life's goals and beliefs. Don't let your emotions limit you. Let your emotions empower by doing 3 things.
Develop a vision for your life. Where do you want to go? What do you want to do? Who do you want to be? (e.g. I want to be a millionaire so that I can enjoy life, help others and serve God.)
Create goals that support your vision. Create a list of action items to accomplish your goals. (e.g. Goal: Become a millionaire by age 40. Action(s): Learn about money, start investing, boost my income.)
Align your emotions and beliefs with your vision, goals, and tasks. (e.g. Lots of people do this. I can do this too.)
The Spiritual Disconnect
People think money is evil and it makes people evil. Money is not evil. Money is a tool. Tools can be used for good or evil. By all means, if you think you're going to be an evil person, I encourage you not to get more money. Money will just allow you to more evil things. But, if you're going to be a good person who helps people when they need it and you want to make the world a better place, then by all means, make as much money as you can! When you have more money, you can help more people you can help, and you'll be able to have a bigger impact on making the world a better place!
Some spiritual leaders teach us to forgo the things of this world, but then they walk around asking people for money. Donate to our project. Donate to help people. Donate, donate, donate, but whatever you do, don't build wealth. Having too much money is baaaaaad! I prefer a different vision. I envision a world with lots of millionaires who walk around helping out anyone in need. The family who just lost both parents in a car wreck. The woman who just lost her husband. The children whose mother just died from cancer and whose family can't survive on a single income. There is no shortage of people in need across the world, but there is a shortage of people with enough money to help the people in need.
Money isn't the problem. People's hearts and minds are the problem. We're confused about money. So many of our spiritual leaders have disconnected people from the proper view of money. Money is just a tool. Use it wisely and beautiful things will happen.
Don't let a spiritual disconnect keep your from becoming a millionaire and helping people, but make sure your heart and mind are in the right place along the way.
$1,000,000. Getting Started.
The nice thing about setting a goal to become a millionaire is that millions of other people have already done it. I'm reminded of when I taught my oldest son to ride a bike. He was the first child to learn to ride a bicycle. For whatever reason, he was also the hardest one to teach to ride a bike. He's smart. He's fairly athletic. But he's also very cautious and sometimes doubtful about new things. I remember telling him, "millions of people have learned to ride bikes. Do you believe you're the only one that can't? If all these other people have done it, I promise you that you can do it too." Becoming a millionaire is like that. Millions of other people have done it. You can too. Let's get started.
You have to believe and want to become a millionaire. Do you? Great, then you've made the millionaire choice. Check off that box!
You've got to start getting money smart. I believe that if you want to be good with money, you need to study money. (i.e. read a book on money, listen to a podcast, do some research, find a money mentor.)
Start watching your money (Millionaire Key #5). Create a spending plan/budget so you know where your money is going and you can stop wasting money.
Start investing. Start wherever you are with whatever you have available. $50 a month? Do it. $100 a month? Do it. Just start. Vanguard.com with an S&P Index Fund is a common way most people get started. Actually, I think I'm sitting down with some of my kids this week to setup their first investing accounts.
Create your millionaire plan. Set a date.
It's easy to get started on the path to becoming a millionaire, but don't stop there. Keep growing and refining your plan.
Note: The 10 Keys of the Millionaire are covered in The Millionaire Choice: Millionaire or Not. You Can Choose. Get your FREE Copy via paperback or ebook.
Final Words
Becoming a millionaire is a reachable goal for anyone. Anyone can become a millionaire. Why not you?
I've met millionaires from all walks of life. Black, white, Hispanic. Poor and rich. I've met people who were 5 years old when they decided to become a millionaire, and I've met people who made their millionaire choice as teenagers. Personally, I was 25 years old when I decided to become a millionaire. No matter what your age, make your millionaire choice, and create your millionaire plan. You can do it. No excuses.