The Millionaire Journey

Finding the Right Place

2011-09-05T08:33:00.003-04:00

Authored by Rickey Combs

I’ve been using my satellite star internet to hunt for properties the last two years and I finally found the place I think I’m going to call home. It needs a lot of work but I think I can do it since I worked in construction in college and I’ve got a lot of experience with things like tiling and painting and stuff like that. Any of the more challenging stuff I’m going to have to farm out but I don’t mind since I’m really looking at this place like an investment. It’s on the market for an incredible price and all that’s left to do is have a home inspection so I guess I’ll find out next Tuesday if there really is a reason it’s so cheap. I’m crossing my fingers because I’ve heard this is where most purchases fall through and that’s the last thing I want to happen now that I’ve found the house of my dreams. Hopefully in a few months I’ll be moving into my brand new house on Main Street!

Divorce Your Fears and Marry Your Dreams

2011-08-16T02:09:00.002-04:00

“Some people were never meant to walk with you into destiny, but to the door of destiny. Be okay with people who can't "go on through."

I was listening to a friend today tell me that she hadn’t achieved the level of success she wanted because she was trying to get all her friends and family to come along with her. She remarked and I quote: “I don’t want to be rich by myself!” Seriously, are you kidding me? Believe me, if it’s one thing I know it’s that if you’re rich you won’t be by yourself. You will find a litany of friends, family and others who will come out of the wood work to “befriend” you.

But all joking aside, it got me to thinking how many of us are putting destiny on hold waiting on others to get motivated? This is an issue for a lot of folks especially if they are the first in their circle of friends and family to obtain success. They fear their success will ruin friendships or beget them envy. They also believe they owe it to others to help them be successful so they dim their light to help others shine. But honestly, what I think when I hear others say that is fear talking. It’s not the fear of leaving others behind but the fear of moving ahead or on so they don’t want to take the journey by themselves because they don’t know what to expect.

Whenever I have fear or doubt, I remember these wise words from one of my favorite movies, The Notebook: “if you’re ever going to be successful, you have to cheat on your fears, break up with your doubts, get engage to your faith and marry your dreams.” After all, marrying your dreams is the ultimate end game and if you’re ever going to walk through the door of destiny to marry your dreams, it may mean you have to be ok walking through the door alone and being ok with those who choose not to.”

Ever have this fear of walking alone? What have you done to push yourself through the door of destiny?

Kim Crouch is one of the founders of The Millionaire Journey and author of Mother to Son.

Are You Thinking Big Enough to be Rich?

2011-08-08T04:37:00.004-04:00

"You will not achieve wealth without a wealth consciousness."

Good morning future millionaires. Today, ask yourself are you living a wealth conscious life? Before you answer “yes” too quickly, I want you to read this post, keep an open mind and then ask yourself are you really living a wealth conscious life.

Over the last several years, we’ve heard a lot about the Law of Attraction. In fact, the Law of Attraction has become widely accepted and really is not doubted. However, at the core of the Law of Attraction is whether or not you are wealth conscious. What’s wealth consciousness? It means having a mindset that allows you to attract rather than repel wealth.

So many of us think we’re attracting wealth when in fact we’re repealing wealth because we don’t know our true thoughts about wealth. Many of those thoughts stem from childhood or from what we’ve seen. Without becoming too much of a psychologist, it’s important to understand what you really are thinking about wealth. For example, do you always live in fear of money? Do you think no matter how much money you have you’re still poor or do you have negative thoughts about wealth? If so, you have a poverty conscious.

People who have a wealth conscious feel good about money and seldom worry about it because they have the confidence in their ability to attract money to them. Understanding your mind set and whether you have a positive wealth conscious is a good way to start to make sure that your consciousness and your desires are in alignment otherwise your thoughts could be sabotaging you.

Here are some good ways to make sure you stay wealth conscious:

Affirmations. Affirmations are a good way to train your mind and preempt any negative thoughts about money. I use affirmations throughout the day to help me as negative thoughts crept in. I have the all over my house and in my car. They are everywhere.
Generating Ideas. Every day I try to generate at least 20 income earning or money making ideas. They don’t have to be million dollar ideas. They are merely ideas to train my mind so that it looks at new ways of making money. Each day I try to get more creative with my ideas. This has been one of the best wealth consciousness exercises. The first few days are the hardest but after a few days you will be amazed with the ways you’ve trained your mind to see wealth in places and ideas that you hadn’t seen before.
Vision Board. I love Vision Boards. I have them for everything: what I want my life to look like, my relationships, my family life, my house and my business. Vision Boards are great visual reminders of what you’re working for and they allow you to remain passionate about your goals.
Accountability Partner. Not everyone likes the concept of an accountability partner but if you get the right one, he or she can do a lot to help you stay on track. They are great to bounce ideas off on, to brainstorm with and someone who is also like minded. A critical part of any success is surrounding yourself with the right people and person number one outside your life mate is the accountability partner and your circle of friends.

So do you think you’re living a wealth conscious life? What do you do to make sure you’re staying the course toward your goals?

Kim Crouch is one of the founders of The Millionaire Journey and author of Mother to Son.

How to Write and Produce a Screenplay

2011-01-14T01:30:00.010-05:00

Do you consider yourself the next Steven Spielberg or Tyler Perry? Do you have a great idea for a movie, but need help putting it on paper?

The Millionaire Journey Radio Show is kicking off the new year with screenwriter and executive producer Tyeastia "Tye" Green. She is a dynamic artist whose talents as a writer have taken her from private journal writer to a self-published producer of three spoken word CDs, author of two award winning screenplays, creator of TH3M! and executive producer/writer of PreDestined.

Tye will walk us step-by-step through the screenwriting process. So be sure to tune in to The Millionaire Journey Radio Show this Sunday, January 16, 2011, at 7pm EST/4pm CST, to get your questions answered. You can join us live in the chat room: http://www.blogtalkradio.com/millionairejourney/2011/01/17/how-to-write-and-produce-a-screenplay, or listen live on the phone by dialing 646-595-2996 (press "1" on your keypad if you'd like to ask a question).

Lisa Maria Carroll is a social media maven who teaches wealth strategies through the Millionaire Journey, tweets motivational tips on Twitter, quips about the latest relationship dramedy on The Relationship Buzz BTR show, and mentors single moms through her blogs. To learn more about Millionaire Journey, go to http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com/ or join us on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yhdwa78

OPERATION MOTIVATION: Position Yourself to Receive by Giving

2010-12-26T01:33:00.025-05:00

'Twas the week after Christmas, and the complaints were rolling in. While some people were complaining about what they got, others were griping about what they didn't: I can't believe that's all they got me or I can't believe they didn't get me anything (whoever "they" are). And the end result is that we're deleting them from our social networking sites, writing them out of our will, and vowing to never attend another family reunion, right?

Does any of this sound familiar? Is it you?

Although Christmas is supposed to be a time for giving, it can bring about hurt feelings and resentment when someone doesn't live up to another person's expectations in the giving department. Secretaries resent executives when they don't get the $1,000 bonus and Employee of the Month parking space they were expecting this year. Grown children stop speaking to parents (until next Christmas) when they don't receive everything they asked Santa to bring. And extended family vow to never come to another family holiday party until Aunt Suzie learns how to coordinate a gift drive to cover the things they don't get from all the social services agencies they signed up with.

These scenarios may sound extreme, but familiar at the same time. And far too often, the people who complain the most about what they don't receive are the ones who give the least. The Law of Attraction states that like attracts like. So even if you're a giver who finds yourself wanting to receive more, take a minute to check your giving. Maybe you're not giving enough of what you want to receive. If you want love, give it. If you want better friendships, be a better friend. If you want others to support your business, support theirs.

As you continue to accumulate wealth to grow and live your millionaire lifestyles, position yourself to receive by giving. Stay motivated for the task at hand. It may not be returned from the person or in the same way that you expect it to, but it does come back.

Happy Holidays

2010-12-23T13:25:00.004-05:00

On behalf of the Millionaire Journey, we would like to wish you a holiday season filled with peace and love.

Enjoy the season, and thank you for being our partners in success.

Kim and Lisa

The Warren Buffets Next Door

2010-11-23T04:53:00.001-05:00

The holiday season is upon us! As always, I believe the best gifts you can give is the gift of wisdom, education and financial knowledge. Consistent with that, I will soon start letting you know about great deals as well as posting about what I think are great gifts. As a prelude to that, here's a great book (The Warren Buffets Next Door) is a recently released book that I've come across that would be good for anyone interested in becoming more financially savvy.

While many of us have heard of great investors like Warren Buffett, George Soros, etc., this book reveals how 10 ordinary people consistently achieve extraordinary returns on their investments (and how you can, too). The book takes you inside their investment strategies. However, one thing I would caution about this book is that even though this book highlights 10 ordinary people who've done it, one shouldn't assume that it's a easy as pie to do the same. After all, good investing and success come with spending time, learning the craft but this book is a good start and it's a good book for anyone who may be interested in investing.

What Would You Do With a Cash Windfall?

2010-11-18T22:11:00.003-05:00

It's raining money. Well, not exactly. But it might feel that way when you come into money that you weren't expecting to get: Lottery winnings, an inheritance, a Christmas bonus, a tax refund. So what would you do if you got money that you weren't expecting to get?

I know many of us will say that we'd save it for a rainy day, invest it, or payoff debt. But, have you done that with any unexpected cash in the past? And if not, what makes you so sure that you'll do it this time?

I recently gave someone a savings bond that I had been holding on to for 20 years. It was a $50 bond, which means the giver paid $25 for it. He took it to the bank the same day and cashed it for $69. And within an hour, that $69 was gone. That got me to thinking. One, it would probably take him about two hours to spend the other bonds that I have for him. (I haven't given them to him to find out.) Two, how much would that $69 have been worth in 20 years if he had added $31 to it, and treated it the same way that I'd treated the bond for the same length of time? What if he had bought two $100 bonds and not touched them for 20 years?

With the government bond rates being .30%, he certainly wouldn't double his money. And the same can be said if he had invested the money in a Certificate of Deposit (CD). There's not much of a return on investment there either.

Here's the deal. When you're broke, and someone puts $69 in your hand, it looks like a lot of money. But when you look at it in terms of a long-term investment, and you see that you won't get much on your return, you think why bother? Well, here's why you should bother, you have to start somewhere. You have to see starting small as the beginning of something big, because you then start the habit of saving. And as you continue to invest small amounts regularly, you'll start to see them yield bigger results.

Feedback Friday Question: Imagine getting a cash windfall of $1,000, $10,000 or $100,000. What would you do with the money? Is any part of it worth investing?

Shake Those Haters Off!

2010-11-18T14:15:00.015-05:00

Hater: A person that simply cannot be happy for another person's success. So rather than be happy they make a point of exposing a flaw in that person. Hating, the result of being a hater, is not exactly jealousy. The hater doesn't really want to be the person he or she hates, rather the hater wants to knock someone else down a notch. (Source: Urban Dictionary)

By show of (virtual) hands, how many of you are sitting on what you believe to be a million-dollar idea, because your critics have silenced you? Come on now, be honest. They said one bad thing about you or your idea, and you took it to heart.

While doing research online for a project today, I came across a book review that inspired this post. The reviewer gave the book two stars out of five, and then proceeded to cut the author down at the knees because he used the people he knew to make his book a bestseller, and then used the book as a springboard to create a multimillion dollar internet business. Ummm, what's wrong with that?

It was clear that the review had more to do with someone hating on the author than it did the book's content. The reviewer also has a a print book and several ebooks, but the author of the book he was reviewing has used his as an in to his profession, making millions of dollars training people to change. And when I visited the reviewer's website (of course I went there), I saw that he has a program that is very similar to the author's. So that got me to thinking. Did he give this book a poor rating because his hasn't experienced the same level of success? I can't say for sure, but it's possible.

At the same time that I was doing my research, I was listening to a discussion about Tyler Perry's latest Hollywood project, For Colored Girls. And then it came to me like an epiphany. While we're sitting here chatting it up about all the reasons we do or don't like Tyler Perry's body of work, he has already shaken his haters off, and is somewhere working on his next multimillion dollar project. And I was like, dang girl, get a clue. Let these people have this discussion, and get back to work securing another contract for yourself. It's not like this is Siskel and Ebert, where anyone in this discussion is getting paid to give this movie a thumbs up or down.

As I sit here writing this, I can hear Venus Williams on the TV behind me promoting her new EA SPORTS game. Imagine where she would be if she had allowed the people who criticized her because of her hair and her braces to cause her to not become the tennis phenom that she is today. She certainly wouldn't be promoting a video game.

So, go ahead and shake those haters off. Otherwise, you may never develop that million-dollar idea.

Feedback Friday: Why Parents Should NOT Pay for College

2010-10-22T02:26:00.013-04:00

Are you a parent who struggles to give your child the best of everything, including a house that's not a home because you're losing sleep at night worrying about how you're going to keep it, vacations charged to credit cards that will take you the next 20 years to pay off, and a college education that you can't afford to pay for? If this is you, then I beg of thee to stop it...NOW.

I just watched CNN's Black in America: Almighty Debt, and I was greatly disturbed by the parents who were facing foreclosure, because they're 26 months behind on their mortgage, yet they're concerning themselves with how they're going to pay for their daughter's college tuition to Yale, Harvard or Princeton, while this young lady incurs $400 monthly cell phone bills. At first I was miffed at the daughter because of her misplaced values. But after some thought, I realized the WHOLE family's values are in the wrong place.

Where is it written that parents MUST pay for their child's higher learning? I told my children early (probably daycare) that they needed to get good grades so they could go to college.; I never led them to believe that Mama would be paying for anything. Now, don't get me wrong, I would have contributed in any way that I could, but as a single mother raising four children, establishing college funds for each of them on my salary was not realistic. Nor is it realistic for a couple sitting on the front steps of foreclosure to think they can pay for an Ivy League education.

The couple on Almighty Debt said that it's important for their daughter to be able to go to the college of her choice. Well, if her college of choice is Yale, Harvard or Princeton, then her grades should reflect such. And if not, then she's already made her choice to enroll at the community college around the corner, where she can get enough through financial aid, including work study, to pay her own tuition.

Feedback Friday Question: Should parents pay for their child(ren)'s college education?

Lisa Maria Carroll is a wealth strategist and along with Kim Crouch, is co-creator of the Millionaire Journey. To learn more about Millionaire Journey, go to http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com or join us on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yhdwa78

Are You The Biggest Obstacle To Your Success?

2010-10-17T18:27:00.004-04:00

How much do we limit ourselves? I was thinking about this today as I spent time with my sons showing them how to prepare dinner. Normally, preparing Sunday dinner is a ritual in my house because it’s an opportunity to wind down from the hustle and bustle of our busy week, which includes school, work, sports and a host of extracurricular activities. It’s a time to laugh, share, having fun and just bond around Sunday dinner.

Now, on Sundays, I also give them a pop quiz on current events. It is nothing formal but more general conversations about what’s taking shape in our ever expanding global world. But today, I decided to quiz them on how to make macaroni and cheese. It was one of the items we had prepared for dinner.

Almost instantly, my older son began telling my younger son to quit copying off his paper. When asked why he was copying, my younger son said because no one said he couldn’t. After listening to my son, I realized he was technically right. I hadn’t said no copying, no cheating, not etc. According to him, he was following the rules as given to him, and it wasn’t his fault that we assumed that the word quiz implied no copying, sharing or discussing the answers with someone else. He hadn’t taken quiz to assume any of that especially since I hadn’t said it.

As a good friend of mine said when I informed her of this: “Your son is going to be a good businessman. In school, it’s called cheating. In the real world, it’s called don’t reinvent the wheel.”

And while funny, it was also a revelation of how we often place self imposed limitations on ourselves. How often do we imply things or limitations that don’t really exist? What my son reminded me of today is how easily it is too become so socialized that you sometimes forget the obvious or to think outside the box. He also showed me how we impose limitations on ourselves even in situations where they haven’t been imposed on us because we assume every situation is the same. After all, there are closed book quizzes and open book quizzes. My son’s point was why should he make things harder for himself if he doesn’t have too?

After listening to him, I was reminded of one of my favorite quotes: “someone else can hold you down temporarily. Only you can hold you down permanently.” Today, I ask how many of you are the biggest obstacle to your success and/or are holding yourself down permanently because you’re imposing limitations on yourself that don't exist?

Kim Crouch is a wealth strategist and along with Lisa Maria Carroll, is co-creator of the Millionaire Journey. To learn more about Millionaire Journey, go to http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com or join us on Facebook at http://tinyurl.com/yhdwa78.

How To Create Financial Legacies for Your Children

2010-08-08T22:13:00.005-04:00

I once heard it said that in Japan, when a child is born, an account is started for that child’s grandchild. This is a stark contrast to what we do in America. Our national savings rate is only 6.4 percent and many Americans are living paycheck to paycheck, buying on credit and robbing Peter to pay Paul.

Last night as part of the Millionaire Journey show, Lisa Maria Carroll and myself discussed how parents can create and leave financial legacies for their children. As many parents prepare to send their children back to school in the next few weeks, this is a great time to begin to talk to your kids about finances or to begin to prepare them for financial literacy. You don’t have to be a genius to teach your children about finances nor do your children need to be teens in order to understand money. You can begin teaching your kids about money as early as preschool. This includes everything from teaching them the value of different currencies, to taking them to the grocery store with you to compare.

The truth is by the time your child leaves your home at 18, many experts believe they should know the following money skills:

Here are some things you can do to begin to teach your kids about finances:

• Learn how to budget
• Make and deal with spending decisions
• Understand rewards of work
• Delay gratification

1. Start early. You can begin teaching your kids about money as early as preschool. This includes everything from teaching them the value of different currencies to helping them understand people have jobs that pay them money.

2. Budgeting. Include kids in on your budgeting decision. Everything is a teachable moment about budgeting. With school starting back this is a great opportunity to help them create a budget for back to school clothes or extracurricular activities. Include field trips in the cost of your budget as well. It’s also a great opportunity to help them understand their money (or at least yours) will go farther if they take their lunch.

3. Teach them to shop. Most parents spend their time teaching their children how to save money. But ask yourself, have you taught yourself to shop? If you have the time, take your children to different stores such as Neimans, Macy’s and even a second hand store to give them an understanding of how to stretch their dollars while getting a good quality product.

4. Everyday moments. Recognize that everyday brings opportunities to teach your kids about finances. Whether it’s taking them along to with you to the bank, the grocery store so they can learn comparison shopping to tipping at restaurants or explaining why you chose one gas station over the other (if price related even if they sit opposite each other. Also consider playing board games with them such as Monopoly that starts them thinking about finance and property ownership.

To Hear the entire show, click HERE

Here are two good books I recommend parents read on raising financially savvy children.

1.

2.

Leaving a Financial Legacy

2010-08-06T04:55:00.006-04:00

What are your saving and investing habits teaching your children about money?

In Japan when a child is born, an account is started for that child's grandchild. In America when a child is born, we buy a few bibs, some Pampers and throw a party: all things that are disposable and, unlike a financial legacy, are momentary and fleeting.

Our children are returning to the classroom this month, and this is the perfect time to teach them financial literacy no matter how young or old they are. In order to create a financial legacy of wealth, not debt, we must teach our children how to make, save and spend money. We must encourage them to be entrepreneurs and business owners, because we want our financial legacy to be that of faith and values that determine how they handle finances for themselves and future generations.

What do you want your financial legacy to be?

Join us this Sunday, August 8th, on our Blog Talk Radio show (http://www.blogtalkradio.com/1yearmillionaires/2010/08/08/leaving-a-financial-legacy), as we give you strategic steps on creating a financial legacy for your children.

Find the Luggage: Time To Send Fear Packing Again!

2010-08-02T20:52:00.003-04:00

Every now and then, we all suffer from FEAR! According to Wikipedia, Fear is an emotional response to a perceived threat. It is a basic survival mechanism occurring in response to a specific stimulus, such as pain or the threat of danger. As we get older, our fear increases because we believe we have more to lose. The truth is far too many of us allow fear to control our lives.

Whatever the cause of your fears, I thought this would be a great time to share with you again the recording of the telerally that Lisa Maria Carroll and I hosted earlier this year in which we discussed the 5 ways to Send Fear Packing.

Just remember in listening to this recording that FEAR is False Evidence Appeared Real, and your goal is to not let some perceived state prevent you from accomplishing real things.

Click HERE to listen to the audio tape.

Kim Crouch is a wealth strategist and along with Lisa Maria Carroll, co-creator of the Millionaire Journey.

If You Really Want Wealth, Read! Read! And Read Again!

2010-08-02T03:50:00.001-04:00

I know it’s been a while since you’ve heard from me or Lisa but we’ve been busy pushing toward day 365 of the Millionaire Journey! I once read a quote that said if you want to be rich, READ! And this is exactly what I’ve been doing these last few months. Reading every thing I could get my hands on. I know that my wealth has expanded ten fold because I've taken the time to make sure I acquire additional knowledge about investing, wealth creation and a multitude of other things.

There are some great books out that will help you increase your mindset around wealth accumulation, power of associations and just simply motivate you. They vary from the inexpensive to the expensive but I thought I would share them with you.

1. . Ok this is one of the best books I’ve read in a long time. This is a nuts and bolts books from the 6 key profiles of the rich, to how to enter society, this book is a must read! I loved it.

2. This book is the definitive work concerning Warren Buffet and his investment philosophy. I liked this book because it explained in plain English basic principles of sound business practice.

3. . This is a great book by two mega millionaires Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump and I found it a great read. This book is less about the nuts and bolts of being rich and more about the philosophy behind attaining wealth. Great read from two of the best who know their stuff. Also available on Audio.

4.

5. . I heard about this book for a while and finally decided to read it. Found it a really practical book about the four pillars of personal finance— banking, saving, budgeting, and investing—and the wealth-building ideas of personal entrepreneurship. Geared for the younger crowd, the lessons are simple, easy and work.

6. I found this to be one of the best books on interpersonal skills, networking and development of relationships that I’ve seen in a long time.

7. . Really good book from Randall Pinkett, the first African-American to ever receive a Rhodes scholarship from Rutgers University. This brother brings the knowledge in this book.

Kim Crouch is a wealth strategist and along with Lisa Maria Carroll, co-creator of the Millionaire Journey.

Today is the Start of a Journey

2010-07-07T06:05:00.003-04:00

On Sunday, our country celebrated its Independence Day. Today, I’m asking everyone who reads this post, what are you going to do to obtain your independence? Your independence could be financially related, it could be the courage to leave a job or garnering the will to up your game. Whatever it is, you have to decide to have ownership over and of your life.

The truth is greatness exist in all of us. It’s just some of us chose to tap it and others don’t. I have been thinking about this a lot lately and wondering why some people do and others don’t and while I don’t know the answer to this question definitely I do believe you just have to decide what it is you’re going to be and how you’re going to do it. Once you do, the universe will get out of your way. I’ve seen this time and time again whether it was making the decision to be the first in my family to go to college, the decision to go to law school, the decision to write a book, to start a publishing company or even now, the road to the Millionaire Journey.

As I see it, many of us never really decide. Our thoughts are fraught with doubts, so called notion of “reality” and fear of failure. We never get to the decision point because there is too much other noise in our head clouding what are just simple concepts:

Just Do IT.
Just Go For It.
Don’t Look Back.
Take Action
Never Have A Plan B. It Gets In The Way of Plan A
Believe.

It doesn’t mean the road we travel will be easy. In fact, success and triumph are never easy. But as we all know the journey of a thousand miles beings with a single step. If you simply focus on placing one step in front of the other instead of thinking about the thousand steps it will take you to get there, one day you will look up and realize that you’ve arrived at your destination. I’m encouraging each of you, if you haven't already, to take a single step today and never look back.

Your Journey begins today!

See you on the success side.

You Can't Be Surprised and Successful

2010-06-13T21:12:00.002-04:00

Wow! It’s hard to believe it’s day 240 on the march toward the Millionaire Journey. I know it’s been a while since we’ve posted so I would check in and let you know how we’re proceeding on the journey. . We’re almost two-thirds the way to D-Day and let me tell you it’s been no joke! I admit that it’s been hard, filled with challenges, but so rewarding. There is nothing like going no holds barred with the world to make your dreams happen. And believe me, the world is rough, strong and takes no prisoners. But, I’ve learned as long as I stay in the ring (even if I’m up against the ropes) I will win and be successful in the pursuit of my goal.

I heard a quote recently from a friend, author Jo Lena Johnson who I interviewed for my Passion4Parenting Show. As part of that show, she stated that it’s hard to be successful and surprised. While simplistic in its obviousness, it’s actually quite profound because the truth is none of us can work hard everyday toward goal achievement and be surprised when it happens. Surprise and success really can’t co-exist if you think about it because success is the result of the actions you take every day that move you toward alignment with the world’s purpose for you. Although you may be surprised at the magnitude of your success, it’s really hard to be surprised that you’ve achieved success when you do what it takes and you work hard to make your dreams a reality.

Ask yourself, are you doing what it takes?

1. Attainment of Knowledge. My experiences have taught me that most people aren’t successful for one of two reasons: either they don’t know what they want or they don’t know how to get what they want. These last 240 days I’ve encountered both! There have been times where I’ve had to really have a heart to heart talk with myself to really try to ascertain what it is I’ve wanted from this journey. Part of the problem is that I have many talents and enjoy doing many things and it was extremely difficult to determine There have also been times when I was clear about what I wanted but struggled about how to get that. The key is to make sure you move toward the attainment of knowledge. Are you trying to discover answers for what you don’t know? Are you trying to improve upon any skill deficiencies?

2. Maintaining the Momentum. I realize that the key to success for anyone lies in maintaining momentum. You can achieve what you set out to but it takes time and it’s easy to get sidetracked, steer off course and a number of things that will break your momentum. It’s also easy to take a break from pursuing your dream because it’s hard work and while you may think it’s only a day or two the truth is all successful people know that they’ve managed to Your goal is to make sure you keep the momentum so everyday you need to do something that pushes you toward goal achievement. Ideally, it’s something big but if not make it small. Just do something. I’ve learned that the difference between those who are good and those who are great are those who are great keep the momentum going and keep pushing when those who are good have said this is enough. I’m happy with this.

3. Power of Association. I’’ve blogged a lot about making sure that you surround yourself with people who have your best interest at heart. But it’s also important that you associate with the right type of people who you’re your best interest at heart. Mom may love you but the question is whether mom can help propel you forward. Does mom have the knowledge base you need to move on to the next level? Make sure you are surrounding yourself with individuals whose knowledge and experience can benefit you.

In the end, remember success is less about luck and more about work. Believe me, if you work hard every day, your success won’t be a surprise.
Onward toward success. Keep up the good work. Day 365 is right around the corner.

Click HERE to hear my interview with Jo Lena Johnson (interview begins around minute 2 of the recording)

Take Action Tuesday: Start An Accountability Journal

2010-04-20T03:00:00.000-04:00

The way to get started is to quit talking and begin doing.
Walt Disney

Journals are amazing things. When done right and honestly, they give us great insight into how we really feel, think and believe. They really teach us a lot about our self and they often serve as a vehicle of growth.

Today, I’m encouraging you to begin keeping an accountability journal not only to record your achievements but also to measure your progress. The truth is over the years, I have come to realize that the difference between those who succeed and those who don’t is one thing: action. Many people say they really want success, but one of the reasons many people aren’t successful is because a gap exists between their actions and what they say they really want.

Accountability is always the process that determines whether your words, thoughts and actions are in alignment. One way to know if you’re in alignment is to keep an accountability journal. This is a journal where you write down each day what actions you took in furtherance of your stated dreams or goals. If your journal is blank for a few days then you have got a problem because the truth is you should be doing at a minimum 1-3 actions each day that move you in the direction of goal achievement.

This is why the journal is such a great tool because it’s an objective measure. If you’re honest with what you accomplish each day, you will be able to really see if you’re moving forward or standing still. And one thing I can assure you is nothing is ever accomplished by standing still so take action today to find out in which direction you’re headed.

The Seven Laws of Success

2010-04-19T03:00:00.000-04:00

I recently came across Mike Murdoch of Inspiration Ministries “Seven Laws” for success in life thanks to another Facebook Friend. I’m recapping them here because I think they are great lessons for contemplation and reflection and provide a template for what some may consider the 7 laws you need to ponder, harness and/or live by to have true success in life. They are:

Law # 1 The Law of difference
This is having the wisdom to be able to discern difference. What makes you different from everyone else. What problem can you solve?

Law#2 The Law of the MindKnowing how to focus the mind, to rule the mind, to make the mind work for you, not let the mind control you. To learn, to be focused, to concentrate, to have a picture in your mind of what you want and go for it, like visualization. See it. Have pictures up on the wall.

Law# 3 The Law of Recognition
The thing you need is there; it’s just a matter of recognizing it. If there’s something missing in your life, there’s more than likely something you’re not seeing. Most of the time it’s right in front of your face but you are so conditioned and so distracted that you don’t see it. I like this one a lot. Tai chi helps with this, and taking the time for contemplation and meditation. What are you not seeing?

Law #4 The Law of 2
Mike Murdoch speaks of the power of covenant, and that the difference in seasons is a person. One person can change your life in 24 hours. All you need is one person to recognize what is special about you, to take you on as a mentor to you, to enter into a covenant with you. Who is that person?

Law #5 The Law of Place
Where you are is as important as what you are. Mike Murdoch speaks of Jesus, who had to leave his hometwown and preach elsewhere to be recognized. When you are where you belong, your genius emerges. So it behooves us to consider whether we are where we need to be, and if not, where is that place.

Law #6 The Law of Honor
Your future is determined by who you have chosen to honor. You must have a code of honor. Honor is a seed that will outlast a lifetime.

Law #7 The Law of the Seed
Our offerings to God are seeds that produce a harvest. There are many types of seeds in our life. Honor is the seed for access, kindness is a seed, time is a seed, love is a seed, teaching is a seed, giving is a seed. This law is to work in the financial arena as well

Which of these laws is most important to you?

5 Financial Books You Must Read in 2010

2010-04-04T20:02:00.004-04:00

Forget everything that you’ve heard about getting rich quick. The truth is there is no such thing as getting rich quick. The truth is if you want true financial knowledge, it is something that you acquire over time through experience and studying.

As such, I decided to put together a list of the top 5 books that I think you should read this year. While books like Rich Dad, Poor Dad, The Millionaire Next Door or the Automatic Millionaire are great books that you normally see on the list of the top personal finance books, I wanted to stretch your mind by making you aware of some other great financial books full of financial knowledge.

The top 5 books to read this year are:

1. I Will Teach You To Be Rich by Author Ramit Sethi – This is a must read book by Author Ramit Sethi . It offers in plaing English with great simplicity how to create financial security. It explains saving, investing, budgeting and banking in a hip, trendy way. It’s geared toward the 20-35 age group.

2. The Only Investment Guide You'll Ever Need by Andrew Tobias. Want sound investment advice? Want to learn how to navigate and understand the world of treasury bills, mutual funds, Roth IRA, municipal bonds and other financial vehicles? If so, this is a MUST read. This book is a pretty entertaining but informative read.

3. Living Simply with Children: A Voluntary Simplicity Guide for Moms, Dads, and Kids Who Want to Reclaim the Bliss of Childhood and the Joy of Parenting by Marie Sherlock
– If you have your finances in order and you want to help your kids avoid the debt and rat race trap, this is a great book on how to raise kids who aren’t materialistic.

4. The Ultimate Depression Survival Guide: Protect Your Savings, Boost Your Income, and Grow Wealthy Even in the Worst of Times by Martin Weiss This books shows you how to create a financial roadmap that proves successful even in the worst economic climate.

5. The Total Money Makeover: A Proven Plan for Financial Fitness
by Dave Ramsey – If you want to get started on the path to financial freedom, this book is a must have for you. This book is very practical and shows you how to do everything including how to get out of debt.

The Luck Factor

2010-03-07T12:30:00.001-05:00

“Some people dream of a great life, while others wake up and start working hard at it.” Kevin Lawrence

The other day a friend said to me you’re lucky. You have a wonderful job, a great family and a good life. Over the years, lots of people have said the same thing to me. Now, I’m not complaining because by most standards, my life is good. I have a job I like, a successful business, a terrific husband and 3 beautiful children. But from my perspective, luck has little, if anything to do with it.

The world is full of limitless possibilities and anyone can have much of what they want. Life, however, requires you to work for it. Your success in life boils down to the type of person you are: whether you are a thinker or a doer.

The difference between the two is obvious and so are the results. The people who are most successful in their life are those that think and plan 10% of the time, and spend 90% of their time implementing the ideas and creating results. In the time that someone would have analyzed ten different options and looked at the pros and cons of each option, a doer would have implemented those ten ideas and would know for sure that works and would have the results (often in terms of profits) to show for their work. Meanwhile, the “thinker” is still pondering those ideas getting more stuck by the hour.

Ask yourself: (1) Where in my life do I think too much? (2) If I started to “do” in those areas, how would my life change?

Now start taking action. You will begin to notice a change in your life. The laws of the universe are all action oriented. Simply put: the more action you take the more successful you become so go for it if you are feeling lucky (smile).

Kim Crouch, is a Wealth Strategist, who along with Lisa Maria Carroll is one of the two creators of the Millionaire Journey. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Feedback Friday: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire

2010-02-26T03:00:00.001-05:00

This week was Fight For Your Dreams Week on the Millionaire Journey. We discussed ways you could keep your dreams alive because the truth is achieving your dream really is about the fight. It’s hard, tough, tiring and many days you absolutely just want to give up. But if you really want it, you can’t and you have to fight for it with your heart, soul and everything you have in you. It means despite fatigue, extreme overload and obstacles that appear you have to keep moving, which brings me to the question for today: Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?

Most people who aspire to be millionaires are serious about becoming one. They are hungry and will do whatever it takes to succeed. They will work 24 hours if they must, they will forego sleep, and they will hustle like heck to make the impossible possible.
You have to ask yourself are you really willing to do what it takes because success requires sacrifice and the road to success is often replete with failure designed to test your endurance and desire to triumph.

I raise this question as part of Feedback Friday because I wonder if many of us who want to be millionaires are ready to play on that stage. This isn’t intended to offend anyone specifically but to offer some realism because the truth is the world is full of people who will be dishonest and not tell you where you can improve. On the Millionaire Journey, as your accountability partners we are committed to honest talk with you and so this is a bit of the tough love today even though it may not apply to some of you.

It is easy to point outward and believe others are holding us back. But we also must look internally and ascertain where we are preventing our own success. We sometimes don't work as hard as we should, we project our self doubts about our ability to succeed into the universe or we fail to simply do what it takes to make it happen. This week I saw people have difficulty complying with instructions, responding in a timely manner to responses to their own request for assistance and a few other things that I think would make it difficult to achieve success on a higher scale.

The truth is to be successful you always have to be prepared. After all, success is when opportunity meets preparation. You have to think game on. So this week, I ask that you take a hard look at your strategy, determine what you really want, put an action plan in place and STEP UP your game. Most importantly, ask yourself do you want to be a millionaire and are you willing to do what it takes to get there? Let me hear your thoughts.

Kim Crouch, is one of the 2 Wealth Strategist of the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Giveaway Winners Announced

2010-02-25T08:52:00.003-05:00

It's Fight For Your Dreams Week and the Millionaire Journey is trying to help you move toward dream accomplishment. This week we sponsored a Free One Hour Strategy Session to help you stay fighting for your dreams.

The winners for the giveaway are: Jeffrey J. Davis and Adrianna Rivera.

Thanks to all those who participated and continue to keep fighting for your dreams.

DO YOU HAVE WHAT IT TAKES TO BE A CHAMPION?

2010-02-23T03:00:00.004-05:00

FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS WEEK

The Olympics are still taking place this week in Canada. Even though I didn’t like how the Olympic Committee treated Chicago, I must admit that the Winter sports have been incredible and exciting to watch.

More so than the death defying stunts I’m seeing, or, the opening ceremonies, which is always great, I love the Olympics because they are inspiring and epitomize human beings at their best. They serve as a great example of the lessons in fortitude that are required to make our dreams a reality and the payoffs that happen when we invest and believe in ourselves. While many of us won’t be Olympic athletes, the truth is many of us can be champions in many other areas of life if we simply learn and internalize the lessons exhibited by many Olympic athletes:

Lesson #1 –Self Discipline.
Say what you like about Olympic athletes, but you can’t dispute they are the most disciplined group of people we may ever know. They practice for hours and they play despite injury, sickness, and fatigue. They never stop and they never give up. They learned a long time ago that winners never quit and quitters never win. With anything you want to achieve, self discipline is key because you will encounter bad days, sick days and days when you’re just exhausted but you have to be disciplined enough to keep moving.

Lesson#2- Persistence
Olympic athletes learned something a long time ago that must of us have a hard time dealing with: failure. They recognize that failure is part of the learning curve and that they will fail and they will lose. But they never allow it to break their spirits, their hopes or their dreams. No, they keep learning and growing and keep pushing until they succeed.

Lesson #3-Sacrifice & Hard Work
Who doubts that Olympians make enormous sacrifices? While the rest of us are sleeping, going out to dinner with friends and family, traveling and living a normal life, they are doing anything but that. They practice from dawn to dusk and they spend the majority of their day training. It’s more than most of us could handle or deal with and while I’m not advocating spending every waking moment pursuing your dreams the truth is sacrifice and hard work are required to achieve any dream. I remember watching an interview by actor Will Smith where he talked about his success. In that interview he said that he may not be the smartest person, but he was the hardest worker. He stated that if he and another person were on a treadmill that one thing he knew for sure and that was the other person was stopping first.
It is a powerful statement about sacrifice and work ethic and it is probably the greatest reason for why Olympic athletes are Olympians. Ask yourself what are you willing to sacrifice to pursue your dreams and how hard are you working for it. Do you spend an hour a day on goal attainment when you could be spending 3 or 4. This week is the week to get honest with your self.

Why is it that so many Olympic athletes return and compete in Olympics after Olympics still at the top of their game? It is because they don’t rest on their laurels or their accomplishments. They continue to improve understanding that they are always competing against themselves to improve their time, to beat their last medal count, i.e., to simply do more and be better than the last time. Think about this. How many of us have continuous improvement baked into our success strategy? Not many. Most people, and corporations for that matter, rely on our success. Once we’ve “made” it, we stop innovating and pushing forward. Ask yourself today, are you doing that? Are their areas where you can improve?

So now that you know what it takes to be a champion, what do you plan to do about it?

If you're having trouble getting started or staying on course, consider our Partners In Success Program. Click HERE to learn more.

Crush Your Competition

2010-02-23T03:00:00.002-05:00

"You are never really playing an opponent. You are playing yourself, your own highest standards, and when you reach your limits, that is real joy."
~Arthur Ashe

Are you ready to grow your business like an Olympian? Over the past week, Shani Davis has done for speed skating what Arthur Ashe did for tennis--won gold medals in a sport not traditionally performed by blacks. Apolo Anton Ohno has done for the winter Olympics what Michael Phelps did for the summer games--won record Olympic medals. And Team USA beat Team Canada for the first time in 25 years.

Champions don't just happen. These people endure hours of grueling training every day to ensure peak performance during competition. They push past injuries, surgeries, illnesses. When they fall down, they don't stay there. They get back up, and then they get back in the game.

Here are a few ways you can incorporate Olympic-style training in your business:

Overcome Self-Limiting Beliefs. Self-limiting beliefs are those things you believe about yourself and your business: My business is too small. I'll never make a profit. People won't buy from me because I'm a minority.

Your business is limited only by your beliefs. A change in your thinking can turn the tides in your favor.

Train Hard. Have you read any good business books lately? How about attending a business class? Olympic competitors train for hours every day. You should do the same for your business. Attend seminars, webinars, and teleseminars regularly. Read books to stay motivated and informed. Take classes to stay sharp and up on the latest trends in your business.

Spy on your competitors. No matter how good a team is, they don't sleep on their competition. And neither should you. You have to study your competitors, so that you'll know how to position yourself. Championship sports teams watch videos of their competitors. Before you run out and hire a private investigator to tape the goings-on of the business next door, there is a site that allows you to LEGALLY tap into your competitors online marketing strategy. Compete.com allows you to see traffic and engagement metrics for any website and analyze competitors keywords for search word strategies.

Hire a coach. Everyone has areas that they can improve upon. A coach can help you see your blind spots. They can provide objective feedback, and keep you accountable by providing progress reports.

Are you ready to crush your competition?

48 Hour Giveaway: Win A Free 60 Minute Strategy Session! ($150 Value)

2010-02-21T23:59:00.001-05:00

FIGHT FOR YOUR DREAMS: DON'T LET FEAR, PROCRASTINATION OR ANYTHING ELSE DESTROY YOUR DREAMS

Do you have an idea but not sure what to do next?

Have you taken some steps toward your dreams but you really haven’t taken flight?

Does fear have a grip on you and won’t let go?

The Time Has Come For You To Do Something About It!

As part of Fight For Your Dream Week, the Millionaire Journey is giving away a free 60 Minute Strategy Session to TWO people where you will learn how to jumpstart your dreams and send fear packing once and for all! (Sessions will be with Kim)

What does this session include:
1. In depth review of your dream/goal or idea generation if you don’t already know what you want to do. (Includes analysis, critique of idea for commercial viability and progress to date)
2. Detailed Action plan with steps you can take immediately
3. An aggressive but reasonable timeline for goal achievement
4. Sound tips and advice on how to fight for your dreams

How to qualify to win the Strategy Session?

1. Sign up to follow Millionaire Journey on Facebook
2. Sign up for our newsletter either on the Fan Page or at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com. 3. Sign up to follow us by clicking on the Follow Button at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com.
4. Add a comment to this post letting us know you have completed all tasks. Include your name (initials are acceptable) and email so we will know where to contact you if you win.

Entries are only accepted for 48 hours! Contest ends 11:59 pm Tuesday, February 23, 2010. Winners will be announced on Wednesday. Any ideas discussed at the strategy session will remain confidential.

Take Action Tuesday: Ask Life For What You Want

2010-02-16T03:00:00.000-05:00

The Wage

I bargained with life for a penny,
and life would pay no more
however I pleaded at evening
As I county my scanty store.

For Life is a just employer,
who will pay you what you ask,
but once you have set the wages
Then you must bear the task,

I bargained with life for a penny,
Only to learn dismayed,
That whatever wage I had asked of life,
Life would have gladly paid.

What have you asked of life? Has it been a little or a lot? Remember, life is just a vehicle designed to take you where you want to go but it’s up to you. If you haven't asked enough of life, take action today to make sure start demanding more. .

Are Women Educating Themselves Out of the Dating Pool?

2010-02-12T06:21:00.004-05:00

Love is in the air.

It's Feedback Friday on The Millionaire Journey, and we want to hear from YOU! It's Valentine's Day weekend, and lots of women will be spending it alone. Some by choice. Others by chance.

They're smart, sexy and beautiful. They're also educated and making a strong salary. It's not that they don't want a man, but the men who say they want a smart, beautiful woman are intimidated by their (perceived) independence.

Our Feedback Friday question is a two-parter, Are Women Educating Themselves Out of the Dating Pool? Should they downplay their intelligence to get a man?

Competition: The Disease of the Soul

2010-02-08T01:00:00.001-05:00

Recently, singer/actress/diva Beyonce Knowles was on 60 Minutes discussing her success. One of the questions asked of her was whether she and husband, Jay Z, compete against each other. Beyonce’s response was in essence I don’t compete against others but against myself.

It’s a profoundly simple but true statement. Yet, I know many couples, siblings and friends whose entire relationship centers around competition. They compete to be top wage earner, most successful, best looking, best dressed, best cook or best anything. They compete to compete, and they approach their relationship as I win, you lose.

I’m no relationship expert but any relationship structured this way seems destined to fail because their definition of success includes a comparative component that they can’t win unless someone else loses.

Now this doesn’t mean that all competition is bad. In fact, I personally believe competition is healthy because it challenges you to reach beyond your comfort zone. The competition, I’m concerned about is not healthy competition but destructive competition with the people in your life.

After all, these are the people in your life! Think about how you feel when you lose. You feel rejected, like a failure and at times, a bit hopeless. Why would anyone want to create these feelings in their partner, sibling or friend? This truly couldn’t be in the best interest of a relationship. Your goal in any relationship should not be how you can get more and they get less but how you both can emerge with plenty!

The bottom line is a healthy competitor understands that you compete against a standard not people. If you’re someone who is in a relationship where competition rules the day, find a way to build self esteem in some other way than making those you love feel bad. Doing so will allow you to form a better relationship. Otherwise, you will have succeeded on the Millionaire Journey but it certainly will be lonely at the top.

Kim

Free Brian Tracy CD: 21 Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

2010-02-07T17:24:00.003-05:00

Brian Tracy Audio Programs - Now all are FREE!

Become a millionaire quicker and faster. Check out these Brian Tracy Audio Programs. Tracy is allowing you to select one of his audio programs for free. I selected his 21 Success Secrets of Self Made Millionaires. You will have to pay shipping and a small $3 processing fee but the price will show as free once you move to checkout. I've heard good things about this CD. To get the CD, click on the NOW ALL ARE FREE WORDS ABOVE or the banner.

Feedback Friday: How Do You Handle Money Requests From Family?

2010-02-04T18:51:00.006-05:00

Our MJ theme for February is Love and Money. And we know that these two things don't always mesh well, especially when it comes to family.

We see it all the time, someone hits the jackpot (wins the lottery, signs a professional sports or recording contract, wins American Idol), and before long, family (some they didn't even know they had) are standing in line with a sense of entitlement to their "winnings."

This week American Idol winner Fantasia Barrino was on Oprah discussing her financial woes, and how she almost lost both of her houses, and couldn't even afford to buy a pizza two year ago (this was AFTER winning Idol)because she was taking care of her entire family. She now has a reality TV show on VH1 called Fantasia For Real, and on the show, we see that she is the only adult in her house who works, and when she finally puts her foot down and starts saying no, her brother has a meltdown. (Check out the videos here.)

Our Feedback Friday question is: How do you handle money requests from family?

MILLIONAIRE JOURNEY LAUNCHES PARTNER IN SUCCESS PROGRAM

2010-02-02T22:45:00.020-05:00

Are you having trouble staying on track, setting goals or even getting motivated to achieve your dreams?

THE SECRET IS OUT AND THE ANSWER IS YES! WE HAVE ALL BEEN THERE. THE KEY IS NOT TO REMAIN THERE.

YOU NO LONGER HAVE TO GO IT ALONE!

INTRODUCING THE:

Partners In Success Accountability Program

With the Partners In Success Accountability Program, we partner with you to help you reach your goals and redirect your life.

Our integrated approach to success attainment emphasizes FOCUSED ACTION and DISCIPLINE within a supportive environment while offering you the support and motivation you need to ensure consistent progress toward goal achievement.

With us as your accountability partners, you will get the guidance you need to succeed and stay on track.

Let's face it. No amount of goal setting, inspiration or desire means anything unless you take action!!

And truthfully sometimes you just need a kick in the pants to jump start and sustain you.

The Partners In Success Accountability Program Is Here To Provide That Loving Kick.

With us, you will get the support and online tools and resources you need to set attainable goals, stay on track and keep the motivation engine roaring.

You will learn practical strategies to help reach your goals.

“Success is never a destination -- it's a journey.”
Satenig St. Marie

WHAT DO YOU GET?

With our program, you get the following:

1. Free 60 minute strategy session - ($150 Value)

2. An ACTION DRIVEN customized plan with supportive techniques adapted to your unique needs. ($75 Value)

3. A Monthly 60 MINUTE ONE ON ONE CALL with an accountability partner (Kim or Lisa) focused on goal achievement at a time convenient for you. Calls are designed to fit your specific needs and to give you focus, support and accountability and can be centered on goal achievement in any area your wish such as

     - Financial Independence
     - Weight Management
     - Career Progression
     - Dream Attainment

4. You will RECEIVE A RECORDING of the call 24 hours following your session. ($150 VALUE)

5. Free UNLIMITED access to a MEMBER'S ONLY premium site with interactive, user friendly tools and exclusive, more in depth content. ($50 VALUE)

6. Free admission to all Webinars

7. Motivational emails designed to help you stay the course on the road to achieving your dreams

Because of the hands on integrative approach we take, this program is limited to the first 20 people!

HOW MUCH DOES IT COST?
$50/ monthly investment. If you sign up by February 8, 2010 you can take advantage of our

INTRODUCTORY SPECIAL:

PAY FOR THE FIRST MONTH, GET THE SECOND ONE FREE!!!!

WHEN DOES IT START?
Immediately

Make Money Monday: MLM As A Profitable Income Stream

2010-02-01T03:00:00.001-05:00

What should you look for in an effective Multilevel Marketing “MLM” program? What are the warning signs to look for that will tell you that a MLM program is not on the up and up? This and other issues relating to MLM or referral marketing programs are discussed and explored in the Millionaire Journey’s recent interview with MLMers Larry Cheatham and Raymond Abernathy.

Larry has been involved in the MLM industry for 20 years and operates a successful real estate holdings company in Texas called Xavier Business Group. Raymond has been a MLMer for approximately 10 years and is an accomplished businessman, educator and speaker. He is with among one of the most successful leadership development corporations in the world and is always in constant demand across the United States and abroad to teach on leadership, personal business development and network marketing as a financial option for the 21st century

Larry and Raymond are personal friends, Partners In Success, and fans of the Millionaire Journey and came to this interview with a wealth of knowledge about MLM and wanted to discuss it as an income stream because they believe that despite the sometimes misunderstood history of the industry, it is primed for an explosion.

In this interview, you will learn:

*What to look for in a MLM program (How about How to Spot a Legitimate MLM Program)

*Why you should consider MLM as a component of your wealth strategy

*The top myths surrounding MLM

*How to write your own paycheck through MLM vs. the traditional business route

*Why most people are going about wealth creation backwards

*The 6 things Millionaire J. Paul Getty teaches are needed for success

*Who shouldn’t be involved in MLM

and so much more!!!

Check out the interview HERE

To learn more about Larry and Raymond and their team click HERE

Also stay tuned for our announcement this week on the Millionaire Journey's Partners In Success Program and how Lisa and Kim can partner with you to help you achiever your goals.

Join Us Tonight For Our February Telerally

2010-02-01T01:17:00.005-05:00

We’re already one month into the New Year, and it’s time for a reflection: Where are you with your goals?

Whether you were on the Send Fear Packing call last month, or are a fan of the Millionaire Journey by way of Facebook or our blog updates, the one thing you know for sure is that Kim Crouch and Lisa Maria Carroll are all about overcoming fear, setting aggressive deadlines, taking massive action and being accountable.

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Many of you have reached out to us in search of an accountability partner to help you reach your goals and redirect your life. Well, you called, and we answered.

Join us tonight for our T.E.A.M.WORK telerally, where we’ll:

Announce our Millionaire Journey theme for the month
Share with you the ways that partnerships can help you get what you really want out of life
Announce ways we can T.E.A.M.-UP to help you reach your goals

If you are serious about achieving new heights and getting to the million-dollar goal line, then we want to hear you on the call tonight!

It’s time to be accountable for your goals and actions, and we’re here to help you do it!

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Join us tonight, February 1, 2010, for the MILLIONAIRE JOURNEY T.E.A.M.WORK TELERALLY to learn how we can TEAM-UP to help you reach your goals.

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Date: February 1, 2010
Time: 9:00pm Eastern

Dial-in: 402-237-2015
Access: 705687#

Feedback Friday: What Have You Learned?

2010-01-29T00:01:00.000-05:00

It's the first full month of 2010 and many of you have made resolutions. But we all know resolutions are only as good as the will and effort you put into making them come to fruition.

So what is the most important thing you've learned this month, about sticking with and making your resolutions a reality?

No Matter What: Persevere! Here's How

2010-01-28T00:01:00.000-05:00

Many of us probably felt like 2009 was a failure and that it was a year we wished we could have avoided. I understand. We all have dreams and we all reach for the stars and a lot of times we don’t make it at first. It even seems that sometimes everyone around us is moving and accomplishing great things and we didn’t.

However, Confucius once said, “Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall.” Here is a video I came across interesting from Honda, the car company, Dream the Impossible series. It’s entitled Failure: The Secret to Success.

This video is all about persevering. In 2010, know victory is yours. You can do it.

Just remember the 5 ways you can send fear packing.

1. Set your eyes on the prize. Write it down and set deadlines.
2. Take Small steps.
3. Try, Try Again. Remember the law of large number
4. Create a support group (Board of Advisors, get a mentor, accountability partners)
5. Visualize your future.

And most importantly, no matter what you do! Just persevere.

To see more videos from the Honda series click HERE

Recommended Readings To Conquer Fear:

The 50th Law

Conquering Fear: Living Boldly in an Uncertain World

Make Today Count: The Secret of Your Success Is Determined by Your Daily Agenda

Power Wellness Wednesday: 7 Ways To Stop Worrying About Money

2010-01-27T03:07:00.004-05:00

How often do you worry about money? Once a week? Once a day? All of the time? Worrying about money isn’t only a waste of time, it’s unhealthy, because as you worry, you put unnecessary stress on yourself. So if money worries are keeping you up nights or interfering with your life, keep reading for tips on how you can get back in control!

A few years ago I was laid off from my job. For many people this can and will be a most stressful situation, especially if you’re the primary provider for your family and you have failed to plan or under planned.

As an independent contractor I expect to be let go when my project ends. It's one of those no-brainers of consulting. But like many people, I fell short when it came to planning for the downtime I would have between gigs. I received unemployment for one year, but after that well ran dry, I still didn't have a job or another project lined up. My failure to plan led to me constantly worrying about how I was going to pay my bills--even the basic needs--like rent and food.

But here's the good news, once I rebounded from that, I learned how to not fall into that pitfall again. And, you can do the same things I did to stop worrying about money, once and for all.

Establish an emergency fund. Everyone should have an emergency fund. It is recommended that you have at least six months salary in that fund getting to that benchmark starts with saving one-month's salary, and building from there. Even if it's adding only $10 more per pay period to your savings, do it. I recommend using ING high-yield savings accounts for your emergency fund, because it takes a couple of days to withdraw the money. Having money that’s easy to get to--but not TOO easy--will make you think twice about what is or isn't an actually emergency.

Pay down debt. The easiest way to get out of debt is to pay your bills. Avoiding creditors doesn't make the bills go away. If you have consumer debt, pick out an amount you can afford each month and apply it to your highest-rate debt using some sort of autopay. Repeat every month until it’s gone. This way you can forget about it and not spend time worrying about it.

Put bills on autopay. Paying your bills can be as easy as setting the autopay up through your bank to be a certain amount each month – and then forgetting about it! If you’re still writing checks and mailing them in, you’re creating a lot of worry that you don’t need!

Get organized. Keep all of your receipts and tax records going back six years. Have a file for these things, as well as bank statments and investments. When you need something, you’ll know exactly where it is.

Create a budget. One of the best ways to get money off your mind is to set aside specific blocks of time to balance your checkbook, budget, and pay bills. I recommend looking over your spending once a week, and paying bills once a month.

Just do it. When you spend too much time worrying about bills, you spend too little time taking action to make changes. If you are going to spend time worrying about money, why not use that time and get a side job instead or starting a home-based business? Kim has written some great articles on how to make money blogging and taking surveys:

10 Ways to Make Money Blogging
Make Money Blogging, Part 2
Make Money Monday: 3 Easy Ways to Monetize Your Blog

Keep the faith. Stand strong in your faith, and trust that your needs will be provided. But, don't use that as an excuse to not take action.

As you can see, with a little planning, you can spend less time worrying about money, and more time enjoying it.

Worry never climbed a hill, worry never paid a bill.
Worry never dried a tear, worry never calmed a fear.
Worry never darned a heel, worry never cooked a meal.
It never led a horse to water, nor ever did a thing it "oughter."
~Anonymous

See you on the Millionaire Side,

Lisa Maria Carroll

Kim Crouch and Lisa Maria Carroll are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Take Action Tuesday: Write a Letter to Your Future Self

2010-01-26T00:01:00.005-05:00

Where do you see yourself in the future?

Imagine writing a letter to your future self, then opening it at that exact moment in the future to see how much of it resonates with you. It can be your Freedom Statement, your exit strategy, your millionaire target date, or anything you want it to be.

This weekend I rediscovered an incredible website where you can write such a letter and then have it delivered to your email inbox on the date that you choose. It is a useful supplementary tool to be used in goal achievement, because when you write the letter to your future self, it helps crystallize exactly how you anticipate yourself to become at that specific moment in the future. As you read the letter in the future, you can assess how many things match up (or not) vs. what your expectations were.

Click here to send yourself a letter now.

Kim Crouch and Lisa Maria Carroll are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Make Money Monday: 3 Creative Ways To Fund Your Dream

2010-01-25T05:00:00.002-05:00

Last Thursday, Lisa Maria Carroll and I hosted a webinar: How To Fund Your Dreams. We hosted this webinar because we know there’s nothing worst than having a great idea for a business, program or a project and not having the money to fund the idea. I’m a firm believer that innovation is a great equalizer for the lack of money. So the less money you have the more innovative you need to be.

In that webinar, many of you discussed that you wanted to write books and start businesses, and we told you about the 7 ways to fund your dream. Here are 3 more innovative ways to help you fund your dreams:

1. Internet. The internet has become a great creator of wealth. Likewise, it is also one of the best ways to generate funds for your dreams. Kickstarter.com and DonorsChoose.org are two sites that allow you to raise money that don’t have to be strictly for charitable purposes. Although DonorsChoose.org is specifically for teachers (you can request donations for supplies, etc), Kickstarter.com allows you to request funds for a variety of personal projects from funding to make your CD to money to publish a book. Contributors select how much toward your goal they would like to give. Note there are fees that apply upon successful project funding. For nonprofits, consider sites such as Networkforgood.org, causes.com and Justgive.org.

2. Personal blogs/websites. Consider using your personal blog or website to solicit funds for your projects. Using your blog or personal website especially if it has a project that fits the niche of your blog or website can allow you to closely connect with the people most likely to contribute to your project: your followers. Sites like Chipin.com can help you raise such money by creating widgets you place on your site.

3. Household/Barter. Look around your house. Many people buy so many things they don’t need or fail to use. Gather up all those clothes, DVDs and old appliances you no longer use and have a garage sale, sell them to a used or consignment shop. Sell your used books on Amazon.com. The bottom line: sell the things you no longer need to help finance the things you do need. Additionally, most people have forgotten the barter system. See if you can barter your services in exchange for services you may need. For example, if you’re an attorney in need of graphic design work can you barter legal services with a graphic design person who may need contracts written or trademarks filed. If you don’t think you have a skill set you can barter like legal services what can you do? Can you babysit, housesit, mow someone’s lawn in exchange for services. You are only limited by your own creativity. So get creative.

In the end, there are many ways to fund your dream. Don’t be stymied if traditional methods for funding seem limited or no longer exist. Think creatively, use the internet and your own site to help you raise money. Your dreams are worth it.

Kim Crouch and Lisa Maria Carroll are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Feedback Friday: I'd Love to Have a Date

2010-01-22T03:40:00.008-05:00

We had an awesome webinar last night on how to fund your dreams. Several people on the call and in the chat room shared their dreams of starting businesses, and one of the ways that we gave for people to fund their dreams is to find hidden money. Now, hidden money is money you didn't know you had or didn't know was available to you. (You can visit http://www.missingmoney.com/ to find out if you have money available.) The money on this site could be from a multitude of things, for instance, a rent deposit that wasn't returned to you because you didn't leave a forwarding address with the landlord, money or jewelry from an abandoned safe deposit box, or money from a deceased relative. It's definitely worth visiting the site to find out if you have money coming to you.

What I really loved about last night's call is that within an hour of it ending, we got Facebook updates from two people saying that they found money. (Think deadline. Don't put it off until tomorrow, when you can make it happen today.) One found money from her old university, while the other person simply said that it was not a big amount, but nevertheless, she was excited to know that there was money waiting for her. I like how she put that: it was WAITING for her. And that's what our dreams are doing for us. They're waiting for us to set some deadlines to bring them to fruition.

And that's exactly what I'm doing today. I'm giving myself a deadline, instead of this timeframe I've been operating in.

drumroll, please......

I'm finally going to FINISH writing a book that I've talked about writing for at least the last decade. And you know what else? I'm giving it a deadline: February 28, 2010. Not only will I have this book written, but also published by this date. And as accountability partners on this journey, I want everyone to hold me to it. Check in. Nudge me. Yell...

Starting a publishing company was one of the things I identified as an income stream (not to be confused with a "possible" income stream) to get me to the million-dollar mark. Well, it's happening now. My first book, The Gold-Digger Theory will be published next month. (Preview the blog here.) I then plan.....no, not plan, I will publish a book each quarter this year. Aggressive? Yes. Doable? Absolutely.

Give us your feedback: You have dreams seeded inside of you. What is your deadline to make it happen? In other words, give me a date.

Power Wellness Wednesday: The Millionaire Self-Care Plan

2010-01-20T19:33:00.025-05:00

Your health is your greatest wealth.

One of the first things that came to mind when I came up with the brilliant idea that I wanted to be a millionaire in one year was that I need to be well mentally, physically, and emotionally in order to achieve my desired outcome. I knew that any illness could stop me dead in my tracks, delay my goal, or perhaps even bring it to a screeching halt.

I started the Journey in October 2009, the same month that I started a new consulting gig in the DMV (DC-, Maryland-, Virginia-area). At that time I had only been here for two short months, so I hadn’t yet coordinated any sort of medical care locally (doctor, dentist, etc.). But, since I saw maintaining overall good health as being part of the Journey, I included all foreseen medical treatments, including, Orthodontic appointments, Orthognathic surgery, and my annual visit to my physician's assistant, on my road map to financial independence. I developed what I now call my Millionaire Self-Care Plan.

The month that I started the Journey also marked the 18-month mark that I'd had braces on my teeth. The original treatment plan was for me to wear the braces for 18-months, have orthognathic surgery at that point (an oral surgeon would break and then realign my jaw), and then wear the braces for two to six more months. But, somewhere in between all of that happening, life stepped in. The project that I was working on ended, and I left Minnesota in hopes of finding a job in another state. During that time, I saw my Orthodontist only one of the four times that I should have. And my lack of self care resulted in the wire on my lower teeth being bent and lifting a tooth in a way that my Orthodontist didn't want it to. The result: another six- to 12-months of treatments.

That's when I had to get real with myself because, as a mother, I never would have neglected my kids' health. So why was I neglecting mine? Whenever one of my children got sick, I didn't miss a beat. If it required me moving mountains, then that's what I did. But, here I was now making excuses for not taking care of myself: I can't afford to fly back to Minnesota every other month. Or, I don't want to be out of town if I get a call for an interview. Or, I don't want to buy a plane ticket, and then get a call to start work before I can use it.

Excuses Be Gone
I'm that mother who told an employer that they would have to hold a job indefinitely, or give it to someone else, when I got a call from the hospital the night before I was supposed to start, telling me they didn't think my daughter was going to make it through the night. I'm that same mother who was primed and ready to tell her supervisor exactly where he could put his job when my daughter's Orthopedic Surgeon decided to fuse her spine after her orthosis failed to correct her scoliosis. I needed to take a month off work during her recovery, and he told me he didn't know why I needed to be with her since she had nurses at the hospital to care for her around the clock.

This Journey has awakened this mother to her need to take the same proactive approach to keeping herself healthy.

The Self-Care Plan
My first stop: the Orthodontist office. There was no sense in delaying the inevitable. As much as I didn't want it to be true, I knew I had to face the reality that I was going to have to wear braces for at least six months longer than originally planned. And then it was time to see my physician's assistant "PA."

I love my PA, and I think she's very competent. But I try to avoid her like the plague, because if it ain't one thing, it's two or three. The last time I had been in her office, she referred me to a radiologist because my uterus felt big (just stay with me here). She said that it could be fibroids, and asked if I had been having heavy periods. No, and no was my answer, so she continued poking and probing. At the end of the exam, the technician drew blood, and my hemoglobin level was 10, and my red blood cell count was low. These were indicators of my overall health, which wasn't faring in my favor.

"Have you been feeling dizzy, because your hemoglobin level is in the range of a cancer patient"?

"Nope, haven't felt dizzy at all."

"Well, since you've had some rectal bleeding, and your dad has colon cancer, I'm going to refer you to a gastroenterologist."

So, not only did I leave with a referral to a radiologist for an ultrasound to see if I had fibroids, but also one for a mammogram, and yet another one for a colonoscopy.

What I didn't tell her was that I had been having rectal bleeding for exactly one year and 11 months because I was afraid of the "possible" diagnosis. After all, my dad was given two- to six-months to live when he was diagnosed with colon cancer (nine years later, and he's still doing well). And that's around the same time that bestselling author and Spiritualist Iyanla Vanzant's daughter died of the disease at the young age of 31. So I kept telling myself, "It could be cancer! It could be cancer!" in my best Chicken Little impersonation. But once I finally faced my fears head-on, I was relieved that it wasn't cancer, and frustrated that I hadn't taken better care of myself. I was also frustrated that the gastroenterologist told me I had hemorrhoids and prescribed a laxative. Surely, I would know if I had hemorrhoids, right? And if I had them, were they the cause of the heavy rectal bleeding?

Self-Diagnosis
When I got home that day I decided to do my own research online. I searched fibroid symptoms and treatments (My PA had suggested a hysterectomy, but that wasn't an option I was willing to consider.) The only symptom my PA had mentioned during my visit was heavy menstrual bleeding. But, I soon found out that I had a host of other symptoms, including pain and numbness in my hip, leg and foot; pelvic pain (at times I felt like I was carrying a bowling ball); and frequent urination. This explained my recent visits to the Podiatrist and Orthopedic Surgeon.

The Podiatrist couldn't explain the pain in my foot, so she simply suggested that I get orthotics (shoe inserts). And after an MRI that showed that nothing was wrong, my Orthopedic Surgeon thought that a series of cortisone injections in my lower back should take care of my hip pain. At that point, I was willing to try just about anything. And since he was the doctor, I set up the appointment for my first shot. I was instructed that I wouldn't be able to drive myself home afterwards, so I arranged for my daughter to take me.

Well, let me tell you, I was in far more pain after that shot than anything I had been experiencing. The radiologist ensured me that this was normal, and that I should slowly start to feel better. Nope, didn't happen. The pain got progressively worse throughout the day, and the only explanation I got from the Orthopedic Surgeon and a co-worker who had similar symptoms, was to stick with the treatment and keep getting the shots. Since I failed to see any logic in continuing getting steroid shots that made me feel worse, that was my first and only one.

The next day I called an aunt who swears by herbs and prefers homeopathic treatments over steroid shots any day. I'd overheard her talking about a detox system at the family reunion that year, and I wanted to give it a try. The products are only available online at http://www.drnatura.com/. I ordered a three-month supply and got started immediately. One of my co-workers who suffered from fibromyalgia and had an autistic son said I needed to also change my diet by eating strictly organic and free-range foods. So, off to Whole Foods I went.

At first I thought I wouldn't be able to keep this lifestyle up because I couldn't afford it. (Eating organic is NOT cheap.) But the reality is I couldn't afford not to keep it up, because I couldn't afford to be sick. I was taking time off work. And the pain and discomfort I was felt was affecting my lifestyle in such a way that I couldn't enjoy spending any of the money I was making. At that point I started seeing an investment in my health as one of the greatest investments that I could make. As part of my lifestyle change, I ordered Jordan Rubin's book, The Maker's Diet. Rubin nearly died from an inflammatory bowel disease that caused him to lose 50 pounds and suffer severe pains. His diet is based on Biblical teachings.

A New Normal
Within two weeks of starting the detox system, the rectal bleeding stopped, and the pain in my hip, leg and foot were gone. I also noticed that my periods were lighter and I no longer felt like I was carrying a bowling ball in my abdomen. Remember when the doctor I asked if I'd been having heavy period and I told her no? Well, I had been "sick" for so long that sick felt normal.
I was surprised how much more energy I had when I went for a follow-up visit a month later and my hemoglobin level was 12.8.

Welcome to the DMV
Last week a co-worker who is a fellow consultant, didn't make it into the office (she lives in another state) because she was having chest pains. She said the pains had started on Tuesday, but she toughed it out until she went back home on Friday and could see her own doctor. That's when I knew it was time to get local insurance, along with a local doctor for myself. I'll still get my Orthodontic treatments in Minnesota. But, as for health care, I need a doctor who can coordinate all of my treatments. I don't commute back to Minnesota each week. And since I no longer consider that home, it's time for me to drop my insurance there, and sign on with CareFirst, a division of Blue Cross/Blue Shield that offers insurance for freelancers and the self-employed.

It's important that I keep myself well on the Journey. Because my health truly is my greatest wealth.

Hate Your Job? Why I Think You Should Stay?

2010-01-18T18:09:00.005-05:00

It’s no surprise to me that many Americans hate their jobs. So when The Conference Board research group released a study that found that 55 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with their jobs, I thought duh? Tell me something I don’t know.

The truth is many Americans are in jobs they don’t want to do because they fear pursuing the jobs or their dreams that they really want to do. Even so, my advice is if you’re one of the people who make up the 55 percent and are considering leaving your job, my advice is to STAY! Yes, I said STAY! At least, for a little while.

Why do I say that? Because the truth is, most people should be striving in this life time for true ownership and, for most people, their current job provides the greatest opportunity to obtain such ownership. According to the book the 50th Law, true ownership is not about material possessions, money or titles. Rather, true ownership comes from within and the ability to be self reliant and confident in your decisions. In essence, it is ultimately the right to own yourself, your thoughts and your upward mobility.

So how can a job you hate help you obtain ownership?

1. Rethink how you see your job. A lot of people dislike their jobs because they feel dependent on their jobs to earn a living and because it takes up a significant amount of their time leaving them very little time to do the things they really want to do. The key is to transform your thinking. Stop seeing your job as a place of work but as a laboratory or a breeding ground for starting your own business or what you want to do. Use your time wisely at the job to learn everything you can about how business work, including marketing, promotion and sales. Use it to help you develop your interpersonal skills, to teach you how to form partnerships, collaboration and about teamwork. All of these skills will be useful when you venture out on your own. Ultimately, if you view your job as a startup for your future business or goal, you will acquire ownership over your job rather than allowing the job to have ownership over you.

2. Increase your responsibility. Seek out greater responsibility because this will teach you how to make better decisions. You want to learn the components of a good decision because it will aid you as you move in the direction of ownership. Believe me, it is much better to make mistakes on someone else’s dime than having to learn on yours.

3. Make Your Money Work For You. Many people live paycheck to paycheck so they get a job because they must work for money. But in the wise words of Robert Kiyosaki author of Rich Dad, Poor Dad, to build wealth, people must make their money work for them. For most people, their job provides the greatest opportunity to do this. As such, stop working for money and begin to see your job as an opportunity to fund your dreams or to at least put you in a position to pursue those dreams. Begin putting money aside and/or investing with the salary you make at your job. Set an amount that you must generate or save that will allow you to leave your job: this is the essence of making your money work for you.

So before you quit your job or become complacent in the one you already have, recognize that your job may be the goose that lays the golden egg in terms of providing an abundance of opportunity for you to obtain the skills and mentality necessary to obtain true ownership over your life.

Want to get started on the road to ownership, register to attend the How To Fund Your Dreams webinar on Thursday, January 21, 2010 from 9 to 10 pm EST.

Kim Crouch and Lisa Maria Carroll are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Make Money Monday: 3 Easy Ways To Monetize Your Blog

2010-01-17T21:19:00.010-05:00

Now that you’ve learned how to create a blog and you have it all designed, the next thing you should consider is monetizing it. I know some of you just blog to discuss issues or to provide your opinions on matters but there is no reason you shouldn’t get paid while you’re at it. There are three simple ways to monetize your blog:

1. Amazon Associates. One of the reasons that I like being an Amazon Associate is because of the ease of using Amazon. Amazon is everywhere and they sell everything from baby clothes to books. So how does it work? You link to various Amazon products on your blog either off to the side or within your blog posts and every time someone clicks on your link and purchases that item or other items once they link through to the Amazon site, you get paid a commission! It’s that simple. So if you’re blogging about an issue, why not link to a recommended book about the subject sold by Amazon.

Amazon has a tiered system and your commission rate increases as you move up the tiered system. As an Amazon Associate, you can sell anything Amazon does such as books, music, DVDs and clothes, etc. To sign up, click HERE

2. Google Adsense. Adsense is probably the easiest of the ways to monetize your blog. Adsense offers unobtrusive ads that you display on your website or blog. You earn money when users visit your site and click on or view the ads on your page depending on the type of ads you select for placement. Click HERE to sign up for Google Adsense.

3. Infolinks. Infolinks is a contextual inline ad program that allow you to add code to your blog that automatically searches each article and create text links on keywords to promote products. Revenue is generated when a reader clicks on one of the links. Once you install the code, no additional code or work is required. All you do is post your blog and the ads are automatically synched up with the keywords. To sign up for Infolinks, click here.

Now there are other ways to monetize your blog such as direct advertising (this requires you have a good deal of traffic) and affiliate marketing, which will be discussed at a future post. The 3 methods listed above are easy, require very little maintenance and don’t require an enormous amount of traffic.

Feedback Friday: What Is Your Fear Factor?

2010-01-15T03:55:00.002-05:00

It's Feedback Friday on the Millionaire Journey, and we want to hear from you. This week we showed you how to write a vision statement, define your wealth strategy, and write a freedom statement. Now, we want to hear what's really holding you back?

What would you be doing with your life right now if fear wasn't a factor? Would you start a business, travel the world, get married, start a family, leave an abusive relationship (platonic, romantc, familial or business)?

Are you afraid of success or failure, falling down or standing on your own? Do you worry about what people will think and say about you if you dare to live your dreams?

Share your dreams and ambitions with us, and why you're afraid of 'just doing it.' Then, let's talk solutions, "How can we help you get there"?

Lisa Maria Carroll and Kim Crouch are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Some Day We Will All Be Free? When Will You Be Free?

2010-01-13T21:00:00.006-05:00

Many of us want to be financially free. We long for the day when financial freedom is ours. But I ask, have you written your freedom statement? Your Freedom Statement is a written definitive guide of your vision for wealth and your plan for execution. In essence, your path to freedom.

Your freedom statement a.k.a. your wealth strategy contains your millionaire model and how you’re going to achieve wealth, a timetable for achieving wealth and some guiding principles. Like any good written plan, your Freedom Statement is like a road map: it shows your final destination and the best route to get there.

I know you think this is pretty basic but you would be surprised how many people don’t write things down. I firmly believe that if it isn’t written it doesn’t exist. So if you need help mapping your Freedom Statement or your path to wealth then sign up for the Defining Your Wealth webinar.

In that webinar, some of the things you will learn include:

-How to create your Freedom Statement (Wealth Strategy)
-What are the millionaire models
-How to assess your net worth
-The millionaire checklist

To register, click HERE.

Take Action Tuesday: Write Your Vision Statement

2010-01-12T00:01:00.003-05:00

border="0" hspace="0" hspace="0" > One of the best selling books of the last decade was The Secret. This book teaches that one's positive thoughts are powerful magnets that attract wealth, health, and happiness.

The Secret was about more than just dreaming. It was about getting crystal clear about what you want the Universe to deliver. Although most people have an idea of what they want to be in life, the biggest majority have never taken the time to write a vision of the life they dream about. They settle for getting by with where they are and what they have. They live a life of frustration and stress and never experience the joy of reaching their goals. For many of them, accomplishing what they dream of is a challenge because they fail to articulate what it is they want. their dreams will never become a reality until we act upon them.

Clearly See Your Dream
When your picture of what you want your life to be is not clear you will have trouble knowing what plan of action you need. Clarity in your mental picture will give a more detailed understanding of what actions you need day-by-day to live the life you desire.

A personal vision statement is a picture of your true self in the future. It is who you want to be, what you want to do, how you want to feel, what you want to own, and who you want to associate with. Although your vision statement helps you to see into the future, it must be grounded in the present. It is a statement of who you are, and who you are becoming. It is the framework for the process of creating your life.

With that said, what dream will you make your reality in 2010? Once you have a clear vision of what it is you want, write it out, being bold, detailed, and precise in your statement.

Finally, decide on the FIRST step you can take to start yourself on your journey. What is the first thing you can do to get yourself on the right path? Determine what resources you'll need to assist you. When you have a clear vision you can understand the components that are necessary to have a plan that specifically defines you actions.

For more information on writing your vision statement, sign up for our F*R*E*E Defining Your Wealth Strategy webinar, taking place this Thursday, January 14, 2010.

See you on the Millionaire Side,
Lisa Maria Carroll

Lisa Maria Carroll and Kim Crouch are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Make Money Monday: You Can Make Money Online: See How Now!

2010-01-09T12:53:00.017-05:00

One of the most common questions I often get asked is can you really make money online? I understand the skepticism. After all, there are scams out there and many people who prey on one’s desire to make money.

The truth is I do make money online (I will share with you some sites and my own earnings later in the post). But the real question you want to know is not really can you make money online but will you get rich from it? Truthfully, the answer is probably not and most people don’t although there are a few people who do. But is making money online one of my multiple streams of income that when combined with the other income streams part of an overall strategy that will allow me to eventually retire? Absolutely!

What do I do to make money online?

So let me tell you about my own experiences with making money online, particularly blogs because this is what most of you are interested in knowing about. The first blog I created: Mother To Son didn’t make much money: $100 in 4 years. But it was a blog that I created after I published my first book: Mother To Son: Words of Wisdom, Inspiration and Hope for Today’s Young African-American Men. Although it didn’t make much money, this blog stemmed from my desire to discuss and offer solutions on a social issue that I cared deeply about. It was far from a money making blog but I do it nevertheless.

My best success from making money online with blogs came when my husband and I started our Recession Lessons blog as a way to help others survive the recession and as a way to begin making money online. (Note: I was already doing paid surveys online and getting paid to blog online and making a nice income from that). However, we began to really notice an increase in the amount of money we began to make with our blog. We realized the increase happened when we began to provide better, more targeted content and articles to our followers and then combined those with affiliate marketing programs such as Amazon.com and others.

However remember there is much more to making money online than creating a blog. Between my blogs and some of the other things I do to make money online, I am starting to make a decent return. Here’s an example of what this past week looked like (January 3-9, 2010) looked like:

Paid to blog sites $17
Surveys $77 (Surveys still remain a huge source of income for me. If you’re a mom with kids you’re the perfect demographic for advertisers and so the opportunity to make money getting paid to do online surveys I think is great)
Commission Junction $42.80
Google adsense $6.37
Amazon.com $5.60
Infolinks $3.06
Amazon.com Book Sales $35.10
Ebay $45
Other Affiliate Programs (47.55)

Note: my book sales aren’t included in this because I consider that a different type of income stream although more than 60% of sales are made online.

Total: Approximately $280

As I said, you won’t retire off this. However, as you can see this is one week so over the course of a month I earn anywhere from $500-$1000. Now there are some people out there making thousands of dollars a month with their blogs. In 2010, I plan to continue to refine my system to allow me to work toward achieving that type of income.

My goal is to also show you how to make money and what I’ve learned in 3 months that has helped me begin to generate income in a few months that I wasn’t able to generate in a few years. So every Monday from here on out, we’re going to have Make Money Mondays, and I’m going to show you the various ways to make money online from surveys, to affiliate marketing to getting paid to blog to ebay to selling stuff online and many others. I will also be honest with you about whether I think the sites are good or not and whether I’ve made money or not.

Recommended Reading:

These are article I’ve already written that provide you the name of sites that we will be discussing on various Mondays.

Making An Income Out of Taking Surveys Part 1

Making An Income Stream Out of Taking Surveys Part 2

Make Money Blogging Part 1

Make Money Blogging Part 2

Also you may consider purchasing the e-book 20 Ways To Make Money Online. Click HERE to learn more.

Lisa Maria Carroll and Kim Crouch are two women on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. Join us on Facebook by clicking HERE or our blog by clicking HERE.

Feedback Friday: Why Do People Fear Accountability?

2010-01-08T09:33:00.010-05:00

Yesterday I was talking to Kim, my accountability partner on this Millionaire Journey, and I asked why she thinks so many people have a problem with accountability? And when you look at it, society as a whole wants to do their own thing, whether it's in business, marriage, or family. And as adults, we feel like that's our right! But, it's this selfish or fearful attitude that may be preventing you from going to the next level.

Our theme this month is FEAR (False Evidence Appearing Real), and we've really been focused on accountability this week. On Tuesday I told you how to find an accountability partner, and the feedback we received was tremendous. We've gotten email and video responses from people who told us why they don't need someone to hold them accountable because they know how to motivate themselves, as well as those folks who are afraid of a little tough love or being called on the rug when they say they're going to do something and don't.

Our Feedback Friday question is: Why are people afraid of being held accountable?

If you look at any highly successful person, you will almost always find a mentor/coach/accountability partner:

Former supermodel and talk show host Tyra Banks has a life coach. Check out this blog Tyra wrote about how Paula White helped her when she didn't want to get out of bed.

Oprah Winfrey calls Maya Angelou mentor-mother-sister-friend. Why would Oprah need a mentor?

Warren Buffett was mentored by Ben Graham while at Columbia University. Buffett celebrates Graham’s book, The Intelligent Investor, as the greatest book on investing ever written. Ben Graham once owned a small insurance company named GEICO. Apparently Graham taught his student well because Warren Buffett now owns GEICO.

Michael Jordan was a great player, having earned Rookie of the Year. But it wasn’t until he was joined with his coach and mentor, Phil Jackson, that he flourished. Under Phil Jackson’s first year as coach of the Chicago Bulls, Jordan and the Bulls were able to win their first NBA title. Michael Jordan amassed 6 NBA titles and became the most decorated NBA player ever under Phil Jackson.

Personal trainers have fitness struggles, so they have fitness partners to help them achieve their fitness goals. (Click here to read more about personal trainers who have fitness struggles.)

(Note: you have to visit the blog to view the above video)

So, as you can see, it's not about motivation, but peak performance. If you want to soar to new heights, be accountable to someone. But, why do so many people fear soaring to new heights? Are they afraid to go to the next level? Are they content to stay where they are, even when it's an unhappy place? Or, is it that they just can't handle the truth?

Thursday Training Course: How to Set Up a Blog

2010-01-06T15:13:00.003-05:00

Many of you have contacted me and Lisa about how you set up a blog or how to make money from blogging. The truth is people create blogs for all types of reasons: to discuss an issue important to them, to keep family updated or for business purposes. Over the last few years, blogs and blogging have emerged as another potential income stream way to make money providing a diversity of opportunities.

The truth is we spend a lot of time and effort working at it. (Can’t you tell by the number of posts you see weekly!). We get up at the crack of dawn and go to sleep very late and we consistently write and experiment with ideas. The one thing we know for sure is that your blog will NOT make money without good set up, great content and steady traffic. This is why we’ve created the How To Set Up A Blog Webinar. Join us on Thursday and you will learn the essentials to setting up a good site including:

How To Set Up A Blog
What’s the Best Format To Use
Blog Templates & Design

To register for this event, Click HERE.

Honest, It's Ok To Sleep With The Enemy

2010-01-05T12:41:00.003-05:00

If we’re honest with ourselves, we all have slept with the enemy at some point in our lives. It’s a natural part of our evolution to greatness. What is the enemy? It is anything or anyone that stands between you and your life’s purpose. The enemy is a dream killer, a dream destroyer and it could be a person such as a spouse, a relative or a friend or a thing such as fear, self doubt and lack of confidence.

The issue is never if (because we all do at some point) we will, but for how long. Some sleep with the enemy for a season, others for a lifetime and most of us somewhere in between. The key, however, to reaching greatness is to limit how long we lay down with the enemy. We sleep with the enemy because it makes us feel safe and comfortable and we never have to get out of our comfort zone. But like any destructive relationship, it eventually deflates us because it can only survive by holding us down or back. It’s not our friend. It’s not there to support us and certainly not to mentor us.

At times, we become engaged in a delicate tango with the enemy. To the extent we are, we need to make sure we’re using it to our advantage. By that I mean, if you’re going to sleep with the enemy then learn as much as you can about it. Learn about its habits and its modus operandi so that you prepare yourself on how to deal with its dream crushing ways. But whatever you do, the key is to limit the amount of time you do so because we know what happens if you don’t. We’ve all heard the saying if you lay down with dogs you will get up with fleas and you don’t want the enemy to get you before you get it.

So my approach is if you’re going to sleep with the enemy, do so but with these three things in mind:

1. Recognize it is the enemy. Too many times we try to convince ourselves that the person or thing that’s holding us back has our best interest at heart or that it’s protecting us. But anyone or thing that holds you back is your enemy so you need to be honest about it. One of my favorite lines from the movie Natural Born Killers starring Woody Harrelson where thye reiterated a story about a woman who nursed a sick snake back to life. Once the snake was well, it bit the woman and as she lay dying she asked why did you bite me after all I did for you. The snake replied you knew I was a snake! So true, many of us fail to understand this. Even when the dreamkillers come as itself or himself, we like to dress it up rather than recognizing it for what it is: something intending to stop us from reaching our greatness.

2. Understand the Triggers. Understand when the enemy appears in your life. Is it right when you’re on the cusp of greatness or does it appear at the beginning so that you never get started. The better you understand its appearance the better opportunity you have to limit its effectiveness.

3. Limit its influence. Like anything, keep the enemy in its place. A little fear or self doubt is ok if it makes you reassess and revise your strategy so that it’s better. But anything beyond that and the enemy is likely to have more control over you and prevent you from moving forward.

Do you plan to stop sleeping with the enemy in 2010 and pusruse your dreams? If so, sign up for these recommended webinars to get you moving toward accomplishing your dreams?

How To Set Up A Blog (January 7, 2010)

Defining Your Wealth Strategy (January 14, 2010)

Funding Your Dreams (January 21, 2010)

Take Action Tuesday: How to Find An Accountability Partner

2010-01-05T01:14:00.010-05:00

T.E.A.M. - Together Each Achieves More
We're five days into the new year, and you have these ideas, concerns, and questions competing for space in your head and no one to share them with. It would be nice to find someone who really cares that can help you figure out how to take next steps, put the pieces together, and hold you accountable to act on those things. But you feel like the people closest to you are more of a distraction than a help, and cause more disorder than order.

An accountability partner may be exactly what you need to achieve optimum success. But how do you find one? On our Send FEAR Packing telerally this past Sunday, I told you about some of the people that you could use to form a support group: family, friends, co-workers, or a life coach, virtual friends [from social media networks], and a Board of Advisors. After the call, we got several emails from listeners stating that they're having a problem identifying one person that they can be accountable to, not to mention the 3-5 that would serve as the board of advisors.

So, I've come up with a checklist on how you can find an accountability partner:

First, why a support group or accountability partner?

We are all held accountable in one way or another. Accountability is simply being responsible for one's actions. Accountability partners are one of the best ways to provide support and help motivate you to stay focused.

Write it down. Be specific about the things you'd like your partner to help you with. Is it losing weight, starting a business, doing homework, quitting smoking? This is important because you'll need to be able to exchange this information with your partner so they'll know how they will be helping you.
Put the word out. Tell your friends and family about your goals and that you'd like someone who could hold you accountable. Find someone who is as goal oriented as you are. That person is connected to you enough to know that if you win, they win too. You want your friend to be serious about personal growth. And be sure to find someone who will not accommodate your weakness. You don’t need someone to help you lose.
Join a social networking group. Whether it's The Millionaire Journey or Jenny Craig, the internet provides an endless network of people and groups with similar interests as yours. You just have to get out and connect with them. Research carefully before joining. You don't want to get caught up in a scam.
Find a mentor. Shorten your learning curve by learning the ropes from someone who has already done what you're doing. One of the best ways to do this is to find a mentor, and to do that, just ask. You'd be surprised how willing people are to help you when you simply open your mouth and ask for what you need.
Sit down and draw up a partnership. Determine when you'll meet (phone, in person, email)--at least once a week--to report to each other on your progress towards your goals. During this meeting you let each other know how you did last week and what you plan to commit to the next week. If you are dragging your feet, it is the partner's responsibility to give you a kick in the pants.

Having another person involved in your goal setting is a win-win scenario. Not only will they make a difference in your life, but you will make a difference in theirs. Find your accountability partner and watch your results soar.

See you on the Millionaire Side,
Lisa Maria Carroll

Lisa Maria Carroll and Kim Crouch are on a journey to become millionaires in 365 days. They don't want to do it alone, so they're bringing you with them. You can follow them on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

No More FEAR

2010-01-03T20:55:00.002-05:00

If you were on our Send FEAR Packing call tonight, we know you're FIRED UP, AND READY TO GO! In 2009 many of us stopped living our dreams because we were too busy living our fears (Les Brown). But, with great expectancy, all of us are expecting 2010 to be at least 10 times better.

After that powerful call, we know that you're building confidence, walking in the direction of your fears, and setting respectable goals. You're no longer afraid to fail because, when you do, you're going to get back up and try, try, try again.

This week we want you to work on creating your support group--family, friends and co-workers--who can help you go to the next level. Also, find a mentor and identify members of your Board of Advisors. Start it now, perfect it later.

This week many of you sent us questions about blogging: What is a blog? Where do I start? How do I set it up? As you know, we're here for you. So, this Thursday, January 7, 2010, we're doing our first webinar of the year, How to Set Up a Blog at 9PM Eastern. This event is absolutely FREE, but you MUST register first: (click here to register). Space is limited to the first 20 registrants.

If you have questions you'd like answered at the event, please send them in advance to 1yearmillionaires@gmail.com.

See you on the Millionaire Side.
Lisa and Kim

The 50th Law: Fear Nothing

2010-01-03T09:04:00.006-05:00

I searched really hard for a book this month. I wanted the first one in 2010 to be good. I listened to this book the other day and while I'm not a huge fan of 50 cents I am of Robert Greene so I decided to step outside the box (Isn't this what millioniares do?) and choose the 50th Law. I chose it because this book makes you come face to face with fear ad deal with it. The 1st step to achieving success is conquering fear so here you have it. Read more about the book below and join us on the Millionaire Journey Fan Page (link below) tomorrow when we begin the discussion.

Fear Nothing!

Fear Nothing!

Fear Nothing!

In the 50th law, Robert Greene, bestselling author of the 48 Laws of Power joins with hip hop icon 50 cent to write about a single principle: fear nothing. The book is based on the principle that most people don’t understand the extent to which fear determines their action. Most people experience adversity and allow it to overcome them. This book is about helping you create self awareness of the fear that controls our lives preventing us from moving forward. There are 10 lessons of fear in the book and each chapter is centered around a primal fear we all feel. Each chapter highlights how the fear hides within you and subtly redirects you but it does give you some solutions for how to confront that fear and take control over your life. What I like about this book is it isn’t necessarily about overcoming fear with a reckless aggression. Rather, it is about confronting fear on its own terms, looking it square in the eye and moving past them.

This book is a really good and extensive book about mastering fear through awareness.

To get the book for the discussion click on the icon below

You can purchase the book from iTunes Store Audiobooks

Link to the Millionaire Journey Fan Page, click HERE

Send FEAR Packing Telerally

2010-01-02T16:13:00.007-05:00

Are you READY TO WIN IN 2010?

Have you ever gotten so close to your destiny, only to lose momentum at the last moment?

Do you fear what others will think or say about you if you dare to live your dreams?

Do you put your dreams on hold because of the possibility of failure?

Are you the world’s greatest cheerleader because you’re too afraid to get in the game?
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If you answered yes to ANY of these questions, then you're suffering from FEAR: False Evidence Appearing Real. FEAR makes you a slave. A victim instead of a victor.

WELL NO MORE! 2010 IS YOUR YEAR TO TAKE BACK YOUR POWER AND BREAK THE CHAINS HOLDING YOU CAPTIVE.

It’s the year that you Send FEAR Packing!

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Join us this Sunday, January 3, 2010, for this year’s first MILLIONAIRE JOURNEY TELERALLY to learn the 5 Things You Must Do NOW! to SEND FEAR PACKING once and for all!

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Date: January 3, 2010
Time: 8:00pm Eastern

Dial-in: 402-237-2015 402-237-2015
Access: 705687#

In 2010, You Will Get A Better Rate of Return If You Just Pour Your Money Down The Drain

2010-01-01T04:38:00.002-05:00

I strongly believe that many of us don’t take our money seriously. We spend more time and effort evaluating our cars and the pair of shoes we’re going to buy than we do with where we put our money. Think about it. When we shop for shoes, you had best believe we’re going to get our money’s worth. We evaluate the quality of the materials the shoes are made of, how many outfits will match those shoes and how long we think the shoes will last.

But when it comes to investing our money we don’t nearly undertake the due diligence necessary to ensure our investments will be fruitful. Because of our laissez faire approach with our finances, we would do better to simply pour our money down the drain. We may end up with a better rate of return.

Here are the 6 mistakes we make with our money:

1. We assume the “experts” know more. I’m amazed how many of us turn our money over to financial planners and investment advisors without understanding what they’re doing with our money. Just like every teacher can’t teach or every lawyer isn’t good in court, don’t assume that someone knows how best to invest your money. You should have a hands on approach with your money. Advisors are there to advise not decide. You should always be the decision maker. For me, I never let any financial advisor near my money unless they’re willing to show me their tax returns. After all, if they didn’t make more money investing their own money they certainly can’t have mine! This is a rule I absolutely live by.

2. Failure to Automate. Companies have made investing so easy that it’s surprising more of us don’t automate. It only takes a few minutes to set up automatic investment accounts and many allow you to start investing with as little as $25 a month.

3. Lack of vision. We’ve all heard the saying don’t work for money but make your money work for you. But how can it if you don’t have a vision for want you want to do with your money. Your vision is the key to everything. It’s your guide to how your money will work for you so if you don’t have a vision for your money create one today.

4. Failure to Diversify and reassess your Portfolio. If you want to make your money work for you or do well financially, you must reassess your portfolio on at least an annual basis. I know many people put money in only stocks or bonds and never diversify. But the key to minimizing your risk is to diversify your holdings so that you aren’t putting all your eggs in one basket. This way if the stock market crashes you weren’t totally in stocks or if international stocks aren’t doing well you can be balanced by your investment in domestic stocks.

Similarly, financial success requires reassessing your portfolio on an annual basis. Each year you should determine whether the allocation of your portfolio investment works for you or meets your needs. Time changes and so do circumstances and it becomes imperative that you’re reassessing your portfolio to adapt to those changes.

5. Don’t research. If I hear from one more person about a tip they got from a friend about a stock without researching it, I may just scream. I’m not saying that the friend isn’t right about the stock but do your own research to determine whether this is something you should invest in. Remember a friend telling you about it isn’t research. It’s just a tip and before you act on it make sure you have the facts and know whether it’s a good investment.

6. Only put your money in savings. Don’t get me wrong, I’m glad to hear it when I learn that people are savers. The truth is America has long been a country of spenders and not have saved enough. But the truth is if you want to be financially independent you need to do more than save. You need to invest in something. It can be stocks, bonds, or a business. But you need to eventually invest because investing not savings will yield wealth more often and much quicker than merely saving.

Kim Crouch, is one of the 3 women, along with Lisa Maria Carroll and Tina Fortune, who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Will I See You on the Millionaire Side?

2009-12-30T19:14:00.016-05:00

Brethren, I count not myself to have apprehended: but this one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind, and reaching forth unto those things which are before. ~Philippians 3:13

ARE YOU READY TO WIN IN 2010?

I have a confession: I have a really bad habit of making other people's problems my own. You see, when I see someone in need, I reach out to help. Call it my Christian duty, by upbringing or my human compassion. I just call it doing good. But, what I've learned is if helping you hurts me, then it's not divine order. And when I do things out of alignment with my divine purpose and mission, it causes me to feel resentment and anger.

Saying goodbye is a gift we all have, if we can just conjure up the nerve to use it. This year I really put in the work required to give people their problems back. I no longer stay up late trying to find ways to get someone's rent paid while they're sleeping. I don't buy restaurant gift cards for co-workers who can't feed themselves after they've bought gourmet cat food for their beloved feline. And don't get me started on the folks who smoke two packs of cigarettes per day, at $5/pack (on average), drop $100/week at the bar, and by the end of the month they can't pay their rent. Don't get me wrong, I don't tell people how to spend their money or time, but I do have some say so in how I spend mine.

People come into our lives for a reason, a season or a lifetime. Knowing this, I've had to learn to separate the chaff from the wheat, and to know when it's time to let go. Stop carrying dead weight. I'm traveling light into the next decade: all emotional baggage is limited to a small carry-on. Otherwise, I'm going to have to get like the airlines and charge for each additional item. I'm not Dr. Phil, and I'm definitely not Oprah. But just like them, I have a calling on my life. I have work to do, people to see, and victories to win. And I can't get there carrying a whole bunch of garbage.

So, my mind is made up, and my focus is clear: either you're going with me, or I'm leaving you here. No hard feelings as we go our separate ways. Perhaps somehow, somewhere, we'll meet again someday. Hey, if it's not in this life, then I wish you well. We're all God's children, and He wants nothing less than best. Keep the faith, and go strong; stay in your lane and I'll stay in mine.

To all of our MJ stars: If you can give it up, you can have it all. (Bishop T.D. Jakes) Leave the nonsense behind in 2009. And get ready to win in 2010!

Lisa Maria Carroll, is one of the 3 women, along with Kim Crouch and Tina Fortune, who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Your Weight Should Never Be Higher Than Your Credit Score

2009-12-28T17:18:00.004-05:00

I was met by a gentleman today who expressed an interest in dating. A quick once-over, and I thought to myself, I do not date men whose weight is higher than their credit scores. That may sound mean, but stay with me on this one because I'm going somewhere. I'm no Suze Orman or Jillian Michaels, but those two have more in common than you may think.

A few weeks ago we interviewed Gail Perry-Mason, author of Girl, Make Your Money Grow, on the 1-Year Millionaires show, and she was pretty forthcoming about her desire to lose weight because, as she said, "There's nothing like being fat and broke." We laughed and joked about it for awhile, but how many of us are high-fiving our computer screens right now because we're glad that somebody was bold enough to step up and say what we were already thinking?

The reality is we want to be physically and financially fit. But most of us are either one, the other, or neither. Blame it on stress, circumstances, the recession, our bringing or anything else we need to to justify us not being proactive in achieving our desired results. But, at the end of the day, we've got to go hard to get what we want. Achieving both goals require discipline and control and, usually, if you lack those traits in one area of your life, you lack them in others as well.

I don't believe that people wake up in the morning to intentionally be a burden to society, their mates or their loved ones. But, that's exactly what happens when your weight and/or credit get out of control. Others are bestowed with the responsibility of carrying your dead weight--tying your shoes, paying your bills, co-signing for loans, helping you go to the bathroom, helping you get out of bed--and I don't want that for myself or for anyone else on this Millionaire Journey. I don't want a relationship with someone who has to stop to catch his breath after every 3rd step because his weight is causing breathing problems. I want a healthy mate--physically and financially. And I want that for you.

So I ask, how important are your mate's/potential mate's numbers to you? And how about yours?

Lisa Maria Carroll, is one of the 3 women, along with Kim Crouch and Tina Fortune, who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Jesus Came to Serve, Not to be Served

2009-12-23T11:42:00.003-05:00

"For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many." Mark 10:45

Jesus is the reason for the season. And as we approach the day that we celebrate His birth, we should all be asking, "Lord, how can I serve You"? Economists say that consumer spending is down due to the economy, but the needs of our fellow men are up. Even when funds are low, we all have something to give: a smile, our time, our talents. Instead of feeling down and out if you can't give material things, visit a hospital, smile at the person you pass on the street, shovel the snow from a neighbor's yard. These are gifts that you can give not only during the holiday season, but throughout the year.

So, each day that you rise, ask, "Lord, how can I serve You today"? And watch the blessings you receive in return far exceed anything that you give.

Are You Attracting Abundance?

2009-12-22T13:56:00.008-05:00

I got 99 problems, but money ain't one.

I got a praise report from someone on the Millionaire Journey last week:

THE LORD IS GOOD! I got $150.00 PAYOUT! HALLELUJAH! Im sooooooooooo happy right now! ~Brandyn, Minneapolis, MN

By the way, this message came from my 21-year-old daughter who happens to be following MJ on Facebook. She has been tithing religiously her entire life. And I'm always in awe at how she NEVER worries about money, and always has enough to cover all of her expenses. She's a full-time college student, studying criminal justice at a 2-year college. Her plans are to transfer to a 4-year college after she graduates, and then go to law school. She has her own apartment and also works full-time at a bank. And she is as cheap as she wants to be.

Well, I guess I shouldn't call her cheap, but rather discerning about where she spends her money. But, one thing I will say, N-O-B-O-D-Y gets her tithes. Even if she misses church one Sunday, she will put it aside until the next, or mail it in. She NEVER worries about money. She even admits that sometimes she doesn't even know how she manages to meet all of her financial obligations. All she knows is that she's faithful and the Lord provides. It's the principles of sowing and reaping. If you sow a seed, you will reap a harvest.

I started this journey with Kim and Tina knowing that I would be a millionaire within 365 days. But, evenso, I refuse to hoard money in an effort to get to my million; I have to give to get. I'm a devout Christian, who believes God's word to be true, "Give, and it will be given to you. They will pour into your lap a good measure-- pressed down, shaken together, and running over. For by your standard of measure it will be measured to you in return."
Luke 6:38

The Bible is very clear that whatsoever you give, it will be given back to you, good measure, pressed down shaken together, running over. And it's not all about money. If you give love, happiness, peace, joy, then that's what will come back. At the same token, if you give grief, strife, anger, insult, then that is what will be returned to you, pressed down, shaken together, until your cup runs over.

Even corporations believe in tithing or giving charities, as some call it. They believe in planting seeds in the community to reap a harvest to stay in business. Their faith is in their giving.

Where is your faith?

Start Saving for Next Year's Christmas Now

2009-12-22T12:44:00.006-05:00

Christmas is coming! Christmas is coming! You know, kind of like it did on December 25th last year. But if you're like me, it somehow always manages to sneak up on us every year and catch us by surprise. Now, how can we expect to get to our million if we're constantly being off caught guard by things that we should be planning for? And that means having a cash reserve to cover annual Christmas expenses.

But, next year I'm going to be telling a different story. Why? Because I visited my credit union a few weeks ago and opened up a Christmas club account. I was standing in line waiting to do business with the teller when I looked over and saw the sign, "Open your Christmas club account today."

Quite honestly, I didn't know Christmas club accounts still existed. But, with the stroke of a pen on a few forms, I'm already planning for Christmas 2010. And you can too.

What you should know:

Start your Christmas account in December (why put it off?). That way if you invest a small amount ($5-$10) every week, you’ll be looking at a sizeable amount come November when your funds become available.
Many banks and credit unions don’t advertise Christmas clubs, but almost all offer them. Talk to a teller or banker about opening one.
Start a budget for next Christmas now, and stick to it. Then, whatever is accumulated by November 1st, is all that you will spend for the holidays--nothing more. I committed to $20/bi-weekly, and I have it direct deposited directly into my account from paycheck. Plus, the credit union will make my last payment for me. That's a whopping $500 that I'll have saved for Christmas next year.

Keep the Spirit in Christmas, and Out of Your Wallet

2009-12-22T10:31:00.015-05:00

Drinking and driving is not a millionaire mindset. It sounds like such a no-brainer, but there are still lots of people who don't get it.

It's that time of the year when most of us like to celebrate, party, eat, drink and be merry. From holiday parties at work to dinner with the in-laws, most people will declare any occasion an opportunity to indulge in alcohol. But what happens when that indulgence turns to excess? Excess to the point where you jeopordize your health, someone else's health and your source of income?

For over decade I worked as an executive assistant, planning everything from backyard barbeques at the boss' house to sales banquets at local hotels to holiday parties at convention centers. And without fail, I could always count on at least one employee indulging a little too much on the alcohol. Fortunately, companies recognize the high probability of this happening, along with their liability if something happens as the result of their employee's indiscretion.

That's why companies now tell employees to call a taxi if they're going to drink, even if it's not at a company function. Employers realize that the holidays affect people differently. It's not a happy time for everyone; some become depressed, some bitter, and some angry. And alcohol is often their drug of choice to dull the pain. And then you have those who drink just because it's available.

There's nothing wrong with adults enjoying an adult beverage. But, responsibility and good old common sense can go a long way in helping you keep the spirit in Christmas and out of your wallet.

I still remember the day my boss called me into his office, and told me to call a cab and have them at our office at 10AM the following morning. Being the good assistant that I was, I asked who would they be picking up? Would it be cash or charge? Blah, blah, blah... He gave me the name of the employee and said tell them that you're paying cash, and that they should take him wherever he wants to go.

~Hmmm... ~

As it turned out, this employee had attended a cookout at the boss' lake home the weekend prior and had had a little too much to drink. I guess his overindulgence came with an extra dose of courage and he chose that time to not only tell his supervisor how he really felt about him, but also to start a physical fight. This employee was a territory manager with a company car. And his actions resulted in him losing his job.

Do you think it was worth it? I know it wasn't. And I know the rest of you on this millionaire journey agree.

So, what can you do to keep the spirit in Christmas and out of your wallet?

Offer a cash bar. People have a tendency to drink less when they're spending their own money.
Don't drink and drive. If you know you're going to drink, designate a driver BEFORE you go out. This is such a no-brainer, but there are still far too many people who don't get it.
Offer non-alcoholic drinks. I don't drink alcohol, but I love Welch's Sparkling Grape Juice during the holidays. I also like drinks mixed with ginger ale. A few other recipes to try:

Virgin Strawberry Daiquiri Recipe

Ingredients:
- 1 oz fresh lime juice
- 3 oz fresh strawberries (you can also use frozen strawberries or strawberry syrup)
- 1 teaspoon sugar
- Cracked ice

Directions:
Fill lime juice, strawberries, and sugar into a blender. Blend until smooth, then add the cracked ice and blend again until smooth.
Pour into a chilled cocktail glass. Garnish with whole strawberry or mince leave.
Serve with a straw.

7-UP Christmas Bowl Recipe

20 oz frozen raspberry in syrup
12 oz frozen lemonade cocentrate
46 oz pineapple juice
64 oz chilled 7-Up® soda

Place raspberries and lemonade in blender, process till smooth. Strain into punch bowl. Discard seeds. Stir in pineapple juice. Just before serving, add 7-Up.

Amaretto Stone Sweet Recipe

2 1/2 oz Blanks® amaretto
2 oz cherry syrup
4 oz orange juice
4 oz 7-Up® soda
ice

Blend with ice.

Lisa Maria Carroll, is one of the 3 women, along with Kim Crouch and Tina Fortune, who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Start Over Finish Rich: 10 Steps To Get You Back On Track in 2010

2009-12-21T17:36:00.002-05:00

I got an email today from David Bach about the release of his new book. I had been looking for to its release and even read the first chapter of the book which was posted on and still remains as an excerpt on the Facebook Fan Page for the Millionaire Journey. What I liked most about the email is that David Bach is giving away a variety of bonuses for people who purchase the book that I think would appeal to those of you on the Millionaire Journey. According to the email, for anyone who buys one book they will be entitled to the following:

• 3 Group Teleconferences with David Bach: You will have the opportunity to work through all 10 steps in Start Over, Finish Rich with David Bach right by your side! These three sessions will be scheduled for early 2010 and will be recorded for your convenience.

• A FREE download of his 2009 bestseller, Fight for Your Money: Bach is giving the whole e-book away. This book is your battle plan to put thousands of dollars back in your pocket--where it belongs!

• A 50% discount coupon to attend his upcoming Finish Rich University: David Bach is planning a LIVE 3-Day event for October 2010 and you'll be entitled to register for half price! (exact date and location to be announced.)

To get the Thank You Package of bonuses, simply email your receipt to OneBook@finishrich.com

I figured since many of you would be purchasing the book anyway, you may as well get these additional bonuses.

If You Want to Get Rich, Read, Read, Read

2009-12-15T06:14:00.011-05:00

It's been said that if you want to keep something from a Black man, put it in a book. Although I don't know who said it, I do know that in my world, the words Black and ignorance don't mesh together well. So I'm here to set the record straight.

I'm a Black woman and an avid reader of books, magazines, newspapers, and yes, blogs. I read for enjoyment as well as knowledge. Reading is my way of waging war on ignorance. You know, kind of like Tina did when she PUNCHED FEAR IN THE FACE.....POWWWWW!!!! With the Internet, libraries, free seminars and teleseminars from the comfort of my couch, there's no excuse for me to not know how to manage my money. (I'll leave that for the professional athletes.) And there's no excuse for you either.

I've never let my African-American heritage get in the way of my learning. Neither of my parents graduated from high school. As a matter of fact, my dad dropped out of school in the third grade. But, I remember going to work with him and watching him calculate the money he was owed in his head. I was amazed at how he couldn't add or subtract on paper, but he sure knew how to do it in his head. That's why there are no excuses for me.

I grew up around books. I graduated from high school and business school, and I've worked in the financial services industry for more than 25 years. But even with all of that, my knowledge about investments, stocks, bonds or trading only scratches the surface. The industry is always changing, so I've got to keep learning so I can keep earning. That's why I've been renewing magazine subscriptions like crazy on Amazon this month: Smart Money, Black Enterprise (I got an instant $3 off promotion when I ordered this one.), O, The Oprah Magazine. (Can you believe this was only $5 for a one-year subscription?)

At these prices, I knew what my broke family and friends were getting for Christmas. I empowered them with an entire year of reading so they can learn how to get their money straight.

When is the last time you read something finance-related: a book, a magazine, The Wall Street Journal?

Lisa Maria Carroll, is one of the 3 women, along with Kim Crouch and Tina Fortune, who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

Make Money Blogging Part 2

2009-12-13T09:06:00.006-05:00

In my first article, Make Money Blogging: 10 Ways You Need To Know About Now, I discussed with you some of the steps necessary to build a good blog or website and I discussed the concept of making money blogging by affiliate marketing. I also provided you a list of affiliate marketing companies to get you started (See Make Money Blogging: 10 Ways You Need To Know Now).

This article will focus on article marketing and other methods of income generation that will help you make money blogging. But first, just a brief reminder. The key to making money blogging is to have a blog or a website and building a community of followers. Remember you can register a blog at blogger.com or at http://www.dpbolvw.net/click-3713745-10378406.

For many of us with blogs, the primary reason we blog is because we’re passionate about a specific issue and the blog is our opportunity to share our thoughts with the world. But if you’re going to blog, you may as well make money with it. As I’ve said before, you won’t get rich but you can make a decent living at it.

I believe in the concept that the way to accumulate wealth is not to do 4,000 things one time, but to do 1 thing 4,000 times. As such, when I write a blog, my initial purpose in writing it is to post it on my site to educate and spark conversation amongst my readers. After I’ve done that, I usually will then post that article on several article writing sites where I can get paid.

ONLINE PUBLISHERS

These are online publishers that pay you for content. A few -sites require that the articles be original articles exclusively published with them. However, most don’t.

1. Associated Content. They don’t require exclusivity in order for you to publish. They are one of the best companies out there to me for online publishing. They have two avenues of pay: performance pay, where you get paid based off the number of views and advance pay where they pay you for writing assignments or selling them original content. I’ve done both. I must say again, you won’t get rich but you’ve already written your post for your site so why not post it on Associated Content and get paid for it as well. To sign up for Associated Content, click HERE.

2. Examiner.com. They are probably the best online publishers to me because they are an actual newspaper. They have a fairly decent sign up process and even do a background check, which is free and actually very simple. You sign up to write about a certain area. Since I often blog about parenting and education issues, I signed up to be an Education Examiner. You also get paid on a performance pay basis based off the number of people who read your article. To sign up for the examiner, click HERE. In the referral box, please list me as a referral. You can search for me under the name Kim Crouch or put in Examiner ID Number 32461.

Other online publishing places you can submit your articles include: e-how.com, suite 101.com

PAY PER POST
There are several companies that will pay you a fee to post and/or write reviews about their products and services. With many of the companies, you set your own fee and the advertiser will determine if they accept that fee and whether your blog meets their needs. I recommend that whenever you engage in a pay per post you make clear to your readers that you’re getting paid for the post. The FTC regulations also make clear that you need to have some type of disclosure statement when you get paid to advertise products. The following are pay per post companies:

1. Payperpost.com. Payperpost.com is known as the pioneers of the getting paid to blog concept. Of all the companies, they seem to have the most jobs available. You can get paid anywhere from $5 to $100 per approved post.

2. Bloggerwave.com
Bloggerwave is the most user friendly of all the sites. It’s a smaller company but you can still get paid a decent amount. They usually pay a minimum of $10 per approved post.

3. Smorty.com
Smorty pays out weekly between $6-$100. They look at the page rank of your blog in determining how much you make.

Other pay per post sites include: blogvertise.com, reviewme.com, loudlaunch.com, and blogitive.com.

AD NETWORKS

These sites pay you to run ads on your site and pay on a per impression basis. My experience with these companies have been that in order to be accepted into their programs you need to have a high volume of traffic. Some of the best companies in this field include:

1. Blogherads.com (they currently aren’t accepting new applications but you can sign up to be on their waiting list)
2. Tribalfusion.com-requires 5,000 visitors by day
3.Gorillanation.com

Become A Millionaire Series: Who Is The CEO Of Your Company?

2009-12-05T17:09:00.022-05:00

Who is the CEO of your company? I came across this video the other day, and it was a reminder to me that you are and should always be the CEO of your own company: ME INC. After all, let's be real. You are your ultimate shareholder and it is your goal to increase shareholder value.

This is easy to forget especially when times are good. After all, the company is taking care of us. We are making good pay, great benefits and we seem to be progressing. But what happens when times aren't so good such as when there is a recession and companies have to make decisions about who stays and who goes.

As Roland Martin says in this video, if you think like a CEO during good times, you will always be prepared for bad times.

Here are 5 things you can do to think like a CEO that increase shareholder value:

1. Find multiple streams of income. If you don't have your own business, you should always be involved in something that generates additional streams of income that aren't limited to your salary as an employee. This can include MLM programs, real estate, or a part time internet business. (See also article Making An Income Stream Put Of Taking Surveys).

2. Obtain marketable and transferable skills. If you work for someone else, take as many free classes as you can. Go to every training offered by the company from everything to How To Use Microsoft Word to Becoming A Great Leader. Also take on projects that challenge you so that you acquire skill sets that will become useful later.

3. Establish Good Relationships. Even if your goal is to one day be an entrepreneur, always do a great job for your employer and develoop a good working relationship with your colleagues. Despite their being more than 4 billion people in this world, I have found that the world is quite small. While you're working for someone else, develop good relationships that you can use to help your business grow later. I've been amazed by the number of people who leave their employer only to end up doing consulting or some other services for that same employer as CEO of their own business.

4. Learn the industry, about market research and sales. Do what you can to learn about the industry, corporate structure and market research. These traits will prove beneficial as you move from employee to CEO of your own company. No matter what type of business you start, understanding the fundamentals of business growth and client or customer base will be critical to your success.

5. Acquire Project Management skills. To me, this is the holy grail of skills needed to be CEO of your own company. Volunteer or take on assignments that give you project management skills. Believe me, you will work harder for your self than you ever will be the company you currently work for. To that extent, project management skills will be invaluable to help you juggle multiple projects.

Recommended Program & Books to help you think more like a CEO

Join Brian Tracy LIVE for "Reinvent Yourself and Thrive in 2010" December 17th, 2009. Register Now!

How to Think Like a CEO: The 22 Vital Traits You Need to Be the Person at the Top

Creating You & Co.: Learn To Think Like The CEO Of Your Own Career

(Kim Crouch)

Make Money Blogging: 10 Ways You Need To Know About Now

2009-12-01T16:11:00.008-05:00

Several of you have asked me how you can specifically make money blogging online. There are many ways to make money blogging online but I will tell you the top ten things I do to make money online. But, before I do so let me say that contrary to published reports very few people get rich quick blogging. However, you can make a decent living blogging but like anything else it takes time, consistent effort and a good strategy.

The truth is I spend a lot of time and effort working at it. I get up at the crack of dawn and go to sleep very late. I’m consistently writing and experimenting with ideas. Before I tell you what I do I want to say three things that I believe are prerequisites to making money blogging online:

1. Select a market or a niche. What is it that you want to blog about? Is it kids, pets, education, healthcare reform, etc. Whatever it is do some research to see what other blogs or websites already exist on the subject just so that you have an idea as to what's out there and who is your competition.

2. Register a blog or a website. If you don’t already have one, you can create a blog at blogger.com, wordpress.com or typepad.com. These are the three most common platforms. If you prefer a website, then I would recommend www.GoDaddy.com . They are reasonably priced, reputable and offer a host of other supporting services.

3. Determine a strategy for building traffic. Traffic is key to making money on your blog. You may have a wonderful blog with great content but it will mean little if you have no traffic and no one reads it. In reality, you won’t begin to generate money until you’re getting a substantial number of visitors a day to your site. If you're only getting 5 or 10 visitors a day this is not likely to generate any real income so I suggest you invest some time and effort in building traffic. One way to do that is with good content or to become known as an expert in a particular area.

Here are the ten ways you can make money blogging, but as I've mentioned previously what makes it work for me is doing these ten things in concert and not one exclusively. The sites below can be divided into three categories for revenue generation: Affiliate Marketing, Pay Per Click & Inline Contextual Ads.

AFFILIATE MARKETING

In my opinion, Affiliate Marketing of the three categories provides the best opportunity for revenue generation because it allows you to control which products you market and to some extent how you market the products, services or programs. Now note, the way Affiliate Marketing works, all with the exception of Amazon Associates, even if you're accepted into the Affiliate Marketing Program you still must apply for acceptance into the affiliate programs of the companies that are participants in the programs.

1. Amazon Associates. When people think of Amazon, they think of books. However, you can purchase virtually anything from Amazon from electronics to baby toys to jewelry and magazine subscriptions. Amazon in many ways has become the online supercenter. Amazon’s Affiliate Program is one of the easier to use and they’ve created a lot of gadgets from allowing you to link to a page and a product to allowing you to tweet items that your readers or customers may want to purchase. Amazon’s affiliate programs pays a percentage based on sales starting at 4% and increasing to 6% depending on the number of items sold each month. The good part is you can promote just about anything. To sign up, click HERE.

2. Commission Junction. CJ as many people call them is probably the best known of all the affiliate marketing programs online. Through CJ, you can promote everything from financial services to baby clothes to electronics. To sign up, Click HERE.

3. Logical Media. Although CJ is probably the largest, "Click Here">Logical Media is my favorite affiliate marketing company. It is one of the most innovative companies in the affiliate marketing arena. With Logical Media, you place ads within your blog and you are paid each time a visitor either clicks on the ad or takes some action like sign up. "Click Here">Logical Media also pays $25 for just signing up!

4. Linkshare. Linkshare is very similar to CJ and offers a variety of products and services you can promote. LinkShare Program

5. Flexoffers. This is one of the newer companies that I’ve signed up with. They seem to have a lot of financial related products but the payout is pretty good. To sign up, click HERE.

6. Clickbank. Like the others, it offers a wide variety of products you can promote but the products seem to be lesser known products. To sign up for Clickbank, click HERE.

Pay Per Click

Pay Per Click (“PPC”) ads are those that pay out when a reader clicks on an ad.

7. Google Adsense- Adsense is probably the most well known of all the online programs that allow you to make money. Bloggers make money by inserting Adsense code into blogging site and can begin earning money immediately. To sign up, click HERE.

8. Bidvertiser- When most people think of PPC ads, Google Adsense usually comes to mind. However, Bidvertiser is an alternative to Adsense. Bidvertiser pays out at $10 vs. $100 for Adsense, which could take a while. Also, Bidvertiser will pay you for referring other publishers (bloggers). However, I like the quality of Adsense’s ads much more. To sign up for Bidvertiser, click HERE. (Once at the site, click on the button at the top that says Bidvertiser).

9. Chikita. This is another PPC program where the ads are based on the subject of the post or blog in which they appear. Sign up HERE.

Contextual Inline Ads
These are programs that allow you to add code to your blog that automatically searches each article and create text links on keywords to promote products. Revenue is generated when a reader clicks on one of the links. Once you install the code, no additional code or work is required. All you do is post your blog and the ads are automatically synched up with the keywords. Two of the better known companies in this area are
10. Infolinks & Kontera. You can check out a demo of Kontera here. I have found more success with Infolinks than Kontera in terms of payout. To sign up for Infolinks, click HERE. Kontera, click HERE.

In part 2, I will talk about other ways to make money blogging include pay per post and article generation companies.

To learn more about making money online, check out the comprehensive e-book: 20 Ways To Make a $100 per day online.

Kim Crouch, is one of the 3 women, along with Lisa Maria Carroll and Montina Fortune who are on the Millionaire Journey. You can follow us on the Journey by joining the Facebook Fan Page at http://www.facebook.com/#/pages/Millionaire-Journey/165487378056?ref=ts or the Millionaire Journey blog at http://1yearmillionaires.blogspot.com

How Well Do You Know Your Neighbors?

2009-12-01T04:43:00.006-05:00

How much do you know about your neighbors? (Thanks S Capri Edwards and Lorraine Smith for guessing this week's book selection on our Facebook fan page.)

I'm a huge fan of The Real Housewives series, especially Orange County and Atlanta. It's easy to get caught up in the glitz and glamour of the show but, if there's one thing you can glean from them, that is everything that glitters, isn't gold; people aren't always who you think they are; and some things are just an illusion.

Take NeNe Leakes of the Atlanta Housewives. In Season One she presented herself as this highfalutin socialite whose husband was a real-estate investor. No sooner than the tapes stopped rolling that season, the Atlanta Journal Constitution reported that Leakes and her family were being evicted from their RENTED home....WHO KNEW? (Check it out here.)

And if that weren't enough, now you've got the White House party crashers, Tareq and Michaele Salahi (true examples of fakeness), not only attending a dinner uninvited, but also project this image of success and having arrived, while, in reality, they're millions of dollars in debt.

STOP THE MADNESS! Join us in reading our current book selection, The Millionaire Next Door, as we discover and discuss how true millionaires really live.

Gail Perry-Mason on Blog Talk Radio

2009-11-30T09:35:00.005-05:00

Join the 1-Year Millionaires on Sunday, December 6, 2009, on their Blog Talk Radio show when they'll talk investments and finances with Investments advisor, Gail Perry-Mason.

Gail is the author of Girl, Make Your Money Grow! and is well known in the securities industry where she has climbed the corporate ladder from receptionist to Senior Director-Investments of Oppenheimer & Co. Inc. Service, education and economic empowerment are first and foremost for her clients. Gail assists non-profit organizations, churches, individuals, families, and small businesses in their effort to achieve long-term financial goals. She organized and sponsored several trips to annual shareholders meetings of companies that her clients hold to educate them about the right to vote by owning stock.

Alternatives for Girls recently honored Gail as Community Role Model of the Year in 2009. She is a sought-after speaker for many corporations, government agencies, labor unions, religious groups, non-profit and youth organizations, women’s groups, high schools and universities. She founded and directed the first Youth Investment Club through the NAIC along with the original Money Camp for Teens called Money Matters. The Money Matters program has instructed over 3,000 youth in the Detroit-Metro area and has mentored over 20 young women who are now professionals in the financial industry. She currently has an after- school program in three Detroit Public Schools that includes teaching financial literacy and starting a business that would further expose our youth to the world of finance.

Gail’s affiliation and memberships include Childhelp USA, The Wall Street Journal Youth Investment Club, National Association of Securities Professionals, Business Women’s Alliance, Who’s Who Among African Americans. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Spaulding for Children, Star Commonwealth, and DSA-Detroit Public Schools, Board of Advisors for Women, Chairperson for Tavis Smiley Youth to Leaders since its inception in Detroit, Honorary Chairperson for COTS Homeless Shelter Annual Fundraiser and Chairperson for Celebrity Chef Spaulding for Children. She is also an honorary member of Elliottorian Business and Professional Women’s Club and author and co-author of two books.

1-Year Millionaires

Want Rich Kids? Give the Gift of Financial Freedom

2009-11-28T20:47:00.017-05:00

Let’s admit it. Many kids are being raised without understanding the value of saving and spending wisely. And even fewer children are being taught the concepts of entrepreneurship and wealth accumulation. Instead of buying children a lot of toys that they will cease playing with a few days after Christmas, consider giving the following as holiday gifts to the children in your life that will go a long way to teach them to be financially savvy or that will start to help them generate wealth.

1. Financial Books. There are a wealth of financial books out there for kids. More and more parents are starting to realize that they must start earlier if they want to raise financially savvy kids. As such, there are a plethora of financial books available for kids. Two of my favorite are What Color Is Your Piggy Bank?: Entrepreneurial Ideas for Self-Starting Kids (Millennium Generation Series) (Millennium Generation Series)
by Adelia Cellini Linecker, for kids 10-14 contemplating entrepreneurship, and covering the world of jobs, starting a business and managing money, and The Berenstain Bears' Trouble with Money (First Time Books(R)) by Stan and Jan Berenstain for 4-7 year olds. Costs: What Color is Your Piggy Bank $14 and Berenstain Bears $4.

2. Piggy Banks. The evolution of piggy banks over the last several years has been remarkable. Take the Money Mama & The Three Little Pigs bank. A four chambered bank with separate compartments for spending, investing, saving and donating. Also consider the Moonjar, a bank with three compartments: one for saving, spending and giving. The bank comes with a passbook for recording transactions. Both banks cost between $25 and $30.

3. Board games. Let’s face it. Kids love toys. This year instead of giving them video games or noneducational toys, consider giving board games like Cashflow for Kids and Monopoly, both of which teach kids about the principles of money, cashflow, and entrepreneurship. Costs: $15-$40.

4. Open a savings account. Every child, if possible, should have a savings account. This is a real life, hands on way to teach kids about money and financial principles. It’s also a way to teach children about the concept of compound interest, keeping track of money and visiting financial institutions. ING DIRECT is running great deals right now if you open an online savings account. ING DIRECT - High Yield Savings with the Orange Savings Account.. You can also investigate opening a savings account with your local bank or credit union.

5. Purchase savings bonds/stocks. This year give something that will increase rather than decrease in value like savings bonds and stocks. These are gifts that will last children well into the future. Savings bonds can be purchased through your job and deducted from your pay. Check with your payroll department or you can buy them direct from Treasury Direct. You can also begin investing in stocks for as little as $4 via sites like Sharebuilder.com.

Kim

HOT DEAL ALERT: Get 1 Year Subscriptions to Smart Money, Real Simple, Cosmopolitan and Other Magazines for $5!!!!

2009-11-27T17:27:00.002-05:00

Amazon is running some amazing deals on magazines. Give them as Xmas gifts!!!! You can get Smart Money Magazine and 9 other Magazines for $5 a year. The list of $5 for 1 year subscription magazines include

SmartMoney

Cosmopolitan

Real Simple

Sports Illustrated for Kids

Southern Living

Travel + Leisure

Food & Wine

House Beautiful

People StyleWatch

Popular Science

Get it now by clicking on the button above.

What Could You Buy With $4?

2009-11-25T23:42:00.000-05:00

I committed the ULTIMATE millionaire no-no today.......It's so bad I'm embarrassed to admit I did it........I took money out of a foreign ATM. (OUCH, did I say that out loud?) I knew my bank was going to charge $2, but I almost went into cardiac arrest when I saw that the ATM's bank was also charging me $2. In the blink of an eye, a $200 withdrawal turned into $204.

Did I know that already? YES, that's why I don't do it. (I can honestly say that it's probably been AT LEAST a decade since I've paid an ATM fee.) But, sadly, that $4 upcharge came as the result of my poor planning.

Now, $4 may not seem like a huge deal to most people. But to someone like me (and I'm not NEARLY as bad as Tina and Kim), who is always looking for bargains and don't believe in blowing money PERIOD, I'm now thinking about all the things I could have with $4, and how paying that fee won't happen again anytime soon.

Let me say that I'm still outraged by all those government bailouts that happened last year, and think that none of these banks should be getting a dime from me, you or anyone else. Banks make billions of dollars from ATM fees each year, and then have the nerve to take millions more in bailouts, while kicking people out of their houses for being $1000 behind on their mortgage.

But, this blog isn't about that, so I'll move on....begrudgingly.

As you may already know the 1-Year Millionaires are investors. So, Iwent to ING Direct's website, and saw that I could have bought stock...FOR $4! (Kicking myself a little harder now.) I also looked around my house and found a few other necessities that cost less than $4: toilet paper (gotta have it), dental threaders (I have braces), tuna, soap, tampons, oatmeal, cans of soup, shampoo, deodorant....well, you get my drift. And just in case you're thinking that you can't get all of these items for under $4, you need to visit Kim's Recession Lessons blog. Hang out with her long enough, and she'll show you how to get these items for FREE.

I'm not going to pine over the $4 any longer. I'll just plan better next time so I can get more out of my own money than the banks do.

What could you buy with $4.

Lisa

Great Deal: Get Brian Tracy's 21 Secrets of Self Made Millionaires

2009-11-25T12:28:00.004-05:00

How to Develop a Millionaire Mindset and Dump the Broke Mentality

2009-11-25T10:16:00.010-05:00

In 365 days, Lisa, Kim and I will be millionaires. We firmly believe that by having the millionaire mindset, taking massive action, playing to win and with the power of association, that the journey we've embarked on to become millionaires is possible.

When I say this to others, they often ask me how we're going to do it. Why do we believe that $1 million is such a large number? I can remember making $4.25 on my first job. Why is it that $20k, $30k, $40k and $50k seem achievable while the six and seven figure statuses seem so far off? I believe it all is in the MINDSET.

According to the Ehow, article How to Escape the Broke Mentality, the broke mentality is when:

Someone broke plays the lottery and wins 3 million dollars then a year later, broke again.

Someone lives in an apartment but has flat screen T.V.s, iphones and bills.

People with a broke mentality are stingy with their money.

Read the full article here.

Russ Whitney states " Your attitude toward money - how you think about it, make it and manage it- is a key part of developing the Millionaire Mindset and building wealth".

Seven simple components of the mindset that creates millionaires:
1. Integrity
2. Sustained Unwavering Belief
3. Self Confidence
4. Showing up- Becoming more active
5. Clear vision
6. Definite plans
7. Doing what is right

Enjoy this book from Bob Proctor The Millionaire Mindset and begin today to focus on the big wins in your life. Our affirmation for today: I am secure in the knowledge that I'm on the path to financial freedom.

When we think of millionaires, we refer to them having a mindset. When we think of those that are broke, we think of mentality? WHY?

Ways to Find Extra Cash

2009-11-20T02:51:00.002-05:00

Becoming a millionaire requires stretching your dollars as far as they can go, so you can stay on top of your money game. Here are a few ways to find some extra cash:

Use coupons: Kim is our coupons expert, hands down. Websites like recession-lessons.blogspot.com, coolsavings.com, coupons.com or smartsource.com can help you save while shopping. For additional savings, shop during double coupon days.

Buy generics: From dish detergent to paper towels, bread to orange juice, you can save big bucks by buying store brands.

Library: Movies, books, music, newspapers and magazine are free at your local library.

ATMs: Avoid ATM fees by using your bank's ATM or get cash back when making purchases with your debit card. If you travel a lot, check to see if your hotel will let you write a check for cash without a fee.

Healthclubs: Your employer may offer discounts on healthclub benefits. Otherwise, you may be able to use your local community center for a low fee, or free. Or, for a totally free workout, walk outside or buy hand weights and make good use of whatever space you have at home.

Movie matinees: Get there by 6pm and pay half the price.

Manicures/pedicures: Go to the salon midweek to take advantage of half-price specials. You can also save big bucks by getting your nails done at a beauty school.

Lunch: Bring last night's dinner for lunch and watch your dollars really add up.

Snacks: Avoid vending machines at work by bringing your own snacks.

Extended warranties: Read my lips: A WASTE OF MONEY. Protection plans are pure profit for the retailer, so skip buying the extended warranties when buying appliances. Your manufacturer's warranty will cover you for the first year. Save the money you would have paid for the warranty, and then use it for repairs if needed. Otherwise, invest it.

Cable: Eliminate premium channels. (How many of those channels do you really watch anyway?) You may even be able to watch your favorite show online.

Prescriptions: Buy generic when possible. Also, check online prices and mail order outlets for up to 30 percent savings at U.S. pharmacies.

Fees: Avoid late fees and overdraft fees at all costs. They really add up.

Child care: What is your backup plan if you have a sick child? Check with HR to see if your employer pays for sick child care.

Now that you've saved all these dollars, how do you plan to invest them?

Lisa

A Closed Mouth Doesn't Get Fed

2009-11-18T19:23:00.004-05:00

Ask. Believe. Receive.

What are you expecting from life? Wait, I have a better question: When is the last time you asked from life what you want?

It's been said that a closed mouth doesn't get fed. And I know this to be true. No one is going to give you what you think you deserve. And the only person who will ever truly look out for your best interest is you.

I've been coaching a peer for almost two months now on how to transition from the temp agency she was working for, over to the consulting firm that I'm with. Basically, she's been getting screwed by the company she's temping at with them stringing her along with promises of full-time employment for over a year. Side note: we're working at the same company. She took my advice (at least most of it), which included talking to the temp agency about the terms of her contract: Would the consulting firm have to pay a fee? Was she under a Do-Not-Compete Clause? Blah, blah, blah... And it looks like the transition will take place on December 1st. But, there's one big problem: she is not happy.

I approached her about her progress a couple times over the past month because I know the importance of placing a sense of urgency on your goals and your money. During that time she seemed sort of stand-offish and didn't want to discuss, so I left it alone. I didn't want to push. So, she finally came to me last Friday and said it's a go; they're going to bring her on. I asked if they'd given her benefit options, and she said no. So, I forwarded the packages that they offered me (yes, as a consultant), and told her to go back and let them know that she needs benefits and PTO.

It is with great sadness that I must report that she pulled me aside today to tell me that they would only give her a one-year contract, with no benefits, and no PTO. To make matters worse, she'll transfer over on December 1st, and won't get her first check until December 31st...OUCH!

I stood in the hallway shaking my head at her because I know the game so well. Now she's mad...AT THEM. But here's the deal, that's not how the game is played. Plus, I told her ALL of this up front. No company will ever pay you what you think you're worth; you have to demand it. You may as well stop thinking these recruiters are your friends and that they're sitting on the other end of the phone line holding their wallets open, just waiting to rain money down into your bank account because you're so awesome and wonderful. At the end of the day, you're going to have to look out for the YOU Corporation.

When I signed my contract two months ago, it was for two years. During that time it has been extended to 8.5 years, if I want it. Remember, I have some sayso in this too. My recruiter and I also negotiated and agreed to a salary before I even interviewed with the company. When it came time for me to sign my contract, the rate had been dropped by $2. Oh, hell no! By the time I got finished with her, I had my $2 back, plus they were paying $40/week for my Metro.

Now, here's the deal, do I get tired of being perceived as the angry black woman when I ask for what I want? Absolutely. But that doesn't mean I'm going to stop asking for--and receiving it.

Stop expecting life to just walk up to you and say, "Hey, here you go. Thank you for existing," and start asking...and getting what YOU want. Because, remember, a closed mouth doesn't get fed.

Lisa

The Millionaire Journey T-shirts

2009-11-15T18:38:00.005-05:00

Have you gotten your Millionaire Journey t-shirt yet? What are you waiting for? Click here to get yours today.

Who's in the Driver's Seat of Your Life?

2009-11-11T16:19:00.011-05:00

Can you believe it's been a month since we kicked off the Millionaire Journey? To recap the last 31 days: we've discussed The Top 10 Distinctions Between Millionaires and the Middle Class; Rich Dad, Poor Dad; and our current book is Do You. We've hosted a telerally, had our first giveaway, and identified ways that we can make money online.

So, as you can see, WE are well on our way. Tina, Kim and I believe in ourselves. We believe in you. And we know that you believe in yourselves as much as we do.

We're continuing to develop our millionaire mindset, and that means living without fear, as well as living life on our terms. It seems that an overwhelming number of us--yes US--have allowed our fear of what others will say or think about us living a life of financial independence to restrict our financial growth. We've acquiesced to other's limitations of who we should be and what we should have. So, let me ask you:

Aren't you tired of being BROKE?

Aren't you ready to build wealth for yourself, your children, and future generations?

Aren't you tired of meandering in mediocrity?

My answers are yes, yes, and YES! And you know what else I'm tired of? Going along, to get along, instead of sitting in the driver's seat of my life! But, being tired is not enough. We've got to keep the momentum going. It's time to kick some butt!

So, I'm challenging you now to:

Read the Millionaire Journey pledge daily. Join our blog subscription list to get the pledge delivered to your inbox.
Join the Facebook fan page, and interact with us and the other fans.
Surround yourself with like-minded people. Remember, if you hang around 10 broke people, you're guaranteed to be the 11th. So, you've got to get away from broke-minded folks and start hanging out with folks with a millionaire mindset.
Reaffirm yourself daily. A few years ago I realized I needed to get back in the driver's seat of my life after realizing everybody was in control of my life but me. I wrote the following pledge and read it daily. I encourage you to do the same.
Start that business you've always wanted to start. Every book I've ever read about becoming a millionaire tells me that I won't get there working a 9-to-5.

I DEFINE ME

I am the President and CEO of my life. My life is a reflection of my choices, so I will make wise choices and be accountable for my actions. I am a divine being created with a purpose that I strive daily to fulfill. God made me an original, so I will act original, think original, BE original; I will not die a cheap copy!

Dreams are seeded inside of me that I will make my reality. I'm not afraid to think for myself because I have the courage that it takes to be ME. The criticism of others will not subvert my purpose because I'm in the driver's seat of my life. If I should ever question who I am, I will seek validation and guidance from my Creator.

I add value to any environment that I enter; therefore, suicide is never an option--I know this world is a better place because of ME.

To your continued success...

Lisa

I Like to Let Other People Spend MY Money

2009-11-10T14:21:00.006-05:00

Say No! Did you say it? How often do we say "YES" only to wish that we would have kept our mouths closed? I have been exercising my jaws lately and saying an emphatic "no" without apology. I have more time for my kids because I TAKE more time. I have more freedom because I give myself the freedom.

We are coming up to the Holidays which usually means more purchases outside of our budget. Your friends and family may expect gifts. What are you going to do? Exercise your ability to say “no” right now and stop allowing other people to spend your money.

I made a mistake that cost me over two-thousand dollars because I allowed someone else to spend my money. Click here to read about my stupid tax. How? They suggested that I needed an Interior Designer. Did I? Not when I had credit card debt, a car loan and no blinds on my patio sliding door. Yet, what did I do? Allow the weed seed to be planted in my stinking thinking. Just recently this same well intending friend informed me she was hosting a clothing designer party at her home and that I was invited. Of course I exercised my right to say “no” and did. Yet, she came back with the perfect rebuttal. “The clothes are for ‘little people your size’ and I get 50% off the clothes!” she said. Of course I said “no!” right? Nope, I responded “Wow! That sounds great, okay, I’ll be there” thus allowing her to SPEND MY MONEY.

So, I am saying to you (and me) that in order to get to the first million, we have to take back control and say “no” when we need to, “yes” when we can and stop allowing others to spend our money. I hope that today I brought to your awareness how you allow others to spend your money. Don’t think so? Do you buy items because they’re “on sale”, “half off”, “closing for business” oh…you’ve been allowing others to spend your money too! LOL! Don’t fret, you’re not alone. Take back control and repeat after me “no, no, no!”

On the Millionaire Journey, it is extremely important to continue developing the Millionaire Mindset. You are developing the Millionaire mindset. Now it's time to have what you believe in the spiritual, manifested in the natural.

You cannot do everything, but you can do one thing, the most important thing, and you can do it now.-Brian Tracy

Frugal Living: Free Shipping & Finding Coupon Codes

2009-11-06T09:04:00.003-05:00

As I mentioned in a previous article, I love to shop online. I’m a big fan of shopping online. In order to make shopping on line feasible, there are two things that are must haves for me: one is free shipping and the other is a discount.

1) Never pay for shipping. You should almost never pay for shipping when you buy online. Honestly, it’s not worth it to shop online if you have to pay shipping costs. Many merchants offer free shipping year round on a minimum order or they offer free shipping codes throughout the year. Check FreeShipping.org or go to the Free Shipping page at ShopATHome.com to find free shipping codes and offers available at thousands of stores online.

Two great sites are available to assist you.When I order online, I pretty much refuse to pay for shipping. It's just not worth it to me to have to pay high shipping prices--even if the online deal is spectacular. On Decembmer 17, 2009 dozens many sites will be participating in Free Shipping Day and they guarantee they will deliver to you by Christmas Eve. To find out which stores are participating, click HERE.

2) Find coupon codes. Coupon codes are all over the internet. You should ve able to find a coupon code for any purchase you want to make. One good site to look at is RetailMeNot.com. You only need to go to their site, search for the store you want to shop at and you will get a list of coupon codes.

Between getting free shipping and coupon codes you should be able to get significant discount on the item purchased.

Frugal Living: Using Cashback Sites To Stretch Your Dollars

2009-11-04T15:14:00.005-05:00

The holidays are right around the corner and with it comes a good deal of shopping. Unless money doesn’t matter, there is never a reason to buy anything for full price. Between cashback sites and coupons you can always get a discount. The way cashback sites work are they pay you a rebate-usually between 2% and 6%- to shop a specific retailer through their site. These sites are “must use” if you shop online because they don’t cost anything to use and you may as well get paid to purchase the items you were already going to purchase.

I use several sites and each one has a different rebate percentage. I recommend that you sign up for each of them and then when you’re ready to shop compare who is offering the best rebate with the particular retailer you are planning to shop with. The ones I use most often are:

Ebates. Ebates is the site I’ve used the longest. They pay you $5 upon sign-up and you can cash out when your account reaches $5.01 so only one purchase is required. Payment is sent out on a quarterly basis. The list of retailers is extensive. Sign up at: http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?referrerid=rW6YfCjMfgU%3D

Cashbaq. Cashbaq also offers a $5 bonus for signing up. Payments are made on the 20th of each month to all members whose accounts have accrued at least $10. Also, Cashbaq offers the deal of the day, which is a bargain deal that’s 50-90% off the retail price after the bargain price and cashback. Sign up at http://www.cashbaq.com/?refer=487680

Mr. Rebates. This site has to be one of the best ways to make money. In addition to giving you a rebate for your purchase, you can also earn 20% of your referred friend's cash-back rebates on every purchase they make through Mr. Rebates (at no cost to them). You get that extra 20% for every purchase your referred friend makes. You just can't lose on a deal like this! Sign up at: http://www.mrrebates.com?refid=266494

Blastoff. This is one of the newest cashback sites. It actually combines cashback with multilevel marketing but without any sign up cost. You get a rebate not only when you shop at merchants through their online mall but you also get paid when the 20 people in your circle shop through the online mall. Click here for sign up.

To make certain that you receive credit for your purchase, you must find the store on the cashback site you’re using and click through to the store from the link provided by the cash back site.

I will teach you to be rich Part II

2009-11-04T07:38:00.001-05:00

Can anyone truly teach you to be rich? What does being "rich" really mean? For me it simply mean financial independence. Monday my daughter called me from school and informed me that her glasses broke in half. Without hesitation, I hung up from her and immediately called in to the Ophthalmologist to set her up an appointment. Well, time is more important to me than money so I scheduled my other two children appointments too. My oldest daughter wears contacts and is begging for colored contacts. My son was whining because he couldn't get glasses and my baby daughter had a pair already picked out (and they were not on sale!).

Sure the insurance covered all except $20 of the visit. Sure, I picked up the glasses yesterday and the total was just $117 after they showed me the total of $300 plus dollars. Good thing I have insurance...right? In the past, I would have stressed out over the visit and the amount to pay. Yet, because I have a budget and a larger salary, the visit was a breeze and neither I nor the children were frustrated.

See financial independence is more than the money. Financial independence is the confidence you carry knowing that you can support yourself, your children, family members, the homeless, those in-between, etc. Ramit Sethi's blog I will teach you to be rich is about more than becoming rich. The information he share is about changing your MINDSET which in turn releases stress and frustration. Financial independence is freedom from debt, freedom from lack, freedom from living a mediocre life and freedom from being tied to a meaningless job.

This millionaire journey we're on is more than you becoming a millionaire. There are plenty of stories about those that achieve millionaire status and lose hundreds of millions a few years thereafter. Did you know that within two years of retirement, 78 percent of NFL players are bankrupt or in severe financial distress? Read Chris Chase's article for more information about Why do so many NFL players go bankrupt?

Come on, this is more than about money. The journey is about MINDSET. What does being rich mean to you? (Tina)

I will Teach You to be Rich Part I

2009-11-03T08:00:00.008-05:00

I'm beginning to believe that most people in life just want to be spoon fed. I have been a long time follower of Ramit Sethi's blog I will teach you to be rich and have learned quite a bit from his tips. If you're not following the blog, take a moment to go and sign up. He's been writing since 2003 and sharing his quest to become rich.

Last night, I attended his 6-week Boot Camp pre-launch and paid attention to his marketing techniques. For an entire week, he gave us his best information, videos, emails, etc. and finally had a live meeting and told us more FREE information. Yet, free isn't the point. The point is he places a value on information and finally gave us the price for the 6-week Boot Camp. Personally, I like his no nonsense approach. Not only did he just give the price, he politely said he was not going to hard sell us into buying it.

Ramit said, "Either you want it or you don't. If you don't, continue to follow the blog and do nothing." While I followed the live web chat stream, I realized that Ramit appeared to be living in an apartment, he didn't have the "best" camera, we don't even know if he's rich, yet HE'S TEACHING OTHERS HOW TO BE RICH! What's the point? There is someone somewhere that wants your information because they are too lazy to do it for themselves.

They don't even care if you're rich, skinny, fit, healthy, etc. They just want a quick way to improve their lives. Do you really want to be rich? Do you really want to achieve millionaire status? I do and I have for some time been quite diligent at doing those things that will guarantee that I reach financial independence. Just today I ate breakfast here at work (which I must admit, I rarely do) and the cost for an enormous pancake was a whopping $.74! Yes, and I drank water.

In fact, many of the people that eat breakfast and lunch in our cafeteria have purchases that easily reach $7-$10 daily. Now, I must say that you don't have to skip on lunch or your favorite restaurant. Please do not misunderstand me. I do believe that you must put on constraints. If you can not pay all of your bills on time, have credit card debt, no savings and are struggling financially, you should be eating Ramen Noodles for lunch. As Dave Ramsey would say, "rice and beans, beans and rice."

Yes, I said it! I have a lot more to say too. I'm developing a new approach at finances, business and this mission. We can all be millionaires-I BELIEVE IT-yet there must be a strategy. Mindset is FIRST. So, first things first. This journey should feel exciting and a little uncomfortable too. Each day you must first believe and then think about what you can do to achieve financial independence.

Kill the foxes and get moving! We are on a mission to teach you how to become a millionaire as we achieve the status ourselves. We're researching, interviewing and reading everything we can get our hands on. What can you do TODAY to work towards your financial independence? (Tina)

Fear, Don't Live Here Anymore!

2009-10-29T17:49:00.001-04:00

I know it’s hard to believe that someone who is an attorney/author/radio show host has fears about much of anything. But I can’t begin to tell you how many times I’ve let fear punch me in the face, beat me down and even knock me out for the count on more than one occasion.

Take the time I almost dropped out of law school after the first week because I didn’t think I could cut it, or how I almost didn’t write my book Mother To Son because I didn’t believe anyone would listen to someone without a PhD. There are so many things I almost didn’t do because fear began to set in. But after writing my book and seeing the warmth with which it was received, I determined from that time period on that fear would never occupy a permanent place in my head or heart. Nor should it in yours. After all, a wise person once told me that fear is false evidence appeared real. Once you know and really believe this, then you to can begin to make sure fear doesn’t live in your home anymore.

Here are a few things I’ve used over the years to help me overcome fear:

1. Get a cheering squad. Surround yourself with a group of people who can encourage you and root you on in your dreams. Fear can’t occupy the same space as love and confidence.
2. Break down what you want to do into small achieveable steps. Fear sometimes comes from the fact that something seems to big to accomplish. Break it down into smaller steps. As you achieve those smaller steps your confidence will grow and your fear will lessen.
3. Take fear head on. Don’t run. Stand your ground. Ask yourself what’s worst. To live your life trying or to be filled with regret?

In the end, you don’t need to be an attorney or some superstar to punch fear in the face. You just need to be willing to move forward and give your dreams a try.

PRIZE ALERT: Punch Fear In The Face Contest

2009-10-28T16:59:00.004-04:00

Want to know the secret to coping in a down economy? If so, you have the opportunity to win a copy of the free e-book How To Stay Up In A Down Economy. To enter:

1. Watch the You Tube video. You can find it on the Millionaire Journey Facebook Fan Page or at

2. Leave a comment on the You Tube page and on the FB Fan page telling how you punched fear in the face or even better, how you think you’ll apply it on the Millionaire Journey.

3. We will pick the best comment from the week and then send the winner the
e-book. We’ll be in touch via email, so be sure to Direct Message us or email us
at 1yearmillionaires@gmail.com so we have a way to contact you.

Come back each day and read how Tina, Lisa and Kim punched fear in the face!

Organization Not Intelligence Makes The Difference

2009-10-28T10:12:00.002-04:00

My law school professor use to tell me that in order to succeed I didn’t have to be very smart I just had to be organized. He would say that law school, like life, is more about organization than intelligence. These past two weeks on the Millionaire Journey have proven his words of advice true!

I’m so excited on the Journey that my mind is racing a mile per minute. I have so many thoughts and am doing so many things that it’s easy to become deflated or burnt out if you don’t have a system of organization. Otherwise, it will be too much input and not enough output, and output, after all is the name of the game and the key to success.
Over the last two weeks, I’ve done a lot to get organized and so can you. To stay organized I usually do the following:

1. Get you a clean space to work. It’s hard to work in clutter.
2. Set your goals and determine your priority. Once you know what the priority is then you know what to focus on. So many of us have a multitude of ideas that it’s easy to get sidetracked. To prevent this from happening, make a list of your priorities and rank them in order of importance that you want to accomplish them.
3. Focus. Don’t try to do everything all at once. This is why you’re creating a list of priorities. Work solely on your top priority until it’s complete or else you will never get it done.
4. Create folders for the various ideas you have. When something pops in your mind related to that idea, jot it down and stick it in that folder. But do not start working on it until you’ve completed what you have listed at the top of your list.

At the end of the day, you will find that you will get more accomplished if you stick to the items above. You will stay on task and be more organized; thereby, allowing you to get more accomplished.

(Kim)

Punch FEAR in the Face!

2009-10-27T15:11:00.012-04:00

Achieving millionaire status involves appreciating every opportunity to save, give and DO. I am a frugal person and I believe in saving a dollar or a hundred dollars when I can. I look for ways to save money. Look for ways to cut the costs and stop paying full price. The only time you should be paying full price is when you absolutely want to and don't feel guilty about doing it.

Today I had to book a flight for my boyfriend and I researched online for "coupon codes" in google. Did you know that there is a coupon available for virtually anything you want to purchase online? Yes there is! You just have to find it. So, I wanted to be sure that if you had some place to be that you could also find it too. Click Here for a $25 off Air Tran Coupon

The past 14 days of this journey I have felt like I have been running race and today for the first time, I slowed down long enough to evaluate what has occurred. I started a new business, I received payments for the business and more work, I opened up a Teleseminar, updated my resume and reflected on where I've been and where I want to go in my career. I read Lisa Maria Carroll's book Moving Up in a Down Economy and made a few decisions to get rid of some of major time wasters that were not producing any type of income. Just from her book, I received tips on how to apply for jobs that have my current career title that will more than double my salary!

More than anything, I punched FEAR in the face. I have an amazing Dream Team that desires to me and everyone on this journey succeed! They are up researching ways to save, share and together we are believe God for His abundant blessings in this lifetime. There is so much to be said about that.

So as you are traveling along the Millionaire Journey with us, Punch FEAR in the Face! Allow your dreams to come alive, switch gears and use every opportunity that you have available to live your best life now. Evaluate your money mindset and remember to say the Millionaire Pledge DAILY!

You can and will achieve millionaire status. How long is up to you.

After you read this post, please copy and comment with I punched FEAR in the face! You'll feel much better after you do-really, you will!

Tina

Old Habits Die Hard

2009-10-23T19:41:00.003-04:00

Be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind.

I make too much damn money to broke. I’m just going to put it out there, and keep it all the way real. All of my kids are grown, and I live waaay below my means, except for when it comes to “loaning” money. I got a bad habit of taking care of other folks before I take care of myself. In other words, I spend more time worrying about other people’s problems than they do. And, let me just put it this way, I could probably be a millionaire if I were to call in all the “loans” that I’ve never gotten a payment on.

Now before anybody stands up to tell me how blessed I’m going to be for helping others, sit down for a minute and let me finish…

God has charged me to be a few things, and a fool isn’t one of them. The Word of God charges us to be as wise as serpents and harmless as a dove. It’s downright foolish and unwise to loan and give money that you don’t have. And that’s what I’ve done over and over again in the past. But, no more, because God also charges me to be a good steward over the things that he blesses me with. A steward is a manager. And how well am I managing the things that he has entrusted to me—including money—if I loan bill money, and then I can’t pay my bills? God gets no glory out of me—or you—living with no electricity or heat because we’ve loaned our money to someone who wasn’t a good steward over theirs either.

It’s Day 12 of the Millionaire Journey, and although I’m still 353 days away from being a millionaire dollar-wise, I definitely have a renewed million-dollar mindset. And to God be the glory. People don’t need my money, they need my motivation (Wallace D. Wattles). Otherwise, I’ll continue to stay broke. Correction, they’ll continue to stay broke, because as a man thinks, so he is. And my thinking has changed. There’s no more meandering in mediocrity for me.

Lisa Maria Carroll

Making An Income Stream Out of Taking Surveys

2009-10-21T20:36:00.005-04:00

Believe it or not, there are legitimate ways to make money on line. Completing surveys and participating in online focus groups are such an example. Many companies pay anywhere from $2 to $150 depending on the amount of effort involved. Focus groups are going to pay about $75-$150 but they are going to take between an hour to an hour and a half to complete.

While you won’t get rich from completing surveys, you can build up your survey base such that it becomes a good source to add to your income stream, which is critical to becoming a millionaire. Today alone, I took 16 surveys ranging in amount from $1 to $75. The good thing about surveys is you can decide how many you want to take or if you want to take them at all.

Now there are a lot of survey companies out there. Some are scams. Under no circumstances should you ever have to pay to take surveys. Be wary of any company charging a fee to provide you a list of companies that offer surveys. As this list is readily available for free over the internet.

After years of completing surveys on line, I have compiled a list of the survey companies I believe to be the best based off the frequency of surveys sent and the amount of compensation. They include the following:

American Consumer Online Panel - They invite you to fill out surveys online. Once finished with the survey, you will receive cash, a check, a gift, and/or an entry in a drawing (values typically range from $4.00 to $25.00 per completed survey). Even if you are not selected for a survey, your name will be entered in a monthly drawing. Sign up at http://acop.com/

Survey Savvy - This is the online division of Luth Research, a leader in market research for nearly 25 years. Surveys range from $2 to $50. What’s unique about survey savvy is you also get paid for not only the surveys you take but also for surveys taken by your referrals and their referrals. This is sort of a MLM survey but it is pretty lucrative if you can create a team under you of people interested in taking surveys. To sign up go to: https://www.surveysavvy.com?id=498688&action=join

Mindfield - Earn cash and prizes for each completed survey. They send out surveys frequently. Sign up at: http://mindfieldonline.com/referral/b2da765f

Focus Forward – one of the better of the survey companies they pay anywhere for $2 to $150 depending on the type of survey. They offer a lot of focus groups which usually take between an hour to 1.5 hours and can be done via phone or online but the pay is usually between $75-$150 for participation. Sign up at: http://focusfwdonline.com/

Valued Opinions – also a very good company. They send surveys frequently and pay anywhere from $2 to $15 a survey. Occasionally, they have some surveys that pay out at $50. Sign up: http://www.valuedopinions.com/

My View - My View is another one of my favorites because of the frequency of surveys sent and the amount of compensation awarded. The good thing about them is you’ll know in the beginning if you are disqualified or not. They pay with My View points, which means that 1 point constitutes $1. http://portal.myview.com/portal/app?cmd=Acquisition&token=1:00019215:0004:2796:1933

Pinecone Research--one of the most well-respected and best survey companies to work for. They only accept applications every few months for a short time period so it’s imperative that you sign up when they are having “open enrollment.” If you qualify and are accepted, you'll be promptly paid $3 for every survey you complete. Plus, you'll have possible opportunities to try out full-size products for free. http://www.pineconeresearch.com/

Believe me when I say the opportunity to make money completing surveys is plentiful. Like anything else you have to expend a bit of effort upfront on sign up. But once you complete that, there is plenty of opportunity to make money.

7 Things You Can Do to Make Money

2009-10-21T19:01:00.007-04:00

Our Sunday tele-rally was a blast! On the call we defined the journey, told you how you could join as a participant or fan, and revealed seven ways that you can make money now.

Yesterday, I told you how to sign up for a Clickbank account. Well, today I reactivated my eHow, Ezine and Associated Content accounts to start earning more passive income. (Kim also has an Associated Content account with some great articles.) I know it may look like things are going really slow right now (and, frankly, it feels that way too), but I'm positioning myself. I currently have a blog, Single Mom and More, and I'm hardly making any money on that site. But, I learned through a teleseminar yesterday that I can take the content from my blog and post them to all three of those sites and get paid. I was trying to get paid on my site, and then my plan was to cross-post. Man, was I doing things backwards.

Once I get my blog posts migrated to those sites and others, I don't have to do anything else to them. People will find them through search engines and my newsletters. And I'll make money. It won't be much at first, but I'm creating e-products, cross-promoting, creating links, and much more. And over time, all of these little things will add up, and become something much bigger. I'll make it so that they all work together.

In the meantime, I want to recap the seven things we identified on Sunday's call that you can do to make money:

1. Capitalize on social media (Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, LinkedIn)
2. Create a blog and monetize it
3. MLMs
4. Use your job as a multiple income stream
5. Take surveys
6. Identify your strengths
7. Finish what you started

Tina, Kim and I are going to blog about these things in great detail, so make sure you're subscribed to this blog. Also, invite friends to join the Millionaire Journey fan page on Facebook. We want to encourage you as you encourage us.

Until next time, see you on the journey.

Lisa Maria Carroll

Joining the Millionaire Journey-Fan or Participant

2009-10-21T17:38:00.003-04:00

I received three emails today from people inquiring about joining the journey.

How can you join?

You can join this incredibly empowering movement by making a commitment now to also become a millionaire in 365 days and agreeing to follow the Millionaire Journey Pledge. We know that becoming a millionaire can seem like a daunting accomplishment but that's why you won't have to do it alone. You will have Lisa, Tina, Kim and other Millionaire Journey members to support you in your endeavor. Over the next 365 days, [through emails, teleseminars, etc] we will be there to provide motivation, inspiration or just a kick in the pants to keep you going. We’ve made it easy for you. Membership is free and, once you sign up, we will provide you with a copy of the Millionaire's Pledge and a list of the Five Things You Must Do Now To Become A Millionaire. Sign up now and take the first step toward becoming a millionaire.

If you are unable to stretch your faith to believe for Millionaire status in 365 days, then join us and cheer us on as a FAN! We need cheerleaders, we need your faith, we need your love! There is something great about seeing others succeed. Be sure to have your children join as fans and learn about money.

I have a good friend at work and we were talking about those in society that REALLY make money. They aren't the NFL/NBA players, Entertainers, etc.(we know they make the big bucks too!) They are those that truly know how money operates and deal in hedge funds. Know what a hedge fund is? William Buffet invested $620 million in one. Research and leave a comment below with a hedge fund BILLIONAIRE name. Yes, they make millions and achieve billionaire status. On this journey, one of the things I plan to do is to educate myself on how money operates and grows. What do you intend to do? Have fun learning!

Tina

How to Make Money with Clickbank

2009-10-20T15:06:00.006-04:00

One of the ways that we identified to make money online is through Clickbank. Clickbank is a marketplace where people can either sell their e-goods or sign up to sell other people's e-goods. Most people have at least one product of their own to sell that can be downloaded without needing any part of it to be physically shipped. But even if you don't, you can still be an affiliate.

As part of my effort to identify--and take advantage of--all possible revenue streams, I reactivated my Clickbank account. I signed up for it over a year ago, but never used it. In other words, that's a year's worth of passive income that I could have been generating. But, no sense in crying over spilled milk.

So, looking ahead, here's how you can also start making money through Clickbank:

Visit: http://www.clickbank.com/, and decide if you want to be an affiliate (promote products), or a vendor (sell products). Clickbank will then send all of your sign-up information via email.
Identify a niche. Search the Clickbank marketplace to see what categories are available. Tailor your e-goods (ebooks, software) to fit categories that are not already filled with similar items. Also, give your products a fresh angle that will make it different from any similar products.
As a vendor, you will need to register for a seller's account. Pay the startup fee and have your account confirmed.
Create a website, landing page or newsletter to advertise your product. Write a sales letter or page that accurately describes the product and what it can do for the buyer. Use highly-searched keywords in order to get search engine traffic to your page.
Submit your page and your product to Clickbank for approval. Take the Clickbank payment links provided to you from the site and put them onto the sales letter or website.
Choose a price for your item. When doing so, take into consideration the percentage of each sale that will go to anyone who sells the item on your behalf. You'll set that amount as well.
Market your item in forums, blogs, websites, and newsletters.

Let's make some money on this millionaire journey.

Lisa Maria Carroll

I Am Woman, Hear Me Roar

2009-10-20T05:36:00.002-04:00

This is precisely how I feel after Sunday’s amazing telerally. There is nothing like the power of associations and feeling the energy from a group of people who believe anything possible. What you find is that you feed off and challenge each other to push forward. So on Day 9 of the Journey, I’m fired up and ready to keep going, and my energy is sky high.

To date, I’ve made $39.15 toward my Millionaire Journey! While it may not seem like a lot, the truth is this was probably one of the most important and prolific weeks I’ve had in my life. If you know anything about blog monetization, you know that $39.15 is a lot. In fact, before I started the Millionaire Journey, I didn’t put much effort into monetization so it would take me 3-4 months to generate this type of income. But the things I learned this past week about playing to win and challenging myself to do more have allowed me to kick my monetizaton efforts into high gear and have in essence allowed me to make in one week what it would have taken me a couple of months to do before I started this Journey. This is just an example of what can happen when you combine attitude plus action. For the first time, I hear the roar of true wealth creation and I want to share that with you.

As such, starting tomorrow, I will begin discussing what I’m doing in terms of the 7 income streams we’ve identified at Sunday’s telerally. I’m committed to transparency and telling you what really works and what doesn’t. We’re all in this together. I hope you can hear the sound of the roar too! (Kim)

Now is the time to FUND your passion!

2009-10-19T16:26:00.002-04:00

Colossians 3:23 He says "Whatever you do, do it with all of your heart as unto the Lord and not unto men."

I found this super fantastic site Polar Unlimited that provides book summaries of the Top Business books using audio and video. The latest book "Crush It! Cash in on your Passion" by Gary Vaynerchuk is one of my favorites. Right now on this journey 3 Women. 3 Paths. 1 Destination: 1 million in 365 days, I am more than ever seeking ways to "cash in on my passion."

There is so much that I can do and that I have been doing for FREE and in the words of my great friend Lisa "People are always willing to take what you will give." I have passion (and plenty of it), I know my purpose and I know that I have valuable information. Yet, how do I cash in on it? That is the key. Who cares what I can do or what I know if I can not find value in my intellectual property? So, listening to "Crush it!" I took good notes and am purposing not only to live my life with passion and purpose, I am looking for ways to cash it in!

Visit the Polar Unlimited site and listen to the Book Summary here.

Crush it! (My notes)

1. Live your passion
2. Build your personal brand
3. Create great content
4. Become a great communicator
5. Work your face off!
6. Leverage social media
7. Make money: Chase the passion, not the money!

How can you cash in on your passion?

Tina

Stuff Broke People Do

2009-10-18T18:09:00.005-04:00

People buy what they want, and then beg for what they need.

We've all seen it, folks rolling on dubs while living in an apartment complex. And the ones who get their hair and nails done, and then ask borrow the money to pay their electric bill.

A few other things broke people do is:

Take their last $20 and go buy a pizza, instead of going to the grocery store.

Buy gourmet food for their pets, and then ask you to buy their lunch.

Loan money they can't afford to give.

Talk on their $500 cell phone while on the bus.

What are some of the things you've seen broke people do that make no sense?

Lisa Maria Carroll

Is the Bible Keeping You Broke

2009-10-17T19:21:00.011-04:00

Does God want us to be poor?

If there's one thing I'm sick and tired of, it's church folks--not to be confused with Christians--using the bible to stay broke. Yes, the bible does teach us that the poor will always be with us, but nowhere did it say that the poor would be me.

This I know, and that is, if you're looking for a reason to get up, you'll find it. And if you're looking for an excuse to stay down, you'll find that too. That's why it's usually the lazy, apathetic folks who quote 1 Timothy 6:10 the loudest, The love of money is the root of all evil. They've found the excuse...errr, scripture, they need to justify not getting up and creating the life they really want.

So, what does the bible really say about money?

1 Timothy 6:10 For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.

This verse is so often misquoted that it is ridiculous. The love of money is evil, not money itself. Having $1 million in the bank doesn’t mean that you love it anymore than having $5 in there proves that you don’t.

Who would you say loves money more, Bill Gates because he's a billionaire, or the thug who won't work, but instead carjacks someone for a joy ride or kills someone for $20?

Acts 20:35 In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’

This verse is usually quoted by folks who are on the receiving end of your giving. And for some reason they've never read 2 Thessalonians 3:10 For even when we were with you, we gave you this rule: "If a man will not work, he shall not eat."

Luke 6:38 Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you."

Oprah is a great humanitarian who gives, gives and gives. And there are some who accuse her of being all about the mighty dollars. But, the more she gives, the more she gets. It's like when we buy a bag of chips. The bag is filled by weight, and you'll notice that when it settles down, there's lots of room left. In Jesus' market, he would fill up the bag, press it down, shake it up to get all of the air out, and then fill it again, so you had a completely filled, running over bag of chips.

God wants to bless us until it overflows.

What are your feelings about money and the bible?

Lisa Maria Carroll

Sunday Tele-Rally, October 18th

2009-10-16T15:24:00.002-04:00

Future Millionaires,

PLEASE READ THIS ENTIRE E-MAIL FOR FULL INSTRUCTIONS
============================================

ALL THE INFORMATION YOU NEED IS BELOW.
============================================

We are so excited and want to thank you for joining the Millionaire Journey Fan Page. On Sunday, October 18, 2009, we will be offering a NO FEE Tele-Rally. With our deepest gratitude, we appreciate you and all of the energy that you’ve given us on the fan page. We’re looking forward to pouring all of that and more back into you; it's our goal to encourage, uplift and empower you to take your wealth to the next level!

On this call we’ll share the income streams that we have identified, as well as discuss marketing strategies to execute our plans. We’ll discuss what our Millionaire Journey fan page is, and what it is not. Plus, we’ll share ways that you can get involved and stay committed on this Millionaire Journey, as well as connect and interact with each other.

The call starts this Sunday, October 18th, 2009 8:00pm EST

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To access the call:
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Dial-in number: 402-237-2015

Access code: 1million# (16455466#)

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After the call we will have some empowerment homework for you.

We look forward to hearing you on the call!

Tina, Kim and Lisa

Listen to the replay Millionaire Tele-Rally

The "YOU" Corporation

2009-10-16T09:12:00.000-04:00

"...the wealth of the wicked is stored up for the righteous." Proverbs 13:22

The Social Security Administration announced Thursday that beneficiaries won't be getting an increase in their checks in 2010 - the first time that has happened since automatic adjustments began in 1975. They're blaming the recession.

Lots of people are angry, and they should be. Many of the recipients have worked like Hebrew slaves in heat, and paid into a system that is nickel-and-diming them to death. Some literally.

If the government, the banks, and these big corporations haven't taught us anything in the last two years, they have shown us that we must look out for ourselves when it comes to our financial future, short- and long-term. It's time out for playing small. It's time out for kicking back and letting life happen to us, instead of us taking action. Read my lips: The cavalry isn't coming. You've got to look out for the "YOU" Corporation. Some people say that's selfish and egocentric. But, if you don't look out for yourself, who will?

I'm tired of seeing folks who have given so much for this country, suffer the most when the government doesn't deliver on their promises. I'm tired of seeing hard-working Americans give their all to Fortune 500 companies for decades, and retire broke, and with no health insurance. I watched my mother flip couches, pull staples, and sew fabric for years as an upholsterer, only to become disabled at 50, with no health or life insurance and a measly social security check that didn't even cover basic living expenses.

We know there's money out there. If the government can spend $170 million on an Inauguration, and the city of L.A. can spend $1.4 million on Michael Jackson's funeral, then we need to be finding ways to get our piece of the pie...or the recipe. Now, I'm not suggesting we do anything illegal or unethical. What I am saying is that it's time to identify income streams that will sustain us into retirement and beyond (our children's children).

Since starting the journey, have you identified multiple income streams?

Lisa

The Power of Association, and the Transference of Spirits

2009-10-15T12:28:00.000-04:00

Can two walk together unless they be agreed? Amos 3:3
(That would be three in our case.)

It's Day 4 of our journey, and the momentum is building. Tina, Kim and I have been volleying emails all week in an effort to identify income streams and marketing strategies. (Believe me, we're not just playing on Facebook. :-)) Today I realized that I have NEVER connected with anyone who had the same views about wealth building as these fabulous ladies. I'm usually the one saying, "Let's go. Come on. What are we waiting for?" while trying to carry folks along for the ride.

But, there's something about being around progressive people that make you want to be progressive. Their warms spirits are rubbing off on me. The energy. The vibrations. The T.E.A.M. work. Together Each of us is Achieving More.

I'm encouraging everyone who has joined us on the Millionaire Journey to be mindful of your associations. The company you keep can build you up or tear you down. I Corinthians 15:33 teaches us that bad company corrupts good character. Hanging with the wrong crowd can put you on a slippery slope to doing wrong things, or in some cases, nothing at all, leaving you stuck mentally, physically or emotionally.

But, the converse of that is true as well. Surrounding ourselves with people who have forward momentum, ambition, strong moral character and a desire to do what's right can cause us to want to be just like them.

I'm loving the journey. And I'm grateful for Tina and Kim, as well as all of the fans on our Facebook page who are supporting us as we support you.

We have 361 days left on the journey. In what ways can we support each other?

Lisa

Day 3: Playing To Win

2009-10-14T14:34:00.000-04:00

It is incredible what you can accomplish when you play to win. All my life, I, like most people, have been taught to live within certain boundaries. You know: go to school, do well, get a good job. All good advice if you want to just break even in life.

Since I’ve started the Millionaire Journey, I’ve begun playing to win because the truth is you will never get where you want by only breaking even. Playing to win is all about knowing who you are, what you want, and taking a no holds barred approach to getting it. It’s also about understanding that you may get knocked down but you keep coming back refusing to accept defeat.

My life has truly changed in the last 3 days since I’ve started the Millionaire Journey. I’ve found opportunities in everything I do, and I’m learning to leverage my strengths. I’m also recognizing that life is not a dress rehearsal because you only get one life to live. Most importantly, I’ve learned that life gives you precisely what you ask of it. If you play to lose, you lose. If you play to break even, you break even. So guess what, I’m playing to win. What about you?
(Kim)

Is This The Law of Attraction?

2009-10-14T08:43:00.001-04:00

I found 30 cents on my way home from work yesterday. There were two dimes in my path as I walked to the bus stop. And when I got to my car, there was another dime right next to it. This may not sound like a big deal, and I admit that I didn't think much of it when I picked those three dimes up off the ground. But during my quiet time this morning, I realized that those dimes represented the renewed mindset that I have on this millionaire journey.

First of all I'm a Christian, and I believe in God. The bible teaches us to be transformed by the renewing of our minds (Romans 12:2). It's Day 3 of the journey, and with my mind renewed, I know that I can be a millionaire in one year. And these dimes represented money coming to me. I'm attracting what I'm putting out into the Universe. I'm speaking wealth and abundance into existence. Hallelujah!

Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will. Romans 12:2

What do you believe?

Lisa