We are in the midst of the holiday season and Christmas is fast approaching. Most people have their minds on things like buying holiday gifts, holiday parties, the big New Year's celebration and other festive events. That's all well and good and everyone likes to have fun, but what are you doing to think about success? Have you thought about next year's goals? How are you going to make 2017 your big year and really increase your income and net worth?
Some of the most successful people among us are as into the holidays as everyone else, but they haven't lost their focus. They've been planning and plotting how to make it big in 2017 for months, and you can, too.
Whether it's becoming more financially independent, getting out of debt or becoming a millionaire, there are five ways you can make more money in the coming year than you've ever made before.
Believe
Above anything else, it starts with a single belief that you can do it. Unfortunately, when it comes to money and big-time success, the masses will scorn and make fun of you. They'll tell you you're being silly and to stop wasting your time, but one day soon when you make it big, they'll be begging you for a job. Don't pay any attention to them. The only one you need to listen to and believe in is yourself. If you think you can do it, you're much closer to making it than you realize.
Solve a problem
Problem solving is the cornerstone of big time wealth and success. You can solve a very large problem for a small number of people, or a small problem for a large number of people. Either way, come up with the solution that is going to make life easier for others, and you've got a winner. Start with your natural talents and expertise. What is the biggest problem that you see? What do people struggle with? Do you have the solution? Most people believe making money is mysterious. The truth is money flows from ideas. The more value you bring to the marketplace the wealthier you become. Getting rich in a free market economy is simply a matter of trading solutions for money.
Learn to be uncomfortable
Most people just want to be comfortable, be it physical, psychological or emotional comfort. Comfort, more than anything else, is one of the primary goals of the middle-class mindset. The fact is, becoming a millionaire isn't easy and the need for comfort can be devastating. If you want to attract the big money, you have to learn to be comfortable while operating in a state of ongoing uncertainty. The great ones know there's a price to pay for getting rich, but if they have the mental toughness to endure temporary pain, they can reap the harvest of abundant wealth for the rest of their lives. Start today by making a list of five things you must do that are uncomfortable but will help you build your financial fortune.
Become obsessed with success
The average person believes obsession is a bad word. The truth is wealthy people have a healthy obsession with getting what they want, which includes money. The wealthy see business and life as a game, and it's a game they love to win. This is the reason millionaires still go to work every day chasing their next success. Money to these people is no more than a gage that tells them when they have achieved their latest target. For the ultra-wealthy, it's no longer about money but about success and accomplishment. There's nothing wrong with being obsessed with wealth, but winners love to win and the elation they experience after victory never gets old. If you want to attract more money into your life, think about what you want and what you're willing to sacrifice to get it. Your discipline and dedication must match your desire.
See money as your friend
Most people have a dysfunctional, adversarial relationship with money. After all, we are taught that money is scarce, hard to earn and harder to keep. If you want to start attracting money, stop seeing it as your enemy and think of it as one of your greatest allies. It's a friend that has the power to end sleepless nights of worry, physical pain and can even save your life. The rich see money as a special friend that can help them in ways no other friend can, and these positive feelings lead them to build a stronger relationship every day. Start telling yourself on a daily basis that money is your friend and a positive force in your life, and your mind will go to work to help you acquire more.
The takeaway
December tends to be a slower month for many of us filled with holiday celebrations, travel and time off. Use that extra found time to start focusing on next year and develop the steps you're going to take to bring in the big money. The road to financial freedom and a millionaire's lifestyle is a lot closer than you think.