Seven Years to Seven Figures: #1 Key to Success

What is the #1 key to success?

For me, it has been having a coach/mentor.

When I focused on Hector La Marque's trainings in 2009, my business boomed exponentially.

This is essentially the same #1 factor for all of my friends.

But then I realized something. Even the best coach doesn’t have a 100 percent success rate.

Therefore having a mentor CANNOT be the #1 factor in success.

It’s not having a big idea either.

The truth is that all of my friends came with the #1 factor built-in to their minds. That’s why I had been overlooking it.

You see, the #1 factor for success is good ol’ perseverance.

The #1 factor in your success is YOUR decision to never, ever, ever give up on what is important to you, no matter how dark the days, how deep the dips, or the hell you are going through. Jim Rohn referred to it as resolve.

That’s the true #1 factor.

Here’s one of my virtual mentors, Dan Pena, with more politically incorrect TRUTH about success and perseverance. (Check out his interesting book, “Your First $100 Million”)

Success & Perseverance by Dan Pena

“Why do you allow year after year to go by with little or no change? The TRUTH is almost every year of your life has been the same due to:

1) All the trials and tribulations we all experience in life and allow them to direct our actions, hence we become reactionary;

2) No bodacious goals;

3) Choosing to stay in your (little) comfort zone (CZ);

4) Paralysis by analysis; and

5) The biggest of them all – lack of strength of commitment to do the necessary!
Or as I say:

“To do whatever it takes, as long as it is legal, moral, and ethical!”

At the end of the day, it’s the person that takes a positive position and takes action no matter what!”  Dan Pena

***
This man is intense. Look him up on Youtube.

Persevere,

Ray

“Follow the Golden Rule, have gratitude for everything, add value to the world, and never give up. It’s a pretty easy formula for living well. Why do we make it so hard?”  Craig Ballantyne

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

The Questions You Must Ask to Make 2016 a Great Year

I recently read Frank McKinney’s book  "Make It Big". I often had heard of Frank’s maverick approach to life and business. I knew I had to learn more about this larger than life icon. His book didn’t disappoint. One of my favorite suggestions from Frank is to, “Spend time in introspection. Figure yourself out.”

Recently Frank shared seven important questions that we should all take time out of our busy schedules to answer. This year-end review is the perfect accompaniment to your 2016 goal setting plans. Pour yourself a cup of your favorite beverage, sit down in your favorite chair, and write down your answers to the following:

1) What has changed since the year started?
2) Where did you “exceed your known definition of greatness”?
3) Where did you fall short?
4) What did you learn about yourself or those around you that you didn’t know before?
5) What are the areas in your life that need transformation?
6) Will you continue to focus on something you started here?
7) Could you apply this discipline elsewhere, such as marriage, exercise, a job, your social life, etc.?

Take time to spend in introspection with those questions. They will help you identify mistakes of the past and how you can turn 2016 into a year where you possibly become a millionaire, get back in shape, rekindle an important personal relationship, or make a dent in the universe through your giving and value adding.

Frank writes:

“Remember that more change happens in the mind than in reality. Be sure to observe and acknowledge how you’ve evolved, matured, or otherwise improved your mindset as well as the tangible results you’ve produced. Roll with the punches, baby. Be honest with yourself. 

“A transformation is an active pursuit, one that requires initiative, drive, desire, planning, and follow-through. Conduct an open-eyed, honest review. 

“Then go live your life. Take some chances, even if there’s the possibility of failure. Be an opportunist, keeping an open mind and seeing new possibilities you might never have considered before.”

Take stock. Spend time by yourself thinking about yourself.

It’s what millionaires do.

It might be uncomfortable.

But it will be worth every minute.

Don’t dwell on past mistakes because that will get you nowhere. Instead, focus on what you can and WILL do today, tomorrow, and the rest of your life, and all of the great things that will happen because of your actions.

Don’t wait for the ‘time to be right’ (i.e. until it’s too late) to take action on your goals. If there’s something you really want to do – if there is a dream body you want to achieve or a change in life you need – then find a way to do it now.

Instead of waiting, just get started.

Focus on replacing your bad habits and thought patterns, one-by-one, over time, with good habits and thought patterns. One step at a time, done over time, leads to powerful changes in your life.

Everything you do is either moving you closer to or farther away from your goals. So which way will you be moving today?

Remember that every action has an impact.

Remember that every decision makes things better or worse.

Remember that everything counts.

Set your goals. Follow your dreams. Start today. Start right now.

What can you do right now to move closer to your goals?

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Seven Years to Seven Figures: 5 Essential Rockefeller Habits

I first read this book last November, and I just started re-reading on the weekend.

It literally is one of the most important business books I have ever read, and it is not one of those books that would be better off as a 5-page magazine article.

The Rockefeller Habits contains ZERO filler. Instead, it’s a complete blueprint to preparing a business for maximum growth.

It changed my life last year by getting me to shift my thinking over to a Mission-based business. My business has changed dramatically in the last 12 months because of it.

But that’s not the only important idea you’ll take from the book. In fact, there are 5 essential habits for business success that you can take from the Rockefeller system, including:

1) Picking Priorities

In the Rockefeller Habits plan, you’ll pick 5 main priorities for your year, and of those you’ll focus on 1 main priority each quarter.

In my business, last quarter’s priority was launching my Traffic Authority website, and this quarter I’m focused on tripling the size of my email list.

2) Create a Communication Rhythm

One of the most rewarding “tasks” that I do in my business each week is a 300-500 word Friday update that goes out to my team (i.e. my staff).

I highlight our successes, point out exceptional effort by team members, illustrate how we put our core values into play, and get them excited about what’s coming next.

This is just one aspect of increased communication recommended in the Rockefeller Habits.

The book also recommends a “daily huddle” (5 minute meeting), but I’ll admit I haven’t implemented that yet, partly because my team works virtually.

However, I do have a daily update system that every one of my team members provides me, and that way I stay on top of their work with a quick 30-second review each day.

3) Drive on Data

Don’t be mistaken, The Rockefeller Habits is not just about communication or “touchy feely” subjects.

Not at all.

The author, Verne Harnish, knows that it is data that drives key business decisions, and he insists that you identify the key metrics in your business that determine success.

Only when you’ve identified the key metrics that drive your business will you be able to truly grow and succeed.

4) Identify the X Factor and Open It Up

Harnish identifies the “X Factor” as the chokepoint in your business model that must be identified and overcome.

It may be website traffic, or a cost efficient sales process, or it may be creating a profitable back-end that allows you  to spend more money to get leads. Again, it’s data driven, and you must be tracking your numbers.

This is also a never-ending process. Once you’ve overcome one X-Factor, it’s time to identify and overcome the next, to continually grow your business.

5) Plan & Prepare

The Rockefeller Habits takes a unique approach to planning, warning us “not to fall in love with our 1-3 year plans”.

In fact, Harnish says there are only two time-frames that matter: 90 days and 10 years, and nothing in between.

Your 90-day plan is data driven, and you’re focused on overcoming the chokepoint.

The 10-25 year plan is driven by your vision and mission.

As long as you stay focused on those two paths, there’s little need to focus on a 3-year plan.

*******************************************

Some of the info may seem esoteric, but if you’re really serious about creating your Internet Independence, you’ll follow through on these 5 habits.$

“Don’t be afraid to give up the good to go for the great.” – John D. Rockefeller

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Real Estate Investing: The Importance Of A Thorough Property Inspection

Technology has made investing in real estate easier than ever. Some would argue that it is now too easy. To gain access to property information in the past you had to go to your local town hall, pull the field card, and do a little legwork. Now you can find most of that info online, either directly on the town hall website or on one of the various property evaluation sites. While this has certainly made the business easier, it may not have made it better. It prevents most investors from taking a critical step. The best way to find information about a property, in my opinion, is to view it first-hand.

We have all heard the expression “pictures don’t lie.” Well, when it comes to real estate, they may. Realtors and sellers can take pictures to make a room or yard look bigger than it really is. The description may say that the property is located near a train track, but without seeing the property, you wouldn’t know how close or how far the tracks really are. A few blocks in real estate can mean everything. You may think your home is in a great neighborhood based on what you read online, but on closer examination, it is only a block or two away from an area you would not buy in.

There is really no excuse for neglecting to examine a property thoroughly. People spend more time researching what kind of phone they are going to buy or what cable company they are going to use. As an investor, your property is the asset that will either make you money or set you back years in the business. You should know every square inch of the property, almost to the point where your realtor or seller starts to get annoyed with how long you are in the property for.

The listing may say there is slight water damage or mold in the basement, but unless you see it for yourself, it is impossible to determine the extent of the damage. Some owners may even try to hide problems like these. If you didn’t want to go downstairs and check it out, you will regret it a few months down the road when you see and smell mold coming through the walls. As with most purchases, a little due diligence can go a long way.

You should use the internet and any photos you see online as merely a starting point to gauge your interest. If the pictures make the property look like something you may want, then you take the time to check the house out. This should not be the other way around. If there is anything you should be spending extra time on, it is examining houses that you are going to make offers on. Once you take ownership, it is too late and you will be forced to live with whatever defects you find in the house. Sometimes these defects can cost thousands to remedy and leave your value well below what you anticipated.

As an investor, you need to go through dozens of properties to find one you actually want to make an offer on. This can be a long, tedious process, but one that is critical to your success. Once you start getting lazy, looking at properties is when you will let your guard down and open yourself up for regret. All it takes is one bad deal to set your business back. Do your due diligence and always examine your properties.$

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Seven Years to Seven Figures: Just Do It!

Super duper, just do it.

Watch this!

The winners of the world will do it…and do it and do it…because they will do a little bit more!

Great, just do it.

No quitting.

You just do it!

Never quit. If you stumble, get back up. What happened yesterday no longer matters. Today is another day, so get back on track to your goals.$

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Real Estate Investing: What Kind Of Hitter Are You?

With the World Series now ended, it inspired me to break out some baseball references. All of the talk surrounding hitting, pitching and defense has a direct correlation to real estate investing. As an investor, one of the first things you need to evaluate is what kind of hitter you want to be. Do you want to be the type that looks for singles or are you more of a power hitter looking to hit a home run? Both strategies have proven they can work in the real estate industry, but both come with inherit risks and obstacles.

An investor with “singles” in mind is simply looking for small profits on multiple deals throughout the course of their career. They are ultimately content with small profits on their deals, as long as they have several more lined up. Accordingly, they need to close multiple deals to make the same as the home run hitter who closes only a few deals a year. This would appear to be a safer strategy, but finding these deals can prove to be a problem. If they are content with this method, they may miss out on more lucrative deals that come their way.

As their name suggests, the home run hitter swings for the fences on every deal. When they connect, they want it to be for a substantial profit. They are not going to waste their time with anything less than five figure potential. They frequently and willingly pass over smaller deals that may be quicker to close, but don’t carry as much potential profit. This strategy comes with increased risk, but they figure the handful of home runs a year they close will make it worth it.

Both approaches have risks and rewards. Both have also proven that they can work for the right investor. The key is to know who you are and accept it. Once the singles hitter starts to look for bigger deals, they will miss deals that are in their wheelhouse and comfort zone. Since they are reliant on volume, even a few missed deals will cause them to make less than desired.

The same methodology applies to the home run hitter. Once they start looking for smaller deals, they will get bored or frustrated with how long they have to work to make a small profit. Sooner or later they will roll the dice on a deal that they shouldn’t. If they had just stuck with the approach that they know and enjoy, they wouldn’t have to play catch up. They can accept striking out on deals they have found, but once they start speculating and trying for even riskier deals, they get into trouble.

Many teams, like investors, have been successful with different strategies. One of the beauties of investing is that you can practice your own style. The key is to stick with what you believe and go for it. It doesn’t matter what your strategy is, as long as you dedicate yourself to it.$

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.
 

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]

Truth and Lies About Creating Wealth

In today’s essay, I want to tell you the most important things I’ve learned about building wealth. I won’t tell them in detail… but I’ll tell you the principles. And I’ll tell you how you can get all the detailed information you need if you want to emulate my experience.

Don’t Believe These So-Called “Facts”

Let’s begin with some of the lies about creating wealth. At one time or another in my wealth-building career, I foolishly believed in the following so-called “facts”:

• Wealthy people are stingy for a reason. The secret to becoming wealthy is to scrimp and save.
• The stock market is the most efficient way to invest. You can’t become wealthy unless you understand and master the stock market.
• Geopolitics determines investment outcomes. You can’t become wealthy unless you understand politics and economics.
• The general public is always wrong about economic and financial trends. The fastest way to acquire wealth is to invest as a contrarian (i.e. against market sentiment).

Do any of these “truths” sound familiar? Have you been following any gurus who advocate these “facts”?

If so, pay attention. I’m not the only person in the world who went from broke to rich. There are many, many people who have done so. And some of those people have written books about it.

I don’t read all the popular books on wealth-building, because I feel comfortable with the system I follow myself, through my own experience. I don’t follow the advice of others, except when it dovetails with my own experience.

But that’s not to say that my system is the only system that works. Nor do I want to argue that it is the right system for you. All I can do is to report my own experiences to you as honestly as I possibly can.

You are my surrogate siblings. I want you to succeed. The only way I can help you is to tell you what I know to be true. And this is what I know – from my own experience – to be true about creating wealth:

Truth No. 1

You’ll never get rich unless you understand some fundamentals about saving, spending, and investing.

Truth No. 2

The single most important factor in avoiding the spending spiral that kills wealth is to stay in the house you have now. Nobody else that I know of has made this simple point. But I can tell you that it is true.

Truth No. 3

Stock investing (or even bond investing) is an inadequate strategy for building wealth. It won’t get you rich or make you wealthy, however much you wish it would.

Even Warren Buffett, the world’s most successful investor, knows this. His wealth has come not from being an individual investor but from being the principal of Berkshire Hathaway. Keep that thought in mind every time you hear his name quoted.

Truth No. 4

The single most important factor in wealth-building is the size of your investible income. Investible income is what you have left over each month after you’ve taken care of your lifestyle expenses.

Actually, that’s the second-most important factor in building wealth. The No. 1 strategy is acquiring equity in a startup business. There are many ways to do this. The most commonly talked-about ways are downright foolish. But there are smart ways to do this, even if you are a novice to business.

Truth No. 5

Investing in rental real estate is unique – it stands halfway between active income and passive income. Next to entrepreneurship, it provides the highest return you can get from any financial endeavor.

Truth No. 6

The biggest mistake retirees make is giving up their active incomes. I know that this is exactly what you hope to do some day. But I’m warning you, it’s a big mistake.

If you are already retired, you are probably hoping you can replace that income with passive investment strategies. I’m here to tell you that they won’t work.

To keep your wealth for a lifetime, you need multiple streams of passive income. Your goal should be to build each stream of income to a level at which you can live on that and that alone.

Do these statements make sense to you? If so, how are you doing?

My Mission to Help the “Not Yet Wealthy”

When I first started out in the financial services industry, many of my prospects said the same thing: “I feel like I’ve finally found a trustworthy source of advice, but I’m not a wealthy person. In fact, I am worried I don’t have enough money to follow the advice that I’m being given.”

The first time when someone made this point to me, I thought, “Boy, isn’t that the truth?” It is so difficult to create wealth when you are essentially broke and feeling burnt out by following so many of the “lies” I mentioned at the beginning of this essay.

But then I thought, “What the hell are you going to do about this, Ray? Will you write a condolence letter? Will you ignore this common issue? What can you do or say to help people in that situation?”

And that’s when I came up with the idea of the Seven Years to Seven Figures blog.

The goal was very simple: A program that could help my blog readers and clients generate a seven-figure net worth in seven years or fewer.

That seems like an impossible goal. But I assure you it’s not. I’ve seen motivated and driven individuals do it time and time again

If you are motivated and follow some of the tips and ideas in this blog, you too can build up your net worth in a relatively short amount of time.$

[Do you know how Facebook and Google became the most powerful companies in the world?

It’s NOT helping you share pics of last night’s dinner...
It’s NOT searching for drunken cat videos…

And it’s DEFINITELY NOT about free Gmail accounts.
 

The simple truth is Facebook and Google SELL TRAFFIC.

They SELL TRAFFIC to business owners, and that advertising revenue alone has turned them into billion dollar companies.
 

Traffic is the most valuable commodity on the internet, and that will never change.

This is why using the Traffic Authority business system is the ultimate way to make extra income in your business…]