When I was 21, I was ready to take my life to the next level, but I
felt stuck—I still lived at my parents' house, I was making $8 an hour
at a side job, and I was enrolled in a never-ending MBA program. Deep
down inside, I knew I had to escape. But unlike I was used to doing, I
wasn't going to run away from myself.
This time I was determined to make a change—I wanted so bad to become successful,
except I didn't know what to do or where to start. What I firmly
believed, though, was that if I changed my habits, my habits would
change me. So instead of fooling around with miscellaneous activities
like sports and TV, I started reading books and giving speeches.
And I saw positive results Professionally, I became more competent. Personally, I became more
confident. This realization, that competence breeds confidence, was the
pivotal point that changed my life. It enabled me to reach the summit of
success, to create wealth and inspiration for so many people.
The habits I created are what made me who I am today—they are what took me from $8 an hour at 21 to a self-made millionaire at 24. And they can change your life too.
1. Simplify your words.
How well do you spread your message? Millionaires know how to share
their message in simplest terms. They use their words with precision and
possess deep meaning in what they say. Personally, I peruse the
dictionary every day, but I would never attempt to use every word I
know. By speaking pompously, many people exterminate their
opportunities. In short, never drown people in the sea of verbosity.
To learn to speak with ease, join your local Toastmasters club
to brush up on your communication skills. Unfortunately, too many
people get lazy with their communication and subtly conform to the
habits of others. But millionaires diligently work on improving what
they say and how they say it.
2. Abandon the old.
Before you are able to face the new,
you must relinquish the old. If you want a new car or house, then bless
the old one and search for a new one. When you want to achieve a positive mindset, you must get rid of the negative one first. To abandon your negative habits, you must replace them with positive ones.
I
realized this one day as I was feasting on a couple cheap burgers at
McDonald's. I decided to venture out to find the finest steak houses in
the area to seek a new and delectable experience with my meals. Instead
of indulging in $1 burgers several times a week, I was happier to
splurge my money on a robust steak once or twice a month.
“We are what we repeatedly do. Therefore, excellence is not an act, but a habit.” —Aristotle
3. Set goals—daily.
Every day, I set my goals on paper. This is an inspiring habit that I
promise to keep for the rest of my life. Whether you're writing your
financial projections, planning your weekly tasks or scheming new ways
to build your empire, you'll want to create a daily goal-setting habit
that will give you momentum—on a daily basis.
When you set your goals every day, it helps you prioritize and keep
"first things first." Prioritization is first doing what matters most.
Instead of pursuing $100 actions, this habit will promote you to
embody $1,000 activities. Once you accumulate more profitable activities
in your day, you'll add money to the bank.
4. Be congruent.
You must do what you say you're going to do. There will be many times
in your life where you'll be asked to sacrifice your personal values to
reach professional goals. Don’t do it. There's nothing more valuable
than remaining congruent in your personal and professional lives—it
allows you to mix "business with pleasure".
Many people will tell you that you can't mix business with pleasure,
but they’re wrong. When you're doing what you love, business is
pleasure. When you're living a life that is based on integrity, your
reputation will grow, enriching yourself and many others in the process.
Never put your reputation in jeopardy by failing to remain congruent
with your highest values and ideals.
5. Make decisions.
The more decisions you make, the more successful you will be. While one person could make a dozen decisions in a day, another one can make
hundreds.
The person who makes the most decisions will win, even if their
decisions lead to failure. Just imagine, if you were going the opposite
way on a one-way street, you'd learn to quickly make adjustments!
But most people are afraid to make crucial decisions because they are conquered by fears,
which leaves them paralyzed. Being paralyzed prevents them from making
decisions, forcing them to forfeit opportunities. Always make a
decision, even if you don't know where it will lead. Soon enough, you'll
find the answers you need.
6. Ask questions.
Most people assume that they know answers. Their assumptions actually
hold them back from knowing the truth. You should want to ask questions to
gain clarity about the direction you are heading, but the fact is that
many people don't ask any questions—they habitually guess their way.
Why? Many people don't want to ask questions because it exposes them to
confront the reality of their circumstance, which may scare them, or
asking questions forces them into the laborious task of thinking, which
is why they fail to do it.
To become a millionaire, don't answer your questions, but question
your answers. When you need to know the facts, you must inquire—don’t
just make assumptions.
“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” —Voltaire
7. Become a master.
One time, a fine pianist performed at a party. After she was done, a
woman from the party said to the virtuoso, "I'd give anything to play as
you do." As the master pianist sipped her coffee in slow motion, she
took a brief pause and said, "Oh no you wouldn't." Soon, a great hush
filled the room as they were baffled in astonishment and massive
confusion.
She continued, "You'd give anything to play as I do,
except time. You
wouldn't sit and practice, hour after hour, day after day, year after
years." Then she flashed a warm smile while repositioning her coffee
cup. "Please understand, I'm not criticizing," she said. "I'm just
telling you that when you say you'd give anything to play as I do, you
don't really mean it. You really don't mean it at all."
“Every master was once a disaster.” —T. Harv Eker
Written by Daniel Ally
Daniel Ally is an international business expert, three-time best-selling
author and keynote speaker. As the founder of The Ally Way, he has
helped business leaders grow their influence, expand their profits and
fill up their notebooks as they giggle their way to financial freedom
and success. Daniel became a self-made millionaire at 24 years old.
Follow him on www.facebook.com/danielallyway and twitter through www.twitter.com/@TheAllyWayInt
