Mayowa Oluyede

With building wealth, there is no such thing as luck. Every millionaire today learned and followed some principles that resulted in lasting riches. They have a history of making sacrifices and hard work. They learned and became committed to some habits that resulted in the success they have today. The truth is that success is not destined for some special people but for people that are key to the principles of making wealth. Anybody can gain financial freedom if they can learn and build these habits. Below are some habits you can emulate from some of the successful people you desire to be like. 

They Are Always Learning

Successful people have come to realize that knowledge is the ultimate investment. They know that the best thing they can do is to invest in themselves, the reason they never stop learning. Material things can be lost or stolen, but the knowledge you gather through investment in yourself can never leave you. Successful people read books about business, tax, leadership, etc. They do this to keep themselves updated with the trend so that they will think and create real-time ideas that will apply to the current situation. The importance of this is that it enables them to stay ahead of others and create financial opportunities for them.

They Create Multiple Streams Of Income

Every millionaire has over one stream of income. They have a way of generating passive income. They search for business opportunities they can invest in, such as real estate, online business, stocks, to name a few. To build their capacity as such that they do not need to be in a certain location to make money. One way they do this is to use their money to generate several sources of income. They leverage different opportunities to make money. You can implement this even if you have a job. You can start something by committing some hours in a week to something other than your regular job that can increase your income. If you are consistent, this business will grow into other streams of income.

They Plan And Save Consistently

One thing that is common to financially successful people is their saving habit. Unlike every normal person, these people save and invest a lot. An average American spends more than their income, which is why they always run into debts. Millionaires today have cultivated the habit of saving over time. They do not start their life by living a luxurious life they can not afford. This allows them to act promptly when they discover opportunities. They do not find opportunities before saving, but they save and act quickly when they find opportunities they can invest in. And they work closely with their financial advisor to guide them when making financial decisions. 

They Selectively Choose Opportunities

Wealthy people are always concerned about details. As much as they take risks, they are usually patient and careful while making investment decisions. They do not jump at every opportunity that comes their way. Without that, they will lose the wealth they have been able to gather in no time. They take calculated risks and ensure they do all their assignments before investing in any business. If they do not understand the business well, they look for professionals in that field to teach them all it entails.

Successful people are always learning, they have multiple streams of income, they have the habit of saving,  and choose opportunities wisely. You can gain financial freedom if you consistently follow these guides. Although these don’t come easy, you can achieve your financial goals if you are committed.

We have less than 50 days until the end of 2020. For some, this will cause a sense of relief that the year of difficulties will fade away, while for some it will cause a sense of panic because of the goals they weren’t able to reach, or the fear of what will happen afterward. 

As we wrap up the year in the next six weeks, I want to bring some ideas worth pondering to you, so we know how to forget the trials of this year, take its lessons, and prepare for a grand 2021. 

If you want to finish 2020 strong and start 2021 even stronger, do these::

1. Reflect on your experience this year

I know we were all excited when this year began. We had hopes, goals, and plans we wanted to achieve until the Coronavirus broke out to change everything. 

Now, think about it. How did you maneuver through the hazards that came your way this year? Some lost jobs, doing business was slow all around the world, and they locked us down for months. Obviously, 2020 was tough, yet it presented lessons and opportunities. 

None of us saw it coming, but looking back, I want you to ask yourself, what worked this year for you and what didn’t? Answer these questions and use what you’ve learned to get your ducks in order. Ask yourself, what would you have done differently and what does the future hold? 

These questions would help you understand what you should do more of, and what you should stop doing in the coming year. 

2. Plan without assumptions

We probably all assumed 2020 would be our best year to date. Well, not that it is an entirely terrible year for everyone, but it at least shows assumptions are not always helpful. Instead of making assumptions, it is better to move forward with hope. 

When we are hopeful, we are using the thinking style that forms the foundation of optimism. We need to be positive but must also be flexible in our mindset, so it becomes easy to adapt to change.

Again, a new year is around the corner and we must go into it, hoping it will be an exceptional year. The future is just a story we tell ourselves, so make up a good one. Have plans, set goals, and have a positive outlook but to remain flexible and willing to adapt to circumstances as they change.

3. Focus on things you can control. 

In life, we are not always in control because of externalities like government policies, natural disasters, health issues, and so on. All these cause the need for us to learn how to let go of how things should be and instead focus on how things are. 

This shift in mindset will ultimately help us put our best foot forward in varying situations, rather than mourn lost opportunities.

People spend a lot of time and energy worrying about things they cannot influence or change, but no one really knows. We don’t know when the lockdowns will end; we don’t know how long the virus will take before it completely fizzles out, nor do we know what will happen to the economy. So it makes it a much better idea to focus on the things you can control.

You could spend your time thinking about all the things that have gone wrong, or you could focus your attention on possibilities and opportunities.  If you ask me, I think there are two areas that you will always have control over, and they are what you think and what you do.

4. Set and prioritize your goals. 

No matter how good 2020 is to you, 2021 is a chapter and you must begin now to set and prioritize your goals for the coming year. Write the things you’d like to do, be, or have. And remember, the sky’s the limit, so don’t limit yourself.

However, even though all of your ideas and goals are important to you it is your job to figure out where to begin now. Which goals get you the most excited right now? Figure this out, focus on it, and get started. 

As you’ve probably heard before, that the smarter you plan, the more successful you will become–and of course the more your life will flow, and the happier you will be!

5. Act on the plans. 

It’s not enough to have plans, you must also act on your plans if you want to achieve outstanding success in anything.

Executing is important because it makes you realize your goal is truly realistic and that you can do what you once thought was only a dream. Is it hard to execute? Yes, but I can promise you once you get started and get in the motion of doing things, everything makes more sense.

If you want or need something and plan to achieve it, will you be more committed and motivated to work on tasks associated with the plan? I guess so, and that’s what you should do. Take action!

6. Learn something new.

In 2021, prioritize learning new skills in your plans because learning new skills is essential to advancing your career. It diversifies your job options and helps you develop new techniques to keep up with the fast-changing world. 

Learning keeps your mind engaged and body active. It helps you get new and knowledge-based perspectives on the world around you. It helps you gain new experiences, trains your brain to handle a wide range of challenges, and keeps you active.

Whichever new skill you gain, a new door of opportunity will always open for you. It will increase your confidence and help you nurture a growth mindset. Plan to learn something new. Anyway, in case you are interested in learning Forex trading, or how to invest in properties, click here to book an appointment with me, and let’s talk about your needs. 

7. Cultivate a mindset of ‘gratitude’

An attitude of gratitude means making it a habit to express thankfulness and appreciation in all parts of your life, regularly, for both the big and small things alike.

By developing a gratitude mindset, you can improve your feelings of positivity and appreciation for everything you have in your life.  Engaging in a regular gratitude practice can change your mindset, self-confidence and perspective for the better if you focus on being thankful and thinking positively. 

It’s actually easier than you may think to develop a gratitude mindset and build daily habits that support a gratitude practice of being grateful and appreciative for what you have. When you feel grateful and appreciate the things you have, the things you appreciate grow, and no matter how things turn out, this mindset will bring sunshine to your path. 

In conclusion. 

I know the year 2020 isn’t the same for everyone. Some had it terrible, some had it fair, and a few had it good. Wherever you fall on that radar, 2021 is going to be a glorious year, and it will bring relief and joy to us. 

I hope that you have found some good ideas to adopt from the above. Please reach out to me here if you have questions about any of the things I mentor on; that is personal development, property investing, and forex trading.

Do you know that simply knowing how to accomplish your goal isn’t sufficient for achieving top performance?

Well, it isn’t. And that’s according to new research that revealed another critical factor that often goes overlooked when considering how to achieve our desired results: timing. 

“In his book, When: The Scientific Principles of Perfect Timing, Dan Pink synthesizes cutting-edge research into a compelling narrative that highlights the power of leveraging timing to amplify performance. 

On a day-to-day basis, we face a never-ending stream of “when” decisions – when to change jobs, when to buy a house, when to exercise or even, when to end a relationship. Most people make these decisions by relying on unsubstantiated systems like intuition or guesswork. Worse, most tasks are scheduled based on nothing more than our availability; we give minimal thought to the kind of task we’re doing and how timing might affect our performance, and instead pencil in our to-dos whenever our schedule allows. In so doing, we are undoubtedly leaving peak performance on the table.”

Timing is everything, and it will always be a crucial part of our lives. So, here are two lessons from Dan Pink’s book that will guide you in making better when-to decisions: 

Lesson 1: Honor your chronotype 

Everyone has a chronotype, that is, a person’s natural inclination about the times of day when they prefer to sleep or when they are most alert or energetic.

Knowing your chronotype is key to understanding how you experience the day and when you are most active at various tasks. 

Each day is divided into three experiential stages: a peak, a trough, and a rebound. Larks and third birds experience the day in precisely that order, while owls experience the reverse. Use the research-backed chart below to determine better when to take different types of action:

To determine your chronotype, take the Munich Chronotype Questionnaire at https://www.danpink.com/mctq.

Lesson 2: Use Restorative Breaks to Boost Your Performance

Something happens during the trough, roughly seven hours after waking, that makes it far more perilous than any other time of day. For example:

• Sleep-related vehicle accidents peak twice a day: between 2 a.m. and 6 a.m. (middle of the night, makes sense) and between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m. (middle of the afternoon, hello trough!).
• Taking a test in the afternoon without a break produces scores that are equivalent to spending less time in school each year, and having parents with lower incomes and less education.

Becoming more aware of the trough is an essential first step in learning to avoid making poor decisions due to bad timing. 

Research shows that the best way to combat the dangers of the trough is by taking restorative breaks. While there’s no single answer on precisely what those breaks should look like, Pink says science offers five guiding principles:

1. Something beats nothing: Even short breaks from a task can help us maintain focus and reactivate our commitment to a goal if our motivation is waning. 
2. Moving beats stationary: “Microbursts of activity” like hourly 5-minute walks have been shown to boost energy, sharpen focus, increase concentration, enhance creativity and improve mood. 
3. Social beats solo: It is believed that spending time alone can recharge us, but much of the research points toward the higher power of being with others, particularly when we’re free to choose with whom we spend time. 
4. Outside beats inside: Although people can recognize they’d be happier taking a break outside, they underestimate how much happier being close to trees, plants, rivers, etc. is a powerful restorative and allows people to return to their tasks in a better mood (Nizbet and Zelenski, 2011).
5. Fully detached beats semi-detached: Resist the urge to multitask. Step away from all work-related material and engage in something completely different (all of those office ping pong tables are starting to make sense—they’re social, active, and fully detached!)

We spend countless hours researching and strategizing about how to tackle our daily tasks, but so rarely do we strongly consider when we tackle our tasks. When we fail to use timing to our advantage, we short-change ourselves and limit our potential.