Finance Board

A portion of the following was excerpted from “The Abundance Principle: Five Keys to Extraordinary Living,” (www.TheAbundancePrinciple.com). Please forward or distribute this encouraging message freely to anyone you believe would benefit from it.

Have you ever moved to a new house and had to pack up everything you owned? Did it amaze you how quickly you accumulated all of that “stuff?” Many of us even trade our stuff with other people’s stuff. Jeff once traded a guitar he never learned to play for an automatic bread-making machine. His friend wanted to learn to play the guitar and Jeff wanted fresh, homemade bread. It was a match made in heaven.

Some people make a living traveling around on Saturday mornings from yard sale to yard sale, buying other people’s stuff and selling it in their own flea markets and garage sales! It certainly validates the saying, “One man’s junk is another man’s treasure.”

But seriously, have you ever stopped to think about how much stuff you actually do have? We have more phones than we have televisions. We have more televisions than we have Bibles. We often throw away more food than we eat. We spend money on things we never wear. Face it we have an abundance of stuff. Some might even say we live “abundant” lives that is, on the outside.

Our hearts, however, tell a different story. Emotional disorders and depression are at an all-time high. One out of every two marriages ends in divorce. Seventy percent of marriages report significant financial difficulties. Our friendships are shallow. We break promises to ourselves and to others. Sometimes we feel trapped in the “rat-race” of life, running from place to place, doing the same thing day after day, wondering if life will ever improve, or worse yet, if it will ever end.

Currently, the population of the world stands at almost six and one-half billion people. We are told approximately 32% are categorized as Christians - that’s more than 2 billion people. It is our conviction that if 2 billion of the world’s population were completely committed to Extraordinary Living, the world as we know it would be a radically different place.

We hear about better ways of living in countless numbers of sermons and motivational speeches and we read about it in books day after day; we assent with our minds and declare agreement with our lips. Yet a vast number of us drive away from churches every Sunday in expensive SUVs to elaborate homes, totally devoid of the personal fulfillment that ought to be ours - that can be ours.

According to research firm The Barna Group, when comparing social issues, Christians mirror non-Christians in divorce, addictions, domestic abuse, and financial difficulties, among a host of other things. Christians struggle with addiction. Christian marriages are in trouble. Christians spend themselves deeply into debt. Christians take a host of medication for ailments and illnesses brought about by excessive stress, anxiety and depression, all of which the Bible says we can have victory over through Christ. Somewhere there is a “disconnect” between what God’s Word says is ours, and what we actually experience. The fact is most of us have more than any other generation in terms of material goods. Yet statistics, current events, and daily headlines reveal a less fulfilled people today than ever before.

We have some good news to share with you. We can experience life as abundantly on the inside as we appear to be experiencing it on the outside. We can live extraordinary lives. This is what the Abundant Life ProjectTM (www.AbundantLifeProject.com) is all about. It’s about reclaiming a privilege belonging to every person on the face of the planet: The right and freedom to live an extraordinary life. We want to spread the word: Extraordinary Living can be the experience of everyone.

Our mission is to help people put arms and legs on their faith. We introduce our readers to five simple concepts we call the Five Keys to Extraordinary Living. As you’ll see, Extraordinary Living is the kind of living from which abundance flows - but not just in terms of material things. We’re talking about abundance in every major area of our lives.

We believe we do not decide our future. We decide our habits and our habits determine our future. From this point forward, your future is full of hope, fulfillment, and unlimited possibilities. You only have to develop the right habits.

We’re very careful when we say Five Keys to Extraordinary. We purposely don’t say THE Five Keys to Extraordinary Living. That’s because there are likely many more keys out there. However, we believe that if one could start by mastering these five important areas of ones life, life itself would take on a whole new meaning. Famed speaker Les Brown is fond of saying, “You don’t have to be great to get started, but you’ve got to get started to be great.” If we fail to take action, we’re left with the same debilitating habits that restrict us to lives of weakness, insignificance, and sometimes despair.

Now before proceeding, as the authors and founders of The Abundant Life Project, let us be the first to say we have NOT arrived at our final destinations personally. We too remain completely susceptible to the ups and downs of life. We’re still “works in progress” ourselves. However, we try to wake up every day and pursue extraordinary living with vigilance. And as we consciously and persistently pursue this type of living, we’re finding it a little less elusive along the way. We’re convinced you’ll find the same.

Remember: An Abundant Life has been God’s plan for you from the very beginning. Start focusing on five simple keys to Extraordinary Living and see if your life won’t change for the better.

1. Master your thoughts and change your life.

2. Plan your life and live your passion.

3. Build and maintain strong relationships.

4. No matter how much you earn, spend less.

5. Give more and you’ll live more.

Go ahead, what’s stopping you? You can do it. Go for it!

Have a great week.

Dr. Jeff D. Standridge and Rev.TimKellerman are co-founders of The Abundant Life Project (http://www.AbundantLifeProject.com) and co-authors of “The Abundance Principle: Five Keys to Extraordinary Living” (http://www.TheAbundancePrinciple.com). They can be reached by email at Info@AbundantLifeProject.com.

The Abundant Life Project
http://www.AbundantLifeProject.com

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Ima Rich is a classy lady. She drives a fancy car, lives in an exclusive neighborhood, and associates with upscale people. However, Ima is one of the “Broke Folks.” She lives paycheck to paycheck. Her life is filled with debts and worries. Although many people envy Ima’s luxurious lifestyle, Ima is constantly haunted by her financial fakeness.

The Financial Situation

Do your friends hound you because you’re financially shrewd? Are you ridiculed because you have a simple lifestyle? Many Americans live flashy lifestyles (fancy cars and expensive houses) but lack a strong financial basis for living. In our early years of marriage, some people tried to influence our living habits. We were professionals. We needed to act the part. You live in a certain neighborhood and possess the finest things. Fortunately, we didn’t buy-in to this hype. It was all about image but no substance.

The media bombards us with lies that acquiring material things will make us happy. This falsehood confuses our children and makes us “Dream Brokers.” It appears that many Americans have bought this superfluous living. Therefore, we have created a nation of Broke Folks. What are Broke Folks you may ask? Broke Folks relates to individuals who try to portray an upscale image but lack the financial asset to back it up. It’s not about a high paying job. There are numerous examples of professionals (lawyers, doctors, etc.) who are deep in debt but refuse to correct it because of this image. Being broke is now normal.

The Reality Check

Dave Ramsey, author of Freedom Peace, constantly runs into Broke Folks on his nationally syndicated talk show. Ramsey explains, “If you are taking advice from Broke Folks then you are stupid.” The following 2004 statistics by Bankrate mark the increase of this social class:

• Average per US household debt, excluding mortgage debt, is approximately $14,500.
  
• A typical credit card purchase ends up costing 112 percent more than if cash were used.
  
• Some 40 percent of US families annually spend more than they earn.
  
• Approximately 60 percent of active credit card accounts are not paid off monthly.
  
• Average credit card debt among US households is approximately $8,400.
  

Much of the problem with these statistics relate to not delaying personal gratification. Most Americans can handle their money better. We are no exception. However, the myth exists that rich people spend a lot of money. Stanley and Danko, authors of The Millionaire Next Door, maintain that most Americans don’t understand how to build wealth. They explain, “Many people who live in expensive homes and drive luxury cars do not actually have much wealthMany people who have a great deal of wealth do not even live in upscale neighborhoods. Obviously, the media promotes this urban legend of the “Rich & Famous.” To help you with building your wealth, here’s a summary of wealth building tips from the Millionaire Next Door:

• Live below your means.
  
• Allocate your time, energy, and money in ways that help build wealth.
  
• Build good character so that high social status isn’t more important than financial stability.
  
• Teach your children to be economically self-sufficient.
  
• Be prepared to take advantage of any market opportunities.
  
• Do your homework on career selection so that you find the right occupation.
  

The Logical Solution

Become financially responsible. Financial independence is more than show. Don’t let your family and friends talk down to you because you are managing your money wisely. Don’t be discouraged because your friends are living the Glamour Life while you eat “beanie weenies” for dinner. Take the offensive by continually getting financial education and by staying away from “Broke Folks.” Build your financial portfolio. It is not too late. Start today!

Daryl D. Green has published over 100 articles in the field of decision-making (personal and organizational), leadership, and organizational behavior. Mr. Green is also the author of two acclaimed books, Awakening the Talents Within and My Cup Runneth Over. He is a columnist, lecturer, professor, and management consultant. Mr. Green has a BS in engineering and a MA in organizational management. Currently, he is a doctoral degree in strategic leadership. For more information,visit his website at http://www.darylgreen.org

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We are pleased to have with us William Patterson as he talks about his co-authored book that has made several national bestseller lists, is being translated around the world, and is a featured selection in the Forbes Book Club.

Irene: The Baron Son is a revealing allegorical tale designed as a road map to wealth, power, and success. Please give us a gist of your book.

William: Our new work, The Baron Son, is the story of a young boy who loses everything and through struggle finds the secret to become the richest, most powerful person the world has ever known. Through eleven “Supreme Principles,” each chapter of the book details how some of the most prominent individuals are able to ethically establish and maintain their positions. The book is based loosely on our experiences as entrepreneurs and also our research in working with a number of Fortune 100 executives across the country.

Irene: Give us an example of one of the people you write about and their secret.

William: One great example is media mogul, Bob Johnson. He is Founder of Black Entertainment Television and the first African-American billionaire. He was also the first African-American majority owner of a major professional sports franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats. Bob Johnson’s vision represents one of the key concepts in the book, the “Supreme Principle” called “The Seedlings of Empires.” This principle illustrates how success is built around one creating value for others by serving a particular “need” in the marketplace, and by having the foresight to recognize exceptional ideas that have the potential to blossom into greatness, and the courage to act on those ideas. While many television networks were competing unsuccessfully for the same market, Bob Johnson created a niche network that served a demographic that had largely gone ignored by mainstream media. In the process, his success, both directly and indirectly, helped generate billions of dollars for companies and individuals, and pressured several industries to transform their marketing strategies and the way they do business. True Barons not only create wealth for themselves and others, but also leave a lasting impact on their industries. Bob Johnson was able to do just that.

Irene: The Baron Son was co-authored by two other people, Vicky Therese Davis and D. Marques Patton. What relationship do you have with them?

William: Marques and I are Principals in a financial holding company that we co-founded and have been good friends for some time. Vicky and I are former classmates and have done quite a bit of work together on the professional lecture circuit. We’ve collaborated on a number of writing and training projects throughout the U.S. and abroad, helping children and adults to develop entrepreneurial and investing skills, which coincidently became one of the inspirations for our book, The Baron Son, and has since evolved into our suite of offshoot training programs called THE BARON SOLUTION

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