20 Wise Quotes to Inspire You to Take Action

Your success in life is measured by the action you have taken. It does not matter the outcome of your action because you will either gain success or learn some valuable lessons. The most important thing is to continue to take action and change your life for the better.  

1.      Action expresses priorities.           

~ Mahatma Gandhi

2.      I never worry about action, but only inaction.

~Winston Churchill

3.      Success comes from taking the initiative and following up... persisting... eloquently expressing the depth of your love. What simple action could you take today to produce a new momentum toward success in your life?

~Tony Robbins

4.      The path to success is to take massive, determined action.

~Tony Robbins

5.      Action is the foundational key to all success.

~Pablo Picasso

6.      Create a definite plan for carrying out your desire and begin at once, whether you ready or not, to put this plan into action.

       ~Napoleon Hill

7.      Take time to deliberate, but when the time for action has arrived, stop thinking and go in.

~Napoleon Bonaparte

8.      Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy.

~Dale Carnegie

9.      Action is a great restorer and builder of confidence. Inaction is not only the result, but the cause, of fear. Perhaps the action you take will be successful; perhaps different action or adjustments will have to follow. But any action is better than no action at all.

~Norman Vincent Peale

10.  The time for action is now. It's never too late to do something.

~Antoine de Saint-Exupery

11.  Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.

~Benjamin Disraeli

12.  You must take action now that will move you towards your goals. Develop a sense of urgency in your life.
~H. Jackson Brown. Jr    

13.  Goals help you channel your energy into action.

~Les Brown

14.  Your actions, and your action alone, determines your worth.
~Evelyn Waugh        

15.  It is even better to act quickly and err than to hesitate until the time of action is past.

~Karl Von Clausewitz

16.  An idea that is developed and put into action is more important than an idea that exists only as an idea.

~Edward de Bono

17.  The greatest happiness is to transform one's feelings into action.

~Madame de Stael

18.  Action conquers fear.

~Peter Nivio Zarlenga

19.  Enthusiasm... the sustaining power of all great action.

~Samuel Smiles

20.  A life of reaction is a life of slavery, intellectually and spiritually. One must fight for a life of action, not reaction.

~Rita Mae Brown

Take action and do it now.

Will You Be Happy With $50,000 Income?

According to an article, Why $50,000 May Be the (New) Happiness Tipping Point,  you get genuine happiness when you earn $50k or more in a year.

The question is: Can you really be happy with an income of $50K?

I am doubtful because real happiness is more than the income that you can earn. Here are 5 things to consider in getting lasting happiness:

1.      Budget for it: If you spend as you wish without leaving an amount every month to save for the future, you will not be happy when you stop working because there will be no more regular income. To be happy is to build financial independence. Start and build a nest egg while you are earning. Set aside an amount monthly before spending it.  

2.      Live within your income: You can’t be happy if you spend more than you get and get into debt with a $50K income. You will incur interest and you may not be able to settle your debt because compounding interest accumulates over time and snowball into an amount way out of your control. You become bankrupt. You will regret, be sad and miserable.      

3.      Avoid temptation and more wants in life: Advertisements are everywhere and they are cleverly done to arouse and appeal to your emotions. Can you discipline yourself not to spend on what you want beyond your means? 

4.      Don’t follow others: Don’t follow the lifestyle of your neighbors. Outwardly they may look impressive; they could be in deep financial troubles. Live the way you are and the way you like and be happy. 

5.      A simple life: Adopt an attitude of gratitude is the surest way to be happy; you will still be happy if ever you earn below $50K in a year. Enjoy what you have and be happy with it. Material things cannot sustain happiness because there is no way to get all the latest products you want in the world.

It’s fabulous to earn $50k or more in a year. The most important thing is to like, enjoy what you do and be truly happy.  

Related article:

 Money Matters

Why You should be building a Part-Time Business Now

If you are thinking of a business of your own, it is time to think seriously about it. The economic situation is getting worse. You can work hard and smart but there is no guarantee that you will be able to keep your job. 

1.       Jobs are no longer secured: What do you hear every day about businesses? Downsizing, retrenchment, restructuring. Those who suffer are people like you and me. You may be a valued employee but that is no certainty that you will be able to work in the company as long as you wish. Take a smart and wise move, think of an idea and translate it into goods or services that you can offer to others, and do it part-time. 

2.       Skills to complement your current job: I like to write and writing is a skill because I am a part-time blogger and article writer. As I write every day I get my day job done more effectively like writing better reports, doing better presentations, and communicating more clearly and precisely. The more you know the more skillful you will be to get things done effectively and efficiently.

3.       Additional income: Are you thinking of getting additional income to combat the rising cost of living? Your part-time job is the answer. You need additional income to meet expenses,  clear your debt, and to save more.

4.        Do what you like and enjoying it: The most important thing is to do things you like so that you can sustain your effort. Treat the part-time job, such as taking photographs, as a hobby to release your daily stress and tension. 

5.       Self-confident: The ability to work your own way will boost your self-esteem. A part-time job is a safety net in case you are axed. You worry less and you focus more on your tasks at hand.

6.       Feeling good: You will wake and get up with a delightful feeling. You will be enthusiastic and hopeful because there is a direction in life for you.

7.       More knowledgeable: You will gain valuable experience in your part-time business. The more you learn and know and the more capable and resourceful you will be in your daily encounter with obstacles and problems.

Take action and change your life for the better. Start a part-time business now and build a more promising future.

Related articles:

7 Positive Ways to do Your Part-Time Business
7 Things to Consider Before You Start a Business of Your Own

10 Things to Know About Personal Finance

The aim of personal financial management is about financial independence. To be able to enjoy the financial freedom you will need to know the 10 topics and act wisely:

1.       Savings: Savings is a good habit to build a solid financial foundation from young. However, you can start at any time to save as long as you have a regular income; the most important thing is to avoid procrastination. Do you know how long it takes you to double your money? Use the magic number of 72 divides by the rate of return. If the interest rate is 6% your original $1000 will double in (72/6) 12 years. You do not save for the sake of savings. It is the starting point to build your wealth and be financially independent.

2.       Expenses: Spend time to record your daily expenses because you want to find out where your money goes.  You will be able to do a meaningful budget when you know your actual spending every month.

3.       Living within your means: You know how much you are getting each month and you also know your spending pattern by recording your expenditures, it is time to do a budget so that you will spend less than what you have earned and also set aside an amount each month for savings. The purpose of a budget is to avoid overspending and getting into debt. If you want to spend more you have to earn more.

4.       Good debt and bad debt: Distinguish between good debt and bad debt. A housing loan is a good debt because property appreciates in value over time. A car loan is not a good debt but it is a big-ticket item that you can’t buy with cash. The trick is to put down a bigger down payment so that you will settle the loan in a shorter period and incurring less interest. Credit card debt is definitely bad debt because you pay more for an item that you can buy in cash. An educational loan is a loan and it is a bad idea to be in debt before you can earn a living. Besides, you are not certain that you will get a job upon graduation. 

5.       Wise use of credit cards: Credit cards are wonderful tools to establish your creditworthiness. The right way to use is to settle the outstanding amount fully every month. You need a credit card to do online purchases and you pay less with a cash-back credit card. You can also redeem goods with points earned for all your card purchases. Most of all do not get into credit card debt.

6.       Emergency fund: One of the reasons to save is for a rainy day. You never know when you need an amount quickly and easily. An emergency fund is also needed just in case you are out of a job for a couple of months and you still can live normally without financial constraints. Keep some money in a savings account good for about 6 months.

7.       Investment: If you do not save, you will not be able to accumulate funds and build your wealth. You build your wealth for your children’s education and also for your retirement. The key is to diversify and invest in stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and real estate. The word to remember is long-term. Never believe in get-rich-quick schemes or other scams. 

8.       Insurance: You need insurance protection to cover personal disability, critical illnesses, property damages, and personal liability in case of lawsuits. Insurance coverage will lessen the impact of your financial losses.

9.    Financial learning: Adopt a learning attitude about finance. When you learn more, you know more and you can make wise financial decisions.

10.  Retirement: The tragedy of life is when you stop working there is no more money coming in for your retirement. To get peace of mind and a care-free living, plan early for your retirement. Live your golden years independently.

If you are in debt now, the most important thing to do is to get out of debt as soon as possible to avoid incurring more and more interest. It can reach a point where the debt is beyond your control and you could be bankrupt.

Use this article as a checklist to determine how healthy your personal financial well-being is. 

7 Things to Consider Before You Start a Business of Your Own

Operating your own business is a great way to earn a living.  You are the boss and you can do it your way. There are a few things to look into in order to do it successfully:

     

1.       Business sense and plan: You have to come up with an idea and convert it into products or services.  You need a business plan to market your products or services. It has to be better than others to survive in this competitive world. Is your business viable? Will there be a demand for your goods or services?  Do things you are good at and enjoy doing. If you are good at cooking, do you want to start a restaurant business?

2.    Sufficient fund: Do an operating budget and forecast your revenue and estimate your expenses in relation to expected income. You need sufficient funds to carry out your business smoothly. How much capital do you need initially to equip your restaurant with furniture, kitchen equipment, and utensils?

3.     Positive ways to do your business:  On a day-to-day basis, do what is important.  Take action immediately as planned.  Think positive and be confident.  Be passionate about your business. Focus and avoid distractions.  Perseverance and persistence are important factors for a successful venture. Be alert to business trends and stay ahead by continuous learning. Work, make mistakes, and be wiser.  Be resourceful and creative to solve problems. Get help if necessary.

4.       Focus on the business, not the money: Pay attention to your business, your products, or services and how you can serve the customers better and the money will take care of itself.  Give what your customers want and you will get what you want eventually.

5.    Hardworking: Working smart is not enough, you have to operate your business on a regular basis and gain the trust of your customers over time.

6.    Be flexible: Review your business performance from month to month. Be sensitive to business conditions and adjust accordingly. 

7.       Location: Look for a place with a heavy flow of traffic. As in a food business, a corner shop lot is always good as a catering outlet. 

Get your business started, start small, learn and expand.


Related article:

7 Positive Ways to do Your Part-Time Business

Writing Engaging Articles

According to Oxford Advanced Learner’s dictionary, to engage is to succeed in attracting and keeping somebody’s attention and interest. I can think of the following ways to engage readers to be interested in your articles.

· Relevant subjects: Write on topics that your audience wants, solve their problems, show them to do the right things, get them to work smarter, be more positive and productive, develop healthy habits, promote better relationships and make more money.   

·      Be an expert: Write on topics that you are passionate about and on subjects that you know very well. The key is to provide valuable information. Provide more value by linking out to a related article.

·         Powerful headlines: Write captivating titles and arrest their attention emotionally such as:

Getting Noticed by Google Naturally

7 Psychological Needs of Children

7 Soul-Searching Questions to Ask Yourself

How to Be Happy At Work

·        Start strongly: Asking questions, penning a quote from a famous person, telling a story, showing statistics or referring to an item in the news are some of the ways to draw attention to your article.  

·       Unique ideas: Write by offering your points of view uniquely and writing an old subject in a new perspective.  Be educational and entertaining in your approach.

·         Easy to read: Use simple words, short sentences and short paragraphs, adopt numbering, bullet points and highlight subheadings, Just write the essential and avoid verbiage.  

·     Enhancement: Insert breathtaking images and add vivid videos to capture the interest of readers to read and stay longer on your site.

·         Compel your readers to take action: You will accomplish your mission successfully when you are able to motivate your readers to do what you have suggested. The last line of your article is to persuade the readers to do so convincingly.    

Engage the readers and gain traction in your writing.     

  

One Dozen Simple Ways to be Happy Every Day

Simplicity is the main ingredient of happiness. You will be able to find happiness in the simple things you do daily:

1.       A simple philosophy of life: Life, like the four seasons, goes in a cycle. It has its ups and downs.  Enjoy the upside and live the downside of life gracefully and be happy.

2.       Read motivational quotes: The best thing to do in the morning, instead of reading the depressing news, is to read some motivational quotes to uplift your mood and cheer you up for the whole day and stay happy.

3.       Find satisfaction in getting things done: Happiness is about living an organized life and getting things done according to what you have planned for the day. You will be happy because you plan your day and you complete your tasks.

4.       Enjoy eating: Do you enjoy eating? There is happiness in every single meal. First, you thank God that there is food on the table and when you eat you do and think of nothing else but focus on eating slowly,  savor each mouthful and chew the food well. 

5.       Enjoy your breaks: Do you take breaks while working? You can get happiness while you take a break to have a cup of coffee and some snacks to go along with it. It is a wonderful way to refresh your mind and recharge your energy.  Don’t you feel good and happy after a break?

6.       Be simple: A simple life is wanting less and enjoying what you have. There is peace of mind and happiness because you are not disturbed by not having the things you want in life.

7.       Look for goodness in life: Look at the bright side of things. Seek the positive aspect of people and absorb only the good and avoid the bad and ugly. Happiness is getting a positive attitude and attract positive ideas.

8.       Reading: The greatest pleasure in life is the ability to read, learn and enjoy doing it every day.  Read a few pages before you go to bed. Read while you are waiting. Read while you are on a plane or in the loo.  

9.       Listening to music: Be happy and inspired while you listen to music, especially classical music. Music is the food of the mind. Listen often to get over the moon and be on cloud nine.

10.   Take an afternoon nap: You may not be able to do it every day, but having an afternoon nap on a lazy Sunday is the simplest thing to pamper yourself. Feel good and be happy after a siesta.  

11.   Small acts of kindness: Gestures, like smiling at people or waving at them, are simple things to do to make others and yourself happy. Saying thank you more often is a great way to spread happiness around.  

12.   Call up a friend to chat and laugh out loud: You can call at home or anywhere at all to get connected and strike a conversation. You are able to reduce your stress when you speak your mind. Sharing a joke is a delightful thing to do and laugh out loud and be happy.

Do not complicate life, be simple and be happy.