When Ayn Rand said, “My philosophy, in essence, is the concept of man as a heroic being, with his own happiness as the moral purpose of his life, with productive achievement as his noblest activity, and reason as his only absolute”, she addressed an extremely important issue: REASON.

In today’s turbulent world of change, threat, insecurity, and anxiety, many people are hiding from the truth.

We hear that more people flock to movie houses and churches during times of war, depression, and turmoil than in any other time – an escape from reason and responsibility. Emotionalism hides the real issues, avoids responsibility, and protects the fragile ego. Blame, escapism, and justification avoids reality. You won’t solve your problems by discussing the latest CNN propaganda with your broke friends. Reason is the only accurate compass in this wild wilderness.

While it is easier to hide behind mysticism, and live vicariously through politicians, sports teams and Hollywood actors while your life falls to pieces, your debt increases, and your hopes of retirement disappear, it’s not the solution.

Reason is the final judge and jury, bringing with it the only viable explanation and solution. Reason is very scary and threatening to those who refuse to discipline themselves and take responsibility. It’s far more comfortable to stuff your face with overpriced popcorn that you can’t afford, wasting time you don’t have while mindlessly watching a meaningless movie.

Who Is Responsible for Your Well Being?

Some people mistakenly believe the government or their church will take care of them. They flee to the filthy caves of socialism, collectivism, liberation theology, and mysticism, where they will be devoured by witch doctors and bullies. They think they will be protected if they’re politically correct and remain subservient and meek. They believe that by hiding their heads in the sand they will avoid the future they fear. The consequences of their past choices are coming to get them.

In her book, Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand tells a fictitious, yet prophetic story that clearly explains her philosophy of Objectivism, the solution for people who want a solution. With the right philosophy, you can take control of your life, recreate and reinvent your future, and take pride in your own endeavors as a self-sufficient individual. Here’s a simple way to describe a great philosophy: “If it’s to be, it’s up to me.” Here’s another very complicated way of putting it: “I have created my present reality, and I am in control of my future.”

Environmentalism, altruism, multiculturalism, political correctness, avoiding confrontation, and an escape to mysticism are all definite signs of the avoidance of reason and personal responsibility. Miss Rand taught, “If you think something is a contradiction, check your premises.” Reason is the only absolute.

When the Catholic Church, an extremely wealthy organization, decides that it’s a sin to be extremely rich, you have to check your premises. A reasonable person would understand.

Over at the website ‘Shape Up America‘, they compiled a list of 198!! Self-Improvement articles found around the internet.

Now, I don’t know about you, but 198 articles is ALOT to wade through.  But if you think about it – finding the good articles yourself is even MORE work.  I’d be willing to wager they read 5 to 10 times that amount on the topics they list, that just didn’t cut it as far as their requirements went.

Here is the general categories they have sorted them into:

• Self Improvement
• Productivity
• Health & Fitness
• Food & Diet
• Brain Power & Memory
• Sleep

And inside those topics is SCADS of valuable tips, tricks and advice in regards to genuinely improving yourself in so many areas of your life.

The Most Incredible Ways To Improve Thyself

I’d recommend you bookmark that page and whenever you’re bored and about to browse YouTube or waste time on FaceBook – you instead go read 1 or 2 of those articles and improve yourself immensely!

When entrepreneurs get emotionally involved in their businesses, they start seeing their business as an extension of their ego, and that’s when pride clashes with profitability. Remember the 3 Steps to Achieving Success as an Entrepreneur? None of them include ensuring that everyone knows it’s YOU doing it.

Men, especially, sabotage their own success when they become territorial, competitive, and pig-headed. My good friend and mentor, Marnus Roothman, the new DollarMakers Director for South Africa, used to ask me, “Do you want to be right, or do you want to be rich?” I’m not talking in the context of values – I’m talking about egotistical stubbornness. We’re in business to make a profit, and as long as you don’t step on your values, you can benefit a lot from being somewhat flexible and overlooking certain things in the interest of the big picture; losing a battle to win the war.

As a “black or white”, right or wrong, politically incorrect, A-Type personality myself, I know whereof I speak. There is a time to compromise and a time to insist, and there is also a time to understand
and forgive. Again, as long as your values remain intact, you will find yourself skirting detours and getting to your destination, while your old self is still attacking the detour with a battering ram and a small
canon.

There’s a difference between being smart and being soft.

If someone gets it right 98% of the time and messes up 2% of the time, perhaps it’s wise to focus on the 98% and reward good choices, instead of hammering on the bad ones. Maturity doesn’t have to mean passivity.  You don’t have to compromise your own standards. You do have to give in order to get, and when you are prepared to overlook a flaw in your business partner’s performance, the reciprocal favor can mean a lot to your bottom line. And it’s all about the bottom line, not your bottom lip.

You’re in business to make a profit, not to look good at your local Chamber of Commerce meeting.

Seasoned entrepreneurs understand that they should keep their egos on a tight leash, spend good time on objective, strategic planning, and maintain an eye on the big picture. They know How to Manage their time and also whom they spend it with. They also know the value of giving people enough rope to hang themselves – that’s the chess player at work. Hissy fits, tantrums, and throwing babies out with bathwater has it’s place - Indian organ grinders are said to discipline their pet monkeys by periodically killing a chicken in front of the monkey - but they should be the exception rather than the rule, and used only when entirely appropriate for the optimal results.

You’re in business to make a profit, not to make a statement – remember that.

Why Mutliple Sources of Income are Important

Your time is your most valuable asset, and it is like priceless pearls to you. They are limited, as your days on earth are limited. Your time is that important.

Hilton Johnson has been in direct sales for over 40 years. He has been coaching and training salespeople, managers, professionals and business owners for over 30 years. This man knows what he’s talking about. He says,

“One thing that will burn you right out of this business, folks, is spending your time with the wrong people.”
- Howard Johnson

I cannot stress this strongly enough.

There is an idiomatic Japanese saying, “Gold coins to a cat.” Not only will you waste time that could have been put to better use with good people, but there is a serious danger attached. Read the following:

“Give not that which is holy unto the dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn again and rend you.”
- Christian Bible

Note the scary last part: “And turn and render you” – that means rip you apart! Yes, they will turn on you when they can’t understand your opportunity and message! They will punish you for their own lack of understanding and discipline. By casting your pearls before swine, you bring them into your business, your circle, your family, where they can become dangerous traitors. Now here’s another shocking reality:

“A nation can survive its fools, and even the ambitious. But it cannot survive treason from within. An enemy at the gates is less formidable, for he is known and carries his banner openly. But the traitor moves amongst those within the gate freely, his sly whispers rustling through all the alleys, heard in the very halls of government itself. For the traitor appears not a traitor; he speaks in accents familiar to his victims, and he wears their face and their arguments, he appeals to the baseness that lies deep in the hearts of all men. He rots the soul of a nation, he works secretly and unknown in the night to undermine the pillars of the city, he infects the body politic so that it can no longer resist. A murderer is less to fear. The traitor is the plague.” ~ Marcus Tullius Cicero

It’s not just dumb to spend time with the wrong people, it’s dangerous. Make people qualify for your time. Protect it carefully, steadfastly and seriously!

Successful Joint Venture Brokers have the ability to remove their own egos, products and services from the picture when they create Joint Ventures. 99% of people that attend my Bootcamps are there to find a way to increase the sales of their own product or service, using JV’s. That’s fine, and it’s easy to double the profits in your own business using JV’s, but it’s not the JV mindset that makes the big money.

By focusing on connecting others, solving their problems, and helping them reach their goals, you insert yourself effectively into their cash flow. You get invited to participate in their profits. You become important in their lives. They like you and they reciprocate if you have set the JV up correctly.

You should remember that other people don’t care about you, your products or services, or ego; they care about themselves first. Give them what they want and you’ll get what you want. You’ll become an integral key to their future success.

Be a good listener: look for clues and Hot Buttons, values, beliefs, and a track record. Decide whether or not you actually WANT to get involved with the person. Is this someone you feel comfortable promoting and associating with, or not? You’re mentally qualifying people for a JV partnership – you’re not a desperate salesperson. A JV Broker who is good at his or her profession is a very valuable asset to any business partner, and you can pick and choose from millions of businesses to work with.

You’re in the pound seats, and it’s your decision whom you choose.

As a JV Broker, I decide whom I will work with, and my attention is on them, not me, because I have access to all the resources they need or want. I evaluate the person and the potential, and it’s always based on my level of comfort and their level of need. I only work with motivated, sincere, and professional people. I can afford to be very selective, and so I am. But I don’t go about talking about myself, simply because nobody gives a damn. Remember that – focus on others, be a catalyst for cash, and a middleman that multiplies the moola, not a self-employed, desperate, broke salesman, urgently touting something that people can buy on any street corner.

Now go forth, as Patrick Giesbrecht is wont to say, and JV!

So I recently talked with a young man named Blake. Blake told me he was looking for a “wonderful job”. So I asked him to describe this most wonderful job to me.

His description included: autonomy, working on his own program, to his own schedule, lots of money, of course, and travel, the ability to use his creativity, bonuses for innovation, etc. He wanted lots of freedom, but he said he works very hard. He also said he was creative, professional, and dedicated. I asked him what kind of boss he wanted. He replied with:

“Someone who really understands me, allows me to play to my strengths, and encourages me”

I told him, “You know what, Blake? You can have a job exactly like that. I know how you can get it. In fact, you can design your own job description, and you can even decide how much you will earn, including rewards for innovation, creativity, and professionalism. What’s more, I have the perfect boss for you – someone who really knows you, and more than that, CARES about you!” He was bouncing off the walls with excitement, begging to hear more.

I said, “The boss is YOU. Your own business. Total freedom, along with total responsibility, no limitations, and the world at your feet.”

At this point he predictably became angry. He said he wanted the “SECURITY” of a paycheck.

I answered…

“You should trust yourself more than anyone else in the world, Blake. Why would you feel more secure handing your life and income to someone else who doesn’t care about you? Is your self-esteem really so low? Here’s the real question, Blake: You know yourself, your abilities, and your work ethic. Would YOU hire YOU? If you would, here’s your perfect opportunity – start your own business – employ yourself!”

Guess what his next objection was - “It’s so risky to start a business.”

I agree completely. That’s why I teach people to start the best business in the world – no overhead, no risk, unlimited potential, flexibility, creativity, income, and freedom: being a Joint Venture Broker. Say no more!

Success is uncomplicated for people who understand that there are only three steps to reach it, and they are: Action, Traction, and Attraction. In my experience, anyone with an IQ of over 100 and a decent work ethic (those two criteria instantly eliminate a large percentage of the population) can climb these three simple steps to massive success in any business venture.

The first step is ACTION

Taking ACTION – or a four letter word for many, called WORK. Consistent, focused, uncompromising, quality work. Not just a flutter of work and bluster just before you fetch your boss at the airport; he sees through that quickly and your sins will find you out. Not sporadic, half-hearted attempts, or mere gestures.

I’m talking about real work, doing the things that get results. Doing the uncomfortable things at inconvenient times. Being on time, in place, and productive – every day. Working with enthusiasm and passion, without even considering quitting. Putting in the hours, going the extra mile, even when it rains or you feel ill. Consistent work. If you work long enough, you finally smash through the wall to resistance, and you eventually reach the next level, which is…

TRACTION.

This is when you start to see progress, momentum, branding, recognition – a profit. People start responding, your phone starts ringing; you begin to see progress. The wheels are digging in – they’ve stopped spinning on the ice and mud.  How long does it take before your action gets traction? However long it takes.

If you have a good mentor, work hard and smart, use Joint Ventures, and only work with the right people, it eventually happens. And when you start to get traction, it is not a time to sit back and take it easy! This is the signal to double your efforts, sharpen your axe, and work harder than ever. Don’t miss the opportunity to keep the traction going until you reach the desirable level of…

ATTRACTION.

Now your phone rings all day, and like the old song goes, “getting cards and letters from people I don’t even know, and offers coming over the phone…” Again, this is not a time to start resting, but a time to build on the momentum, strike while the iron is hot, and work harder! At a certain point (you will know when), you will be able to loosen up and take it a bit easy. If your systems are in place, you can delegate and allow the systems to do more work, but be vigilant, because the enemy lurks always.

Follow these 3 Steps, and you will reap what you sow.