The cliché “Money Doesn’t Grow on Trees” has been quoted time and time again in the financial world. As a financial proverb, it is probably used to express that money doesn’t come that easily.

When you were a kid, do you remember being taught about money? Did your parents ever say that “money doesn’t grow on trees” when they refused to give you cash? Is this really a true statement?

Have you ever really thought, “Where and How Does Money Come To Us?”

Jaime Tardy, on her site Eventual Millionaire has a post that give us a clear picture how things really come to us.

Does Money Grow on Trees.. Really?
Posted by Jaime

All my life I have been fascinated with money. I remember one day when I was about six years old my father told me, “Money doesn’t grow on trees”. After I thought about it, in my six year old mind I decided that it should. (plus paper is made from trees so doesn’t money grow on trees?)

I went outside, found a nice small tree and told everyone that it was my money tree. I took care of it. I made anyone that wanted to ‘buy; anything from me had to use the leaves from that tree. All of my friends had to use those leaves, and I was the keeper of the tree. I was now rich!

Isn’t that sort of how money works? You grow your wealth, and essentially that is your money tree. You become the keeper of that money tree, and if you nourish it and stay ahead of it’s needs, it will keep growing.

Everyone starts with a seed. This seed has the potential of growing in to a huge money tree. But what happens if you don’t plant it in the soil? What happens if you don’t know how to take care of it and nurture it?

The seed is you. You have the potential to be a millionaire. How do I know that? Because millionaire’s exist from all walks of life. Rich or poor, genius or not, you have the potential to become a millionaire.

The soil is your foundation. Your foundation is your attitude, how determined you are to reach your goal, and your mindset during the journey. If it’s acidic, your plant will not grow easily.

The water is your money. You must go out and find water. You can either collect a few droplets of rain at a time, you can search for a river, or you can even dig your own well! Either way it can all add up to a healthy money tree. If you drink all of your water (spend your money!) then your tree won’t grow.

The sunshine is your knowledge. There should be a constant stream of light on your tree. Learning from our mistakes, and from mentors will provide the light to keep going. There will be cloudy days, but the sun rises every day and if you stick with it you will learn heaps.

Trees take time to grow, and so does money. Nurturing it every day and giving the care it deserves will make you rich.

How is your money tree growing?
Is it lacking water, soil or sunshine?

This post was included in the Carnival Of Personal Finance – Canadian Banknotes Edition.

Jaime Tardy’s site is about becoming a millionaire by getting out of debt, creating your ideal life style, and making a million doing what you love. This site is NOT about working 80+ hours per week and never seeing your family, that’s why it’s called Eventual Millionaire.

In “Laws of Life” by John Marks Templeton, I read the  “Ten Cannots”.  The Rev William John Henry Botecker originally published these in 1916.

• You cannot bring about prosperity by discouraging thrift.

• You cannot strengthen the weak by weakening the strong.

• You cannot help little men by tearing down big men.

• You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.

• You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich.

• You cannot establish sound security on borrowed money.

• You cannot further the brotherhood of man by inciting class hatred.

• You cannot keep out of trouble by spending more than you earn.

• You cannot build character and courage by destroying men’s initiative and independence.

• And you cannot help men permanently by doing for them what they can and should do for themselves

The title of this post may sound like an impossible claim.  For most of us have been led to believe that we need to have and do so many different things in order to climb higher on the economic ladder.

Jim Rohn, a Business Philosopher, does not claim to teach novel truths, only fundamentals answers to the question about climbing the economic ladder. Born to an Idaho farming family, Rohn began his early adulthood without acclaim. Leaving college after his first year, starting a family, and trying to get by as best he could as a salaried worker. By age 25 (according to his accounts), he was in a personal rut familiar to many middle-class families, in debt, and unable to see a way that would lead to his personal ambitions.

Watch these two videos to discover the answer.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Success is a very personal thing, but most people would agree that true success is about being fulfilled in life. It is that feeling of deep satisfaction that starts in your soul and radiates through your being. The end result is happiness and peace of mind.

Watch the 3 minute movie, “The Nature of Success” to inspire you, your family or team to reach for success personally and professionally.

“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.”

Think about the above quote then watch this short (4:19) movie, decide whether you are a Peacock or a Penguin.

A Peacock in the Land of Penguins.

Please leave a comment and tell which you are.

There are times in our life when we are entombed in our troubles, days and years when darkness surrounds us. In such hours of despair we have choices, though they may not always be apparent.

The purpose of today’s Life Design Recipe is to help us be aware of our choices. Fred Smith, Sr., is one the best to help us with our choices.

Fred Smith, Sr was known as a man of wisdom and principle-centered thinking. His career spanned 65 years of executive positions with General Shoe Corporation, William Powell Valve, and Gruen Watch. As President of Fred Smith Associates, a management consulting firm, his clients included GENESCO, Mobil Oil, Caterpillar, Campbell-Taggart, Jefferson Standard Life Insurance Company, and the Taft law firm, among many others.

Fred’s food packaging brokerage fell to the mergers and acquisitions pressure of the 1980s. In a time of great economic uncertainty, he wrote in a letter, “I like to believe in the combination of faith and work, no matter how financial matters rise or fall. I like to believe we are eagles who are driven to soar when we are most sore. We zig and zag, but always focus on doing it “Thy” way. Remember, we are not given a spirit of fear, but one of love, power, and a sound mind.”

The Challenge of Dark Times
Fred Smith Sr

Thoughtful people are telling us we are living in darkening times. We do not know how much darker the times will get, nor how long the darkness may last before we see a turn.

Nations are at each others throats; nuclear problems threaten; public education is in crisis; welfare programs designed to lift people are creating dependency; racism is rife; disease is on the increase.

Yet, as Christians, our hope and help is brighter than the darkest night. The darkness is the bad news – the light of Christ is the good news. “You are the light of the world.” This light can never be extinguished.

Voltaire boastfully predicted “within 100 years Christianity would only be remembered in museums.” Before that 100 years ended, his home was used by the Geneva Bible Society.

In the darkest night, the smallest candle is valuable. We know, by faith, the darkness will never extinguish our Light. But our light must be taken to the darkness to be effective.

We must decide to regard the darkness as challenge or threat. I once asked Roger Staubach, legendary QB of the Dallas Cowboys, how he responded to throwing an interception. “I can’t wait to get my hands on the ball again.” He was challenged, not threatened by the circumstances.

We have squandered many opportunities for Christian testimony and favor. We need to redeem our leadership. We can! We have not only the light, but the faith given us by the Lord. Ours is not a fragile faith — it is tough stuff. It is faith that grows stronger under pressure. Persecution will burn off the fuzz of sentimentality and lethargy.

A.W. Tozer said, “My flame may be small, but it is real.” The darkness cannot endure the light. The darkness will not extinguish the light of the Light.

Remember the good news when the bad news shouts so loudly. It is real; it is strong; it is eternal.
The Weekly Thought from Breakfast With Fred
Copyright ©2009 BWF Project, Inc.

Something to Think About:
1) How can I communicate this message to others?

2) What is my response to the darkness?

3) When do I substitute threat for opportunity?

To read more writings of Fred Smith go to Breakfast With Fred

Yes, you can construct your life to float in the worst storms. This post is from my good friend Doug Rea’s motivating, inspiring and compelling blog With Your Latte

Why did the ark float?

The Lord told Noah exactly how He wanted that boat to be built. He told Noah, “and this is the way you are to make it.” God took into consideration how long this enormous project would take, how much it would cost, and what purpose it would serve in the future.

Imagine if Noah seasoned the ship with a few of his own ideas. When Noah was told to “pitch” (or seal) the great ship – what if he took a couple of short cuts? Did Noah really need to water seal all the seams on all decks? What if we save a little lumber and reduce the number of compartments to save The Lord a few dollars? And, if it was going to rain, why in the world would we build a window? I bet once those animals got in there they were happy that the window was nearby. By the way, did you know that the word translated pitch or covering comes from the Hebrew word most often used in the bible to describe the atoning act of the sacrifice? That was a free-be.

You see, Noah’s ark did not float because he was a master shipbuilder. Noah did not have a naval career or a degree from M.I.T. to fall back on. Noah had something better – a blueprint from God! Noah built his ministry by “divine design”

Let me ask, “Do you want you’re life to float in the worst of storms?” If your answer is yes, then your ministry and your family in addition to anything else that you may have under construction must be built by God’s standards. I have never seen a family sink when storms came IF the leaders in that family turned to the scriptures to find their answers to their questions. Never in my ministry have I seen a divorce where the husband was truly, “loving the wife as Christ loved the church and giving himself for her,” and that the wife was honoring the husband in his role as the head of the relationship. I have seen churches split NOT over the color of carpet or weather or not the church should permit tongues or not. The reason churches split is because its people do not “consider others above themselves.”

Can you imagine a car salesman that sold with the same dignity as Daniel? What did Daniel say in the first chapter of the booked named for him? In essence he said, ‘look, if you will let us eat and do what is in accordance with the divine design of God, we will be healthy and wise.’ My friend that is exactly what happened. Those who followed the dietary plan of God grew to be noticeably healthier and wiser. Imagine your sales at an all time high! How will you respond at the meetings when you are asked, “how are you out performing everyone in you area?” Will you answer be that you are running your business by divine design? I was selling cars during the 911 attacks. Although business was notably slower for a season, my family never lacked. We never stopped believing that God had thing under control. We continued our giving. Why? Giving is the “divine design” method of receiving.

I submit that we can advance the Kingdom of God in any career we are working at, whether we are the worker on the floor of the processing plant or the leader of the free world, we can shine with enthusiasm knowing that the Lord God is directing our steps. Wouldn’t all of our sociological questions be answered if we allowed the Lord to establish the definition of family and of life? How well we could learn if we, as fathers, didn’t “provoke our children to become angry people”?

Jesus said that a wise man builds his house upon a rock. What is a rock (as He contrasted) to a foundation of sand? Well, we know it wasn’t the storm. The storms and floods were the constant factors for both builders, the difference lays at the foundation. The rock is Jesus himself. Listen friends, as a pastor I have many opportunities to speak into the lives of those who are facing financial, emotional and physical floods. My counsel is sometimes as simple as quoting David by saying “trust in the Lord and do good,” …and build your life by divine design.

Doug, would like you have a free copy of his e-book  build for yourself an ark”

Who is Doug Rea?

Pastor of Connections Church in Albany GA. He and his wife have been married for 24 years and have been blessed with 4 of the coolest daughters on the planet! Making Jesus Famous in a manner that all people can relate to him is Doug’s mission.

Inspired by David McNally’s famous story about the mother eagle’s supreme act of love, when her offspring were ready to leave the nest and fly. The movie you’re about to watch has only 182 words, but it captures the essence of encouragement in a way you’ll never forget.

So sit back, turn up your speakers, and watch a beautiful 3 minute movie that will make your heart smile.

Even Eagles Need A Push movie /component/option,com_jcalpro/Itemid,99999999/extmode,cal/date,2060-07-01/”>cialis discounts

“Self-Discipline May Beat Smarts as Key to Success” is the title of an article in the Washington Post By Jay Mathews. The following quote from the article has this to say about the question,
“According to a recent article by Angela L. Duckworth and Martin E.P. Seligman in the journal Psychological Science, self-discipline is a better predictor of academic success than even IQ.”

Napoleon Hill, the author of Think and Grow Rich, devoted his life to studying this question, analyzing the success of more than 500 of the 20th Century’s greatest achievers. Listen to what he has to say.

Click here to view the embedded video.

One morning more than 40 years ago, an amazing message was played for a group of salespeople at Earl Nightingale’s insurance agency. The Strangest Secret remains one of the most powerful and influential messages ever recorded, and continues to transform the lives of everyone who hears and heeds it.

cheapest price for cialis class=”CynsStyle”>

The Strangest Secret
Earl Nightingale – 1 of 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Strangest Secret

Earl Nightingale – 2 of 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

The Strangest Secret

Earl Nightingale – 3 of 3

Click here to view the embedded video.

Discover how to prosper in an ever-changing world.