Become a blessing

Money is a blessing

Money is widely misunderstood by most people. Those that take the time to educate themselves about money are the great stewards of money. Our thinking towards money determines our financial health, our wealth. There are three overriding principles about wealth creation: long term thinking, delaying gratification, and using the power of compounding. Money is important so be disciplined when it comes to money. Be a master of your money, not a slave of your money. Follow the sequence below and you will prosper beyond your wildest imagination.

1.      Defining money. Money is a good that acts as a medium of exchange in transactions. Money is not the same thing as wealth or currency. We cannot make ourselves richer by simply printing more money, a practice being widely used as of late. The more money is in circulation the less is the value of money. The paper notes we carry in our wallets are not money, they are currency that can legally be used as a means of exchange.

2.      Money understanding. Money comes and stays to those who understand it and respect it. Money is a tool and a blessing. To many people money is a mystery or a monster; widely misunderstood. There are many money principles that have endured for thousands of years. Failing to understand and follow proven money principles results in mismanagement of money, a source of ruin for many people. The best way to understand money is to view it as a game. To win the money game we have to understand the rules, the offense, and the defense of money.

3.      Earning money. From neck down we are all worth minimum wage. The more value we provide the more money we can earn. There are basically four ways to earn money; as an employee, as self-employed or as small business owner, as a big business owner, and as an investor. All four ways are necessary for a healthy economy to function properly. The first two involve the exchange of time for money and the second two involve levering a business system and money itself to generate money. The results in each of the four ways are significantly different. Here is another way to look at ways to earn money: put ourselves to work for money, put others to work for money, put a system to work for money, and put money to work for money. They sound very different, don’t they?

4.      Saving money. Saving money is the first key to financial freedom. Spend less than you make. Very simple, yet most people violate this principle as they are lured by the easy access to credit. Pay yourself first. Live within your means. My dad used to say that those that don’t take care of a penny will not take care of one million either. Start saving a small percentage of your income and increase the percentage over time as you earning increase. Build an emergency fund and a savings fund. These will improve the quality of your sleep.

5.      Sharing money. Money used to bless others comes back multiplied, thus sharing money is the second key to financial freedom. Those that place their money at the service of others become very wealthy. Others just don’t need money; they need the help we can give and the love in our hearts. Start by sharing your blessings and you will be very blessed indeed. Use your blessings and the tools of your trade to bless others less fortunate than you. The power of compounding works in giving. When we bless others they are likely to pay forward and bless others in multiple ways; it is called paying forward.

6.      Investing money. Money is a wonderful slave and a tyrant master. The third key to financial freedom is the discipline of regularly investing money. The best investment one can make is in oneself. First work for money than put your hard earned money to work hard for you. Use the power of compounding to multiply your blessings. The right investment always brings a return while and most expenses only bring short term pleasures.

7.      Spending money. There is a reason for spending money being the last and not the first on the list. Spending beyond the necessary to meet our basic needs should be the last item on the list of money fitness. There will be a point in the life of a financially fit person, when money can be used to meet one wants; there is absolutely nothing wrong with that. The thinking of financially broke people is exactly the opposite; they start by spending money to get things they want.

Hope this help you to expand your money literacy.

Will you join my cause to fight mediocrity in the world?

Pass these nuggets on to others.    

We make a living by what we get; we make a life by what we give. Be a giver in a world of takers.

Be blessed and be a blessing to others.

Carlos Fontana, President of Phalanx

Co-author of the book Follow to Lead (The 7 Principles to Being a Great Follower)

Author of the book PRICELESS (Sixty-Six Simple Stories of Reflection, Love, and Legacy