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"Money is only calm shells or metal disks or scraps of paper, and there are treasures of the heart and soul which money cannot buy, but most people being broke are unable to keep this in mind and sustain their spirits. When a man is down and out and on the street, unable to get any job at all, something happens to his sprit which can be observed in the droop of his shoulders, the set of his hat, his walk and his gaze.  He cannot escape a felling of inferiority among people with regular employment, even though he knows they are definitely not his equals in character, intelligence or ability."

Napoleon Hill

Why People Fail

What it means to be average

The difference between champions and also-rans can be measured in 100ths of a second in a track meet, a half step in a football game.  The difference is not measured in miles and millions it is usually a small difference, a small efficiency, better timing, a better business plan.  We remember Alexander Graham Bell and his assistant Thomas Watson as inventors of  the telephone.  We remember Mr. Bell because of his timing, he beat his competitor to the patent office in 1875 by two hours.  If he hadn't filed his patent first, he would have probably been reduced to a minor footnote in history as Elisha Gray the other inventor of the telephone and  then holder of the provisional patent, is today.

Facts about being average in the United States

The average American works, lives and retires broke.  In fact most Americans over sixty-five must continue to work or rely on the government and family to make ends meet.  The government I believe helps to perpetuate this by perpetuating the myth that Social Security is a workers reward at the end of the rainbow.  In reality the maximum  social security does  not pay enough for a transmission overhaul much less provide a comfortable lifestyle.  Because of the subtle promises the government makes to our senior citizens most Americans dismiss their responsibility for taking care of their own financial house.  The average fifty year old has twenty three hundred dollars set aside for retirement.  The average American is only two or three paychecks from being homeless.  

American  divorce rates approach 50 percent and one of the largest cause of divorce is money, or rather the lack of it.  Why is this the norm and not the exception? 

Most of us want to be financially secure, but most of us do not spend the time, energy and money required to enhance our chances of realizing this goal.  Most of us are not even aware of the problem much less what to do about it.

Why do people fail ?

• They are unaware that a problem exists
• They have no real savings or investment plan 
• No life plan.  People spend more time planning their vacations or the purchase of their new car than they do developing and reviewing there life plan.
• Their plan didn't work, it wasn't detailed enough or they didn't believe in it.  People also because of a problem with their self image and feel uncomfortable with or even sabotage their success potential, Many people find that making excuses, projecting blame outward or playing the victim is a satisfying substitute for real constructive action.
• They gave the responsibility or planning their future to a commissioned salesman or broker.  They were sold investments they did not research and buy what they really needed.

Below is a paraphrased list or the symptoms of wealth and poverty, outlined by Napoleon Hill

• Indifference:  Expressed through lack of ambition, a willingness to accept poverty, lack of initiative, enthusiasm and self-control.
• Indecision:  The habit of permitting others to do ones thinking .  Staying on the fence.
• Doubt:  Expressed through alibis and excuses designed to cover up or explain away, or apologize for ones failures, sometimes expressed in the form of envy of those who are successful, or by criticizing them
• Worry:  Usually expressed by finding fault with others, a tendency to spend beyond ones income, neglect of appearance, and often the over use of alcohol or drugs.
• Over-caution:  The habit of looking for the negative side of every circumstance, thinking and talking about possible failure instead of concentrating upon the means of succeeding.  Waiting for the right time becomes no action at all.
• Procrastination;  The habit of putting off until tomorrow that which should have been done today.  This is closely associated with over-caution, doubt and worry.  Refusal to accept responsibility and spending time creating alibis.  Willingness to compromise instead of advance. 

 What is the answer?

• Education is good, schools may teach you how to earn a living but not how to: save, invest, shelter you income from taxes, plan for retirement or to leave your wealth to your heirs.
• It is your responsibility to educate your self, no one has as much riding on your future as you and your family.
• Define your goals and financial objectives, believe in them and your abilities and self worth.  
• Commit your goals to writing. Be detailed, how, with what, at what cost, and when.
• Learn and determine proper asset allocation for you.  This can be the most important investment decision you make.  Your portfolio should reflect your approach to your aspirations, beliefs and fears.
• Learn the difference between earning a living and creating wealth.

"When you come right down to it, almost any problem eventually becomes a financial problem."

    -Frederick Donner