Allow Yourself to Succeed in This Recession

My Fellow Americans,

I wanted to share with you today an article I wrote for Blogcritics.org:

I would like to briefly talk to you about opportunity. Many people fail to see opportunity before them – either because they claim they are too busy or because they just are not looking in the right place. Or maybe it’s because they have immersed themselves in life: from their job to their children, there really isn’t much time for anything else.

Oftentimes, people miss opportunities before them because of these reasons – or should I say, excuses.

A great opportunity lies ahead of us over the next few years. Those who have prepared have already reaped the benefits and will continue to do so. There are people out there profiting off of this recession. There are people who have used this recession as their opportunity.

I would like to share a quote with you to further explain what I mean: “Success always comes when preparation meets opportunity.” Most often attributed to a Mr. Henry Hartman, on whom I was unable to find information, this quote resonated deeply with me since I first heard it.

Instead of looking at the recession as a bad thing, look at it as an opportunity to accumulate wealth. Look at it as a stepping stone for your retirement goals. Look at it as a chance to start a business. Look at it as a chance to prepare.

As Robert Kiyosaki, entrepreneur and author of Rich Dad Poor Dad, has said: “This crisis is the biggest opportunity in the history of the world.” This statement could not be more true. It just depends on how you look at life.

I firmly believe that, in America, anything is possible. I believe people come here looking for a better life. Whether rich, middle class, or poor, there is always a chance for you. While we may not all start off in the same position in the marathon of life, there are always opportunities for us to cross the finish line together. Don’t let fear or self-doubt stand in your way.

So what can you do to start? Here are a few suggestions:

1. Get your financial education, as Kiyosaki always says. (And yes, there is ALWAYS time. It just depends on what you want to spend your time doing).

2. Read magazines and newspapers like Forbes, Money and The Wall Street Journal. Watch channels like Fox Business and CNBC. CNBC is a great place to learn about money and entrepreneurship.

3. Read as many books as you can. My suggestions to get you started are: Rich Dad Poor Dad by Kiyosaki, The Lexus and the Olive Tree by Thomas L. Friedman, and The 4-Hour Work Week by Timothy Ferriss.

4. Don’t ever stop being a student. Take classes and attend seminars on finance, economics, and investing.

5. Learn about handling your personal finances.

6. Get out of bad debt as quickly as possible – particularly credit card debt.

7. Save money and invest in things like real estate – so your money doesn’t lose value. There are many opportunities for novice investors out there as property values continue to decline. Do your due diligence. (You may even have a chance to help somebody in foreclosure by assuming their mortgage).

I have implemented, or am in the process of implementing, all of these strategies. They are all things I have read about or learned about over the past few years. I would not recommend them if I didn’t think they would work. Some things may not work for you. That’s fine. The point is to try things and learn things that will make life better for you and your family.

Here’s to your success this year and in years to come.

I’ll see you at the finish line.