Wednesday, 21 August 2013

IT IS NOT ALWAYS ABOUT THE MONEY & STATUS



Oooh! I am SUUUPPERR excited!

At the moment, I am working on two upcoming interviews and never felt so inspired! These people are really amazing that I think they truly deserve a good mention.

Now, some of these young entrepreneurs may not be millionaires yet but they are DEFINITELY on their way to more kaching! in their bank accounts when you and I are still slogging off at work, working for others and making other people rich.


Actually, its not always about the MONEY and STATUS.

One thing that I learned from most of these inspiring individuals (when they first started their business), that their motive to work for themselves is NOT always about the money and status. Nor do they started the business with a huge capital! 

Money and status will eventually come in due time once they have attained the success that their hearts desire.


Be curious to explore.


They started with an idea and launched the business in a small capacity as they are too not sure if it will take off well or otherwise. And while they are at it, they explore the business potential and tested the market. They worked doubly hard, mentally prepared and focussed to make it work. They are willing to learn from those who have done it before. They are not afraid to fall and then get up again.

Having to start on their own means that they are able to control their time to learn and grow their passion (business). But most importantly, they started the business because they are curious and passionate enough to see how far they could go! And without these two attributes, its pretty hard to be stay determined.

It didn't really matter if they can make money fast or not initially, its about having the freedom to EXPERIMENT, putting in CREATIVITY and testing some STRATEGIES (pretty much like playing the monopoly).

So, stay tuned folks for more interesting Successful Icons stories (from REAL people of course, just like you and me!) coming your way.

Tuesday, 20 August 2013

MAKING THE RIGHT CHOICES


They say life is about making the right choices.

You choose what you want to wear to work today, what to eat for breakfast, where to eat for lunch, which movie to watch this weekend and even the person that you wish to marry etc. You choose your own to-do actions and make decisions every seconds, minute and every single day.

Now quickly, ask yourself this question. And I want you to answer it within split seconds, don’t even stop to think!


"… If you have a choice to work for people or work for yourself, which one will you go for?..."


While the latter sounds more appealing because you get to control your own time and how much money you want to make, in reality, many people actually chose the road less travelled path so they went for employment.

If you’re asking yourself this “How will I know when it’s safe to quit my job and become a full-time entrepreneur?”, then its’ time for you to look at others who have made the great leap for inspirations and insights.

Learning from their first hand experiences about what worked and what didn't is a great way to start in determining how to tackle this life-changing decision yourself. Hence the very reason why this blog exist. I hope to bring insights and inspiration from successful icons all over the world and translate them into this blog. Honestly, some humbly agreed and don't mind to share, some even asked if I am from some famous media publication (and then I never hear from them again - hello, some courtesy please?) and some prefer to be paid to share. 

To me, success is meaningless if you don't share with others on how did you do it. It doesn't mean that when you share your methods / secrets it means that it suits everybody and they start to copy you. We are all different in our approach and we learn from one another and later tweak it to suit our pace & preference. No two persons have identical experiences, some similarity yes but never an exact one.

I learnt a lot from those who have responded to my interview request. These successful icons are REAL. They are simply fearless and they work really hard!


Now, about leaving your job.

Leaving your job simply means that you will be leaving behind  paid vacations, health & medical benefits and a steady pay check. In fact, this is what most of us (employees) are struggling with. It eventually boils down to personal choice and good planning.

There is always a risk in anything that we do, with or without job. But if we put the same amount of dedication and time of trying to make it work, working for yourself may actually be the best thing ever happened to you.



Here’s how you can tell IF you are ready to move on.

1. You always have a burning desire to start your own business.
2. You have enough income to cover your essentials, at least for a year.

3. You have done thorough research/have tested the market on the business that you are planning to run and found that it receives good response.
4.  You are mentally prepared to let go of self-employment and condition your mind to withstand business challenges
5.   Your family backs you up with your decision.
6.   You make Plan A, B, C for every stages of your business, just in case.

Do all the above and you will go far.



However, there is also another way to SLOWLY let go of your job without going totally broke!

Do all the above except for item No 2 and replace it “…Work on your side business WHILE you are still on the JOB…”.  This is perfect for those who are not too sure about their decision or the amount of income they will be making once they go as a full time business person. Bottom line, you still need that money to pay your monthly essentials and to fund your new business. I know...I know how much you hated job and you can’t wait to move on, but sometimes you just need to grit your teeth and persevere until you are ready to fly.

As I mentioned earlier, having a job isn’t necessarily all that bad.



So, how do you know if things will go WELL?

You DON’T. Nobody can tell you what will happen tomorrow or the day after.

What you can definitely do is to make plans to ensure things are covered just in case you go busted. Without plans, you may as well stay on employment until your business shows promising numbers.

I knew some entrepreneurs who started out without a plan. It’s okay if you are single, hardly have any commitment and still staying with your parents. You can take your time building your business while chilling out. There are also entrepreneurs that has no choice BUT to step up the game, work much harder than before to ensure they bring food to the table. No time should go wasted.

Ultimately you need to weigh all pros and cons and make PLANS if you have decided to move on and leave employment. No one I know have died or suffered without a job yet, painful phase yes, but in the end they manage to tie lose ends though it may take some time.

Have faith with your decision, focus and be humble enough to learn from those who have been there and done that. You’ll be surprised how their situation was much tougher than yours before they attained success.


Sunday, 18 August 2013

SUCCESSFUL ICON#1 : PAT FLYNN from SMART PASSIVE INCOME


I am extremely privileged to conduct this (the first for this blog!) short email interview with none than other, PAT FLYNN, the founder & blogger behind the famous
SMART PASSIVE INCOME! At the time this interview is conducted, he already has 67,712 followers on Twitters and 37,402 followers on Facebook!

Pat who is from California, is a doting father of two, has found himself a steady income of more than USD$10,000 every month doing business online and what makes him different is that he speaks directly from his experience and even shared (and being transparent) about his businesses, strategies and income (and expenditures) on a monthly basis without fail and then put it up for all to see. If you religiously follow his blog, you will not only get valuable tips but also insights on how to do online business.

He used to have a 9 to 5 job, which he really enjoyed. But unfortunately there are some things that we cannot control (like the economy) and so on, and he got laid off.

Without the 9 to 5 job holding him back, he has since been able to earn more money and work less (and more flexible) hours – which in the end allowed him to be home and spend time with his family.

He has also written a successful #1 Entrepreneurship book entitled LET GO. A humble person to know, if not because of the time constraint, I would love to conduct the interview longer with him.

(Above Pic) : Pat Flynn's Best Selling Entrepreneur Book, Let Go.

Here’s his advice for those who wants to quit their job to pursue what they love but unsure on how to go about it.

Me: Hi Pat, thank you for the time spared in this short interview. Quickly, what would be your advice for those who wants to quit their job to pursue what they love but unsure on how to go about it?

Pat: If you're unhappy with your current job situation and you'd like to eventually get out of it and work on something on your own that you love, know that you have more options available to you than the obvious two: stay with your current job, or quit and try something new. It doesn't have to be an either/or type of choice. Quitting without a plan is scary, but it doesn't have to be that way.

Me: So should we just pack our things and quit?

Pat: It's totally okay, and recommended, to keep your current job (because it provides you that immediate income and security) but also try something new on the side to test the waters, explore and see if there are any new opportunities available to you. Dedicating even an hour a day to yourself to explore other options can help you get on that path to eventually break free from what's making you unhappy.

You may also be able to negotiate a tele-commuting option with your current employer, and you might be able to work from home and keep your job, which could open up more time for new things on the side as well.

Me: Okay, so we stay on the job while exploring opportunities. And what do we do on the side?

Pat: What do you do on the side exactly? Use the skills that you have and begin to freelance. Freelancing and helping others on individual projects is a great way to get your foot into the door with starting your own thing full time, and while helping others you'll be able to better improve your own skills, see what it's like to actually work on your own, and you'd probably make a little bit of money on the side too.

No matter what though, the best advice I can give you is get started on something. Just start. You've realized that you're unhappy, which is the first step. The next step, which is the hardest one, is just getting started.

Me: Thanks for your time Pat!

Pat: You are most welcome!


(Above Pic) : Visit Pat Flynn's famous website SMART PASSIVE INCOME

So, the TAKE AWAY from this interview:

1       Just start doing something if you already realize that you are unhappy, that is the first step to discover what other options you have if you plan to leave your job.

2      Spend at least AN HOUR each day (while you are still working) to pursue something that you like to do online and I am not talking about playing games or gossiping in Facebook J You can do this during lunch time or even after work. Use that time to conduct research about the business that you are interested in, or if you already have a website Google up to find out on how you can promote your site. Learn from successful internet marketers. Subscribe to their e-books. There are so many things that you can do online if you dedicate that one hour each day.

3      It is okay to keep your job while you explore options.

4       If you want to quit, come up with a plan first!

Note : You can follow Pat Flynn on his Facebook HERE for more updates about his work.


Friday, 16 August 2013

LEAP WITH JOY!


As at yesterday’s 6pm onwards, I was feeling like a cow that jumps over the moon!

It was my first attempt to write to all these aspiring & inspiring individuals that I have in mind and receiving heart-warming replies from these total strangers that are not only humble but also successful all within the same day makes my heart leaped with joy!

Those who have responded to the invitation, "You are simply awesome!..."

My first (coming soon!) interview to be featured in this maiden voyage will be kick off by a famous passive income blogger whose spirit and determination is one that I really admire. I wont reveal the name yet and prefer to keep this as a surprise :-) 

My only regret is that if only I am able to conduct the interview longer, I’d probably learn from him on how did he actually did it. Making his first million! However, due to time constraints, he is kind enough to proceed with a short email interview and share a valuable advice for people like you and me. I reckon that one way to find out how he actually made his first million is to obtain the book that he wrote.

His no hold barred postings on how he made his income online month after month (and even made it transparent for all to see too!) is simply amazing to read. I don’t know how he actually did it, but one thing for sure, he really worked hard (and consistent too) to achieve that much of an envied income. I can imagine the amount of time taken to monitor and record the daily income.


As of now, I am still working on the posting. So stay tune for a piece of his valuable advice on this site.

Thursday, 15 August 2013

FACING MY FEAR : REJECTION


Today is a productive day indeed! 

I sent out like some odd 15 emails to a list of aspiring, inspiring self-made men & women. They are from all over the world.

I do not know them personally but I LOVE their work! They are a genuine prove that ANYONE can be successful if they put their hearts and mind to their passion.

Believe me, my greatest fear for this task is REJECTION, and facing it.

As I press the ENTER button, I prayed that they would support me in this effort. Honestly, I’d cringed every time I check my inbox. I worry that they will revert and politely decline my invitation.

To date, there are two or three individuals who are kind enough to revert to me and at least one party has accepted my invitation for an email interview. God Bless them!

I believe those who were unable to participate this round would spare some of their time soon and join me in this noble effort in helping others. 

I just need 10 minutes or less, 7 interview questions or less – depending on time constraints and preference J

Wednesday, 14 August 2013

MILLIONAIRES ARE PEOPLE TOO


Millionaires are people too, just like you and me. Most of them are self made. They don’t possess extraordinary power that catapults them to become rich and famous overnight. However, they do shared a few things in common. They worked hard, persevered and is strategic in every way. They fail. They experienced fear. They keep trying and trying until they found the right formula to their success.

They are truly a genuine testimonial on how people like us can achieve great freedom and mind blowing income. Hence, I have decided to dedicate this blog to educate people like us - on how to quit our job, pursue our passion and be just like them.  

I started this blog to mark the day of my quest. During this 2 month notice period,  I worked hard on finding myself and my interest. Although I am due for another exciting, 6 figure a year income, corner office job, deep down I yearn to take control of my time, work on something that drives me and spending quality time with my daughter. I visualized sitting by the pool while my daughter and hubby is playing nearby, sipping juice and just write away. I imagined having to go for holidays several times a year without having to apply for annual leave from my boss.

I have always been entrepreneurial since young but the fear of failing and commitment to meet pulled me back to doing it full time. I have ventured into selling handmade cards, muffins, t-shirts, plus size clothing and renting space out to youth entrepreneurs to sell their handmade goods but out of life commitments, I was unable to explore further.

Hence, after a long thought during a family trip, I have decided to put my foot down as soon as I return – it is NOW or NEVER!

Since I am keen to learn the ropes on how to become a Millionaire, what’s better than learning it first hand from people who have done it all before. Their successes and failures, for sure they are not far off and different than what we will have to go through - eventually.

So, if you want to learn from millionaires themselves, then you came to the right place. We can learn from them – together! I love the fact to learn that this is the FIRST of its kind in Asia and I would like to keep it this way.

My plan is that each week, I will bring to you a new millionaire to learn from, providing you with their best tactics and advice for growing your business.

My ultimate goal for people like us is to build a community that are self-reliable and is not controlled by jobs in order to enjoy life. I believe that jobs is not meant for everyone.

To join me, please leave your details HERE and I will keep you in my mailing list.

Tuesday, 13 August 2013

THE MILLIONAIRES JOURNEY


Sorry for the short hiatus.

I have been busy with compiling resources & ideas, doing research apart from my daily work routines as well as taking care of my daughter & household chores. Phew! Women are really something huh? We can juggle all in one day…and by the time it’s time for me to update the blog in the evening,  my energy has depleted and I am already yawning like I haven’t slept in 5 years!

And I wonder why I haven’t lost much weight.

Today, during breakfast, I saw a man working on something on his laptop. He looks so casual and contented. I caught a glimpse on his laptop on what looked like an assignment – and he’s doing it at the comfort of his time. At another corner, I saw a stylish young lady working on something on her laptop too, constantly checking her mobile, she was typing away while sipping coffee.

I like what I am seeing. People taking control of their time, no rush…enjoying it every minute doing things they love and even have enough time for their loved ones. Doing this every now and then, taking time to observe my surroundings gives me great inspiration.

Then it triggers me, I want to be just like them. But I can’t just leave my job while I have commitments to manage right? Since I am a curious person, I wonder how on earth did these people do it? Or specifically, what did they do to quit their jobs and start their businesses successfully? For sure each have their own journey that they can never forget. I know I wouldn’t!

So I decided to learn from those who have done it before.

Hence, I have decided to embark on this quest by interviewing 100 influential, successful people who have done it ALL. It didn’t matter where they are from, everyone has a story to share!

While posting this up, I am currently in the midst of shortlisting names (some are BIG names!) of those that I’d love to get in touch with and I am so excited! This will really keep me on my toes for the next few weeks.

My ultimate wish? I wished that they would support me in this mission – though I do not know them personally ;-)

And why wouldn’t they? Already achieved so much success in their lives, what a noble thing to do sharing tips with others so we can learn a thing or two. I’d say it’s a good karma!  

So stay tuned and watch out for this blog folks for more awesome goodness coming your way!
Related Posts Plugin for WordPress, Blogger...