First Financial Coach

Woody Allen had a great quote; “Eighty percent of success is showing up.”  And while this may be so, the other twenty percent involves diligent planning, flawless execution and introspective performance reviews to assess results and actualize learning.  Ironically, it is the starting point in the process, that is often overlooked by independent financial advisor firms… planning.  

We’ve all heard the myriad of excuses for why firms don’t embrace a formal marketing planning process, but let’s clear up one misconception out of the blocks.  A formal marketing planning process doesn’t have to take endless hours or result in a document consisting of reams of pages that go into a three ring binder and gather dust on a shelf.  Formalizing your firm’s marketing planning process involves asking the right questions to assist in establishing goals for the firm, that will then drive resource allocation decisions and ultimately the strategies and tactics that will be employed to achieve those goals.  The types of questions that we’re referring to are simple and straight forward, but yield much in the way of feedback to fuel the firm’s positioning and marketing strategy decisions; What business are we in?  What do we do?  How do we do it?  Who do we do it for?  In addition, the answers to these questions can yield tactical fruit as well.  For instance, converting the concise answers to the aforementioned questions into keywords that can be leveraged to drive the firm’s SEO and pay-per-click advertising tactics. 

From a goal setting perspective, the key areas to address involve the key areas of your business; client retention, gross revenue, lead generation and profitability.  As a rule, each of the goals should be time bound and measurable.  For example; “Our goal is to increase revenue from existing clients by 6.0% in the coming fiscal year from .0 million to .06 million.”  There are personal goals to be addressed as well that have an impact on the success of the firm; Do you want to work more or fewer hours this year versus last?  Are you planning to invest more or less time with clients and prospects in the coming year?  When considering the various marketing strategies available to the firm, it is best to evaluate them in the context of a particular objective.  For instance, if your firm is seeking to increase the number of new clients in the coming year, you will have to consider strategies that will positively impact the combination of converting existing prospects and increasing the number of potential leads. 

In terms of budgeting, your firm can use either a zero-based approach, whereby you establish your goals, select the strategies that will support those objectives and establish the budget required to implement those strategies.  The other approach involves setting marketing spend based on a fixed percentage of gross annual revenue or as a percentage of the prior year’s marketing spend.  Determining the appropriate spending level is dependent on a number of factors ranging from your firm’s growth posture, market position, market conditions and competitive activity.  According to the 2010 FA Insight Study of Advisory Firms: Growth by Design, FA firms spend on average between 1.5% and 3.5% of their gross annual revenue on practice marketing.  As a rule, newer firms, firms that are in the early stages of their growth trajectory and high growth firms spend at a higher percentage of gross annual revenue… makes sense.  Perhaps the most important finding from the study, “Stand Out” firms that embraced growth by design (i.e. planning) outperform their counterparts on virtually every key measure ranging from revenue growth to owner income per dollar of revenue to operating profit.

Successful planning for a good fiscal future is all about using your resources sensibly. If you can create money goal, you may have an improved chance of achieving them.

I can give you a piece of my experience with financial services. As a financial advisor, I employed a six-step process to help with finance planning. Occasionally, it’s all about knowing where you are so that you can end up where you wish to be financially.

The real trick lies in selecting goals that are reachable which will have a long-term positive effect on your finance health. That is clearly something that an expert can guide you with

In today’s world of complicated finances, there’s little wrong with asking for some help from a pro who has the experience and expertise to back up their advice. The right guidance can direct you through every step of the monetary planning process. The right planning can help you balance your present desires with your long term finance goals. If you’re expecting more from your fiscal advisers, you have to make it a point to choose someone who is a real expert.

Whether you are smart about your money planning or not, it doesn’t need to be tough or time-intensive. You can do it yourself, but if you feel that you are more likely to mess it up, it is highly advisable to take expert opinion or better to hire an expert advisor to help you through it. This will ensure that you get customized help with all of your money wants.

When it comes down to profit creation, there are plenty of areas you can focus on, for success. Here is a fast look at some of the places:

Savings Plans: Savings plans are used to set money apart for later use. There are a few reasons you might like to do save cash. Irrespective of the reason, you definitely wish to get the finest returns possible on your investments, even if you have cash in a savings account. The earlier you act, the more that you can earn with savings. Even an additional five years or a decade can have a serious effect on money generation. Setting money apart and slowly saving toward a goal is an excellent method to make huge purchases. A savings plan might also be utilised for the future education and welfare of kids. Even if you aren’t planning any giant purchases and do not have any youngsters, having money set apart can supply a tiny peace of mind. Additional money in an emergency is often a good thing.

Budgeting / debt consolidation: Thanks to the economy, many Australians have ended up in fiscal problems. Budgeting and debt consolidation should be used to pay off debt before it becomes any more beyond control. You can set-up a budget and also arrange a debt consolidation plan for you. If you really do look around (or well your financial advisor does), you’ll surely find something that works out better for you while permitting you to pay down your obligations. You’ll finish up paying less each month with debt consolidation.

Margin Lending: Margin lending pertains to incurring debts for investing reasons. Folks who enjoy fast accumulation of wealth find out how to effectively use all their resources to the best of their advantage. Margin lending is marginally different than making an investment in your house. When you borrow money to make an investment, the Australian Taxation Office permits you to deduct loan payments.

A financial expert can help you in an effective manner in doing all this… and more. There are also other profit creation issues like Property Trusts, Self Managed Super Funds ( SMSF ), Alternative Investments Managed Funds, Warrants, Direct Shares and so on which an advisor can advice you on in ample detail.

When working to obtain a fund certificate to start your financial advisor career, it is necessary that you are conscious of two helpful tools. To begin, understand the link between a fund’s turnover and tax efficiency. Additionally, you should be aware of a Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP). Improved knowledge will show that you are different and show that you take your profession seriously. Your clients will have more trust in your ability to handle their investments and you will far succeed others.

The financial press emphasizes the “connection” between a mutual fund’s turnover rate and its after-tax returns. The belief is that the higher the turnover, the less tax efficient the fund. The discussion never includes the fact that the sale of losing securities can offset realized gains, dollar for dollar.

The reality is that mutual funds can have quite a bit of selling activity that generates tax losses that may offset some, most, or all of the securities sold for a profit. On the other hand, a fund can have very high turnover and still be extremely tax efficient. Equally important, large gains may be due to securities in the portfolio that have enjoyed substantial appreciation but are still owned by the fund. Such paper profits are not taxed since no gain (or loss) has yet been realized.

To be successful in your financial advisor career, it is of top importance that you maintain a strong and trusted relationship with your clients. A Systematic Withdrawal Plan (SWP) is one of the most powerful tools that can be utilized by the advisor on behalf of the client. A SWP provides the investor with periodic income. The income is generated from the sale of mutual fund shares. In the case of equity funds, share liquidation after the first year of ownership is tax-advantaged (maximum 5-15% long-term capital gains rate). There is no cost in establishing, terminating, amending, or restarting a SWP. One of the benefits of a SWP is that it allows complete flexibility when it is being set up and on an ongoing basis. The investor is not locked into anything. At any time, the dollar amount can be increased or decreased.

There are a few things that the advisor should make sure the investor understands about SWPs. First, be aware that few investors actually experience market returns. Secondly, the effect of compounding over long periods of time often results in numbers that seem too good to be true (and are). Next, despite what most investors say, few are actually “long term” and still fewer will stay the course for 5-10 years or more. Additionally, whatever is projected, reality will most likely be quite different. Lastly, before Greenspan became Fed chairperson, he was a principal of a money management consulting firm that underperformed the S&P.

Although your fund certificate may allow you to work as an advisor, there are other tools necessary to ensure that your clients remain satisfied. Components such as turnover, tax efficiency and SWPs are all parts in improving your skill set. The more you learn and understand about the financial marketplace, the better you will be in succeeding and prospering in your career.

Although most people may be unaware of how to become a financial advisor, many people have an interest in the field. Choosing to embark on a career in financial advising requires you to be educated in numerous areas. You will be working with topics such as funds, annuities, estate planning and taxes. Funds are complex matters which involve different management styles (active or passive), as well as specifications and makeup. Through your chosen advising style, you will foster a relationship with your clients and guide them through their fund decisions. A financial advisor course will teach you all you need to know and leave you with a certification to embark on a new and exciting career path.

When a fund is about to close its doors to new investors there is frequently an onslaught of new money that pours in. The belief is that the fund is almost magical. The reality is something different. A mutual fund advisory service recently looked at close to 40 funds that closed during a past 15-year period. An individual funds’ performance was ranked for the three-year period before closing its doors and for the three-year period after new investors were barred. For every fund whose subsequent performance improved, three times as many funds experienced a decline in returns. Compared to the performance of their respective peer groups, the closed fund fell from the top quintile of returns to just below average.

Another problem that investors face when a fund closes its doors is increased tax inefficiency, which you will learn the specifics of in a financial advisor course. When a fund is using inflows of new cash, the need to redeem securities to pay for redemptions or to acquire other securities lessens the triggering of capital gains. One study shows that the average closed fund’s tax efficiency fell 5% after its closing date. One mutual fund family has publicly stated that the negative tax consequences of closing outweigh the pluses.

If your client is intent on chasing a fund that is about to close, there is another course of action. As an alternative, find out what other funds the manager oversees. This is a skill that comes along with determining how to become a financial advisor who is effective and knowledgeable. More likely than not, if there are other offerings, portfolio composition will be similar. There are a number of actively managed funds that have consistently outperformed their index benchmarks. And there is evidence indicating that so-called “sophisticated money” directs assets to such managers.

The great majority of academic studies are strong advocates of passive management (indexing). Their argument is based on three points: (1) market efficiency, (2) the expense drag of hiring costly analysts, managers, researchers, and traders, and (3) the “hidden” costs of trading—brokerage commissions, impact costs, and bid-ask spreads.

A number of studies show that indexing tends to be more effective in some investment styles than in others. Funds that focus on large cap U.S. stocks invest in the most closely watched stocks in the world. Funds that venture outside the large cap arena have many more stocks to choose from—there are more than seven hundred U.S., mid cap stocks and more than four thousand small caps to sort through (versus about 250 domestic large cap issues). More importantly, those stocks receive far less attention from the financial community. Therefore, it is more likely that a manager could ferret out an underappreciated gem in the mid or small cap area than in the large cap realm.

The following is the third article in a series of three on how to achieve success as a Financial Advisor.

The twenty-first secret is expect to receive and learn to receive and to say thank you.

Expect to receive by acknowledging that you asked for the result when you received it. Believe it! Many people invalidate what they asked for with the first thing that comes out of their mouths is, “I don’t believe it!” Believe it, you asked for it.

When you receive say, “thank you”. Period. That is it. Thank you. Nothing more. Many people compound their unmet need of worthiness by saying something like the following when they receive a compliment “Oh it was it nothing”. In fact, they just made it into nothing.

The twenty-second secret is to add feelings in your vision.

* I am so happy and grateful that we are providing thousands of clients with value through speaking and writing and I feel abundant, appreciation, energized, inspired, fulfilled, happy, joy, satisfaction and wonderful.

Positive feelings carry a positive frequency and like attracts like. Right brain positive feelings combine with your left brain positive beliefs and integrate with your values to synergize creating the irresistible force of attraction that turn your dream into reality.

The twenty-third secret is build up your feelings and frequency by creating ways to see, hear and feel the experience of the success that you want in advance.

Do something as simple as test drive a car or view a home or visit the travel agent.

My strategies included having the book cover created in advance by Kim Black and this is because the visual trigger will cause me to write. Click My New Book Cover to view.

As I write this I’m noticing that I am very much in the writing experience and my heart is filled with excitement as the next writing will be invested in my book. The vision is written. I’ve created the time over the holiday season, I have the environment and I have the material.

For me, another strategy is to attend speaking events of 1000 people or more … wait a minute … that may not be necessary as I just remembered that I have been on stage with Tony Robbins with 3000 people back in 1992 and I still have those vivid pictures in my mind … I will still attend speaking events to experience inspiration. Another strategy is to visualize and relive my experience of being on the Saturday morning news on BCTV News on Global Television. This time around I will be on many, many TV programs being interviewed about my book and that will include Harpo Productions and Harpo is Oprah spelled backwards. And why not! As Stewart Smalley would say from Saturday Night Live “I’m nice enough, I’m smart enough and not only that, people like me”. As you can see, writing can get you into feeling joy and humor!

* Simon Reilly on BCTV News on Global Television

The twenty-fourth secret is to be awake. You can increase your awareness by starting your day with giving thanks and continue to give thanks over the course of the day. Thomas O’Neill, of Thomas O’Neill Jr. & Associates, told me about a study from Harvard University where the participants increased their success by 70% by keeping a gratitude journal where they wrote down three things that they were grateful for just before they went to sleep at night.

The twenty-fifth secret to creating success in 2007 and beyond is looking after your body though exercise, vitamins and through proper food combining.

The twenty-sixth secret is wake up early. Seize the day! Make it so! Get on with your life and lead. Leadership takes time and it is best to lead your day and that means getting up early so that you run your day versus your day running you.

Here is an example: 5am wakeup prayer, meditation, give thanks, reflection 6am personal hygiene 7am plan your day if you did not plan your day the night before

The twenty-seventh secret is take action. When you are awake to your vision, inspiration and ideas come to you and it s important to take action on your ideas.

If someone crosses your mind, make that call. Write that idea down and think of three simple and immediate actions that you can take towards the fulfillment of that idea. Get it done. You were given the ideas for a reason and it is important that the ideas be honored so don’t second guess and don’t delay.

The twenty-eighth secret is to continue to be grateful for the little things. The big success is just around the corner so be patient.

This reminds me of when I was eight years old and I got a chemistry set for Christmas. One of the experiments involved growing beans. Sure enough, I planted those seeds and mixed ingredients for the fertilizer but I kept on digging them up to see if they were growing. That was my challenge back then and I wanted instant results and I had very little patience. While your seeds are growing give thanks and be grateful that you have a business and experience and prospects and you feel excited, happy and enthusiastic.

The twenty-ninth secret is set 60 day goals. 60 day goals will keep you focused on the short term and they will prevent you from getting hooked into paralysis writing the perfect plan.

The thirtieth secret to creating your success for 2007 and beyond is don’t make giving thanks a chore. If it feels like a chore stop and get some rest.

The thirty-first secret is to remember to acknowledge your business and personal team. Laura and I are so blessed to be I love and we are honored to have the opportunity to be of service to our clients providing them ways to meet and exceed their goals.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service.

With all the worrying news about the economy over the last few years, it’s understandable that people are concerned about the value of their investments and their ability to fund their future, especially their retirement. If this is you, perhaps you’ve thought about turning to financial advisors in London and the Home Counties to find answers to your questions?

There are numerous issues to be considered. How to invest my money to minimise risk and make a good return, how to make sure I’m adequately prepared for my old age, how can I make sure my children are well-provided for, am I adequately insured?

Investing your money in a way that’s both safe and offers an adequate return is vital for your continuing prosperity. However with interest rates at rock bottom, finding safe places to invest is now difficult. Likewise, insurance policies that properly cover us in all eventualities can be hard to identify. And worrying about having enough to enable us to retire comfortably is a concern for everyone. And this is where financial planning professionals, who are highly trained, can offer you effective financial advice.

One area in which a financial planner can offer vital advice is that of inheritance tax planning. Inheritance tax is paid on the assets of a UK domiciled individual who has passed away. Assets include everything from property to cars and cash. These assets can be anywhere in the world and the fact that the individual is not living in the UK doesn’t mean he’s not liable for UK tax.

There are ways to minimise the impact of inheritance tax, including insurance, wills or trusts and making a transfer to individuals, groups or organisations. However this should only be done through careful inheritance tax planning with the assistance of someone thoroughly familiar with the tax system and in conjunction with a lawyer. Essentially, estate planning needs to be done on a case by case basis as everyone’s situation is different.

The need for a tailor-made approach to your finances means you need to find a financial planner who will first analyse your situation and your future goals to produce a custom made solution to handle your financial needs. Only such as detailed analysis can produce the optimum investment advice, retirement and tax planning, and personal insurance advice that are the cornerstones of a sound financial planning system.

Ideally you want someone who will sit down with you and help clarify the big picture regarding your finances. This will include investments, pensions and life insurance with special consideration of your income and tax position. You can then discuss your objectives and attitude to risk which will allow your personal financial advisor to make recommendations about structuring your financial affairs in the most effective manner.

When it comes to looking for a financial advisor, London and the Home Counties has its fair share and the internet has made it easy to find and qualify them. Look at their web sites for qualifications and experience before making a choice. The first thing to check is that the firm is FSA authorised. Companies offering advice on financial products must be authorised by the Financial Services Authority (FSA). FSA authorisation guarantees a certain standard and adherence to certain rules regarding the type of service they offer and how they charge for it. The FSA’s website contains a list of all authorised companies or you can call their consumer hotline to check out a particular entity.

Another sign that a firm is reputable is that it employs advisors with chartered financial planner status awarded by the Chartered Insurance Institute (CII). Introduced in 2006, the title Chartered Financial Planner is awarded after the completion of a suite of qualifications designed to signal to the public that financial advisers and financial planners are ‘fit for purpose’. To qualify, applicants must hold the advanced diploma in financial planning, have five years’ relevant industry experience, adhere to the CII’s code of ethics and conduct, and demonstrate three years’ existing continuing professional development (CPD) and commit to maintaining this activity.

Economical advisors play a really essential function if you are arranging in your long term. They help you make the appropriate choices when preparing for your retirement or planning for quick phrase and medium expression savings. Additionally they assist you in choosing the right economical instruments that will yield beneficial returns. Regardless of whether you are preparation for a property or your children’s training or else you wish to make wealth, you cannot desire away a fiscal advisor. This is because specialist financial tips is very vital in arriving on the proper decisions.

Quite often folks are inclined to consider the suggestions of mates or family and conclusion up losing their difficult earned income. It’s essential for you to grasp that you simply are not able to grow your funds based mostly just on instinct or pleasant assistance. Specialist suggestions makes it possible for you to take a look at various possibilities out there in front of you.

This can assist you to assess the pluses and minuses of the particular monetary products just before making a choice. Frequently, it is the type of homework that you do along with the variety of fiscal assistance which you get that makes each of the distinction. Because of this it is important you employ a fiscal advisor that can assist you make the selections.

Deciding on a fiscal advisor like Langtons IFA will guarantee that you just get substantial good quality skilled guidance every stage in the way you take. Langtons IFA will allow you to chart your course about the path of monetary protection by ensuring you get the best form of tips which will enable you to make on your investments and cost savings. This tends to guarantee that you simply have enough dollars in periods of have to have.

There are some details you must consider when hiring a economical advisor to handle your funds. Try to find someone like Langtons IFA who can work to suit your needs. Don’t employ someone who is attempting to promote for you. A professional economic advisor is really a individual that has the most beneficial interests of his consumer in head and works to ensure the customer tends to make the best selections to expand his investments.

A different feature that differentiates a efficient fiscal advisor with some others would be the fee structure he provides. A vast bulk of economical advisors get a particular percentage as maintenance charges. Hunt for a fiscal advisor who costs a flat payment irrespective of the fund measurement.

Ultimately, seek out personal advisors who could make you are feeling secure. Stay away from pushy men and women as they’ve their very own interests at heart. Try to find a financial advisor that is accredited and adequately licensed and with each of the important qualifications as this may be certain appropriate management of your funds.

Learn more about Langtons ifa.

In the business world today anything relating to capital management, is an essential component for any company to be successful. Businesses are established to earn profits for their owners or share holders. The job of financial advisor helps with international finance and and financial planning. As the economy changes the role of the financial advisor will grow. In the article below we will inform you of the necessary requirements to be a financial advisor today.

How to: Become Financial Advisor

First, you must have received at least a bachelor’s degree, although it may vary by position and employer. This degree is best if it is in the fields of business administration, accounting, statistics, finance or something in the realm of business. Advanced degrees such as a master’s degree can also prove to be beneficial.

You Can: Get Rich Trading

Second, having numerical, analytical, computer and problem solving skills are essential. A good level of information regarding the field is necessary.

Third, as a financial advisor having good communication skills is absolutely necessary, as well as good interpersonal relationship skills. Because you will be dealing with clients on a daily basis.

Fourth, good selling skills is also necessary as you are technically selling your clients products. It may not seem that way to you but you are a salesperson.

Lastly, There are some certifications that are necessary to improve your standing as a financial advisor. Also if you will be dealing with stocks and bonds there may be some licensing involved. Once you learns the ins and outs you will be happy with your career choice.

There are a variety of financial advisor designations out there to choose from when deciding on a program or certificate that will enhance your business practice or simply grow your personal knowledge. One financial advisor designation that can be very useful is the designation of estate planning specialist. An estate planning specialist, (someone who is Board Certified in Estate PlanningTM) understands the basics of estate planning and is well-versed in real-world examples.

For example, an estate planning specialist should be familiar with different types of shares as well as current financial news that relates to mutual funds – A, B, and C shares are the most common types of shares. In general, A or C shares result in higher returns if less than 0,000 is invested. Class A shares are the favored choice if 0,000 or more is invested. In most instances, B shares are the second best choice if less than 0,000 is invested.

During 2006, the NASD imposed more than million of fines on brokerage firms for improperly selling B and C mutual fund shares. During the early part of 2007, the SEC acknowledged that one of its key arguments no longer exists; the agency had assumed A shares were always better than B shares. The NASD commission now believes that cost alone is not the only decision in making investment recommendations.

Most of the lawsuits against brokerage firms were based on one of three things: (1) failure to tell clients that A shares can be cheaper than B shares, (2) fraud, and/or (3) suitability. In a 2007 case dropped by the SEC, the agency acknowledged that even at the 0,000 breakpoint, B shares may not be more expensive for the client than A shares. One broker, now retired, spent 0,000 in legal fees and lost .6 million in deferred compensation in 2001 when his broker-dealer fired him over the sale of B shares. In late 2005, a NYSE arbitration panel ordered the firm to pay the terminated broker all deferred compensation plus legal fees.

Financial Advisor Designations: Reviewing Performance

As a financial advisor, including specialists in estate planning, one must be able to look at different investment options, review performance of the options, and make investment suggestions to help clients reach their goals. Over the last few years a number of different asset categories have performed quite well and investors do have a choice, depending upon their objectives, time horizon, tax bracket, level of risk and ability to make a lump-sum or periodic payments. Some investment vehicles that an investor may have to choose from are: (1) individual securities, (2) exchange-traded funds (ETFs), (3) exchange-traded notes (ETNs), (4) enhanced appreciation notes (EANs), (5) closed-end funds (CEFs), (6) real estate investment trusts (REITs), (7) unit investment trusts (UITs), (8) annuities and/or (9) open-end mutual funds.

Courses for financial advisor designations should provide insight into how multiple investment vehicles can be used to construct a unique and effective series of diversified portfolios. Financial advisors should help their clients understand the workings of mutual funds – once the clients understand how mutual funds work, it is doubtful they will want to use anything else for the bulk of their portfolio. Mutual funds are truly one of the best investment vehicles ever created. The types of assets open-end mutual funds invest in provide the flexibility, returns and risk level that clients are generally looking for.

The first secret to guarantee your success as a Financial Advisor is to review your entire calendar and look for and write down all of your successful accomplishments from the past year, no matter how big or small in all areas of your business and personal life.

Remember “successful accomplishments” and it is time to take charge of your mind to focus on the positive. Remember, you get what you focus on.

I recommend that you write down all of your successful accomplishments in the following format in your journal: I am so happy and grateful that we completed an upgrade to our web site last year and therefore I feel accomplished, happy, proud and wonderful.

Appreciation magnifies creation and you will draw good feelings and inspiration to create your vision when you celebrate the successful accomplishments. When you feel good you are inclined to create a future that makes you feel good.

Remember to focus on the positive and successful accomplishments and given that you are a Financial Advisor you already understand the concept of appreciation.

The second secret is purchase a journal. Michael Gerber wrote in the E-Myth, “if you see it, you will forget it, if you hear it, you will remember it and you feel it, you will understand it”. Writing will cause you to feel it as you write it because you are body is engaged in the process as well as just your mind and you will see it as you write it and hear it internally as you pay more attention to what you are writing.

The third secret is understand that “thoughts are real forces” to quote John Kehoe from Mind Power. Whatever you think about you make real, especially if the thoughts are fueled by positive or negative feelings. The concept of attraction will attract whatever you are focusing on, so be aware of what you are focusing on. You don’t have to understand the details of gravity or electricity to experience their benefits, nor do you have to understand how attraction works to experience the benefits. Just know that attraction works. One concept of attraction is certain, attraction doesn’t care if your thoughts are positive or negative or conscious or unconscious. We do not attract by default and we do have control over what we attract.

The forth secret is your current state of affairs is not who you are and if you didn’t have a banner year, this too shall pass.

Remember to review your entire calendar and look for and write down all of your successful accomplishments from last year, no matter how big or small, in all areas of your business and personal life. Remember “successful accomplishments” and it is time to take charge of your mind to focus on the positive. Remember, you get what you focus on.

Write down all of your successful accomplishments in the following format in your journal: I am so happy and grateful that we completed an upgrade to our web site in 2006 and therefore I feel accomplished, happy, proud and wonderful. This will put you in the state of mind to expect a solution and this will help to contribute to change your current reality and lay the foundation to guarantee your success in 2007 and beyond.

The fifth secret to guarantee your success is to master your thoughts and feelings by understanding your values are the source of positive beliefs and positive feelings.

Values, positive beliefs, and positive feelings are the gateway to attracting everything that you want. Values, positive beliefs and positive feelings are one hundred times more powerful than unmet needs which are the source of limiting beliefs and limiting emotions. Yet it is said that values are like turtles and if left undiscovered, values like turtles will only come when it is safe and unresolved unmet needs will dominate your values.

One example of how the unmet need of safety will generate a limiting belief is that you don’t have enough time and the limiting emotion of anxiety which will sabotage the fifth secret.

My values are: Attraction, Currency/Energy, Encouragement, Partnering/People, Professionalism/Quality/Service, Sense/Wisdom, Teaching, Understanding/Empathy, Venture

The sixth secret is schedule 4 – 8 hours away from your office and home to create your vision for the coming year and beyond.

The seventh secret is to find a place where you can be anonymous.

I have created time with myself doing this exercise sitting on a log beside the ocean, rain or shine. One time I sat on a couple of those big black plastic garbage bags so that my seat didn’t get wet and I had one of those huge golf umbrellas and it worked amazingly well … and this was at a time when I didn’t have the money to afford a creative environment away from my home or office. Just think, a “create your vision picnic in nature in the rain”. Another time I found myself sitting in a revolving restaurant 45 floors above the city for the entire afternoon creating my vision. You could even go to the library.

The point is to schedule 4 – 8 hours and use your imagination and find a place where you can be anonymous. You must create the environment.

As I write this part of the article I am sitting in a well lit room in a beautifully decorated space with 12 foot high floor to ceiling windows with a fireplace with beautiful background music and as I’m appreciating this space a ray of sunlight just flooded the room.

The eighth secret is to remember this process is about creating a vision versus setting goals. Goal setting comes later. If you have heard me present, “Removing Your Roadblocks To Your Success”, you will have heard me state that vision is far more important than goals.

I’m suggesting that this process right now is about vision versus goals and I am finding that the notion of goal setting is a hard habit to break.

The ninth secret is “be” versus “do”. Most people in business are hard wired to “do” versus “be”. They are hard wired to get a result and this hard wiring overrides the time that it takes to attract and create a vision that will last a life time. Part of the challenge is if you are a baby boomer you are caught up in getting “the next big thing”. To quote Billy Connolly; “I what some of that, I want all of that and I want it right f**cking now”!

I too have this hardwiring of to “do” instilled in me and while I am expressing this I’m also experiencing the joy of writing this article to be able to share it with you and increase my awareness at the same time. 2007 and beyond are going to be incredible.

The tenth secret is guarantee your success in 2007 and beyond is to stay in a right brain dream state of mind when you are creating your vision. If we go into goal setting to early, before the vision is clear, then things become too left brain and too linear. You just can’t imagine (right brain) and think it through (left brain) at the same time. Using the left brain is like using a PC compared to a right brain Mac or using Microsoft Word which is very left brain and linear compared to Mindgenius which is very right brain and creative. What is worse is that if you try to bring in left brain concepts too early while continuing to use creative right brain you will get a:

VIRUS: Vision Is Ruled Out Using Systems Of Left & Right Brain At The Same Time