Do you make excuses or money? If you make excuses, here is my top ten list of the most absurd excuses for being broke and my sure-fire way to deal with each.
10. I don’t want to be like Donald Trump.
A lady real estate investor once told me that she didn’t like Donald Trump. In fact, she told me that didn’t want to make money in real estate if she had to be like Donald Trump.
I said, “What makes you think that you have to be like Donald Trump? Do you really think that every successful real estate investor is like Donald Trump? Is it possible that you could find at least one successful investor that is nothing like Donald Trump?”
“Besides,” I added, “You’d look silly with a comb-over.”
9. I’d have to pay more taxes.
Please! Hire a tax advisor or pay the tax! The IRS can’t take everything. By law, they have to leave you with you with a few coins and your underwear. So on the next warm day, go outside and party!
8. My relatives will ask for money.
Refer them to me. For a modest fee, I’ll tell them “No!” for you. It’s one of the many services I provide.
7. If I make a lot of money, I wonder if people will still like me.
If you make a lot of money, I wonder if you should care and why you should care.
However, if this is an issue for you, here’s how to play safe. Make just a little less than those whose approval you crave. You will stay in their good graces and they will feel good about comparing themselves to you.
Then get a T-shirt that says “Making mediocrities feel good about themselves. One of the many services I provide.”
6. Money will change me.
The more money you have, the more opportunities you have to be yourself. If you are snob without money, you will be a snob on hormones with money.
Whether you are a good egg or a rotten egg, money empowers you do either in style. However, the money itself is neutral. It doesn’t turn you into something that you weren’t already. It makes a good egg even better and a rotten egg stink like sewer gas from a very expensive sewer.
5. It’s not spiritual to be rich.
As a former minister, I can speak to this. However, let’s just say that if you present a sizeable check to your house of worship, someone will say something like “Bless you my child! Keep those cards and letters coming in!” and cash the check.
Enough said?
4. I’ll feel guilty. So many others have so little.
Your hand-to-mouth existence does absolutely nothing to alleviate the hand-to-mouth existence of others. Make money and give a bunch of it to charity.
Otherwise, you are merely “doing your part” to insure that the less fortunate stay that way.
Otherwise, get a bumper sticker that says “Take someone living from hand-to-mouth to lunch. Start with me.”
3. I don’t want to be disappointed if I fail.
I have news! You’ve already failed. And you’ve succeeded at failing without disappointment.
So carry this clever self-deception to its ultimate conclusion. Continue to tip-toe through life until you arrive safely at death.
2. Money doesn’t buy happiness.
This is true. However, it does buy most everything else.
In fact, nothing takes the place of money. Nothing else does what money is designed to do. It has a unique role in life. Besides, I’ve never noticed a “happiness store.” Every store I’ve ever seen sells products or services.
Money and happiness are two different and essentially unrelated issues. You will just have to find happiness on your own regardless of your financial statement.
1. I’d just blow it all anyway!
You can look at this in one of two ways.
You can make money and hire a therapist, accountant, or financial adviser to help you deal with money more effectively. Or you can make money, enjoy blowing it, and do it guiltlessly!
Either master money or master blowing it!
Do you see yourself in any of the above?
If so, you’ve got lots of company. We’ve all made these excuses or ones like them from time to time.
Remember that we either make excuses or money. However, we never make both.
Tony Papajohn coaches excellence and specializes in money. If you are a real estate investor, financial trader, entrepreneur, or want money to treat you like its new best friend, check out Tony’s free e-courses at http://www.WelcomeMoreMoney.com .
