Lebron The Quitter

Please take a moment to admire the great LeBron for the special talent he is. It never gets old looking at the King's history. So many accomplishments Kobe Bryant and Michael Jordan will never achieve:

1. Bronze 2006
2. Bronze 2004
3. NBA finals sweep 2007
4. Go entire Finals scoring 20 pts only one time
5. Quit on his team the year after he promises a championship
6. Dunked on by a highschool kid and then confiscate tape
7. Bail on the dunk contest 9 times
8. Only able to win a ring with 2 superstars
9. 7th best player in NBA finals series.
10. Average 1.8 pts in the 4th quarter of NBA finals.
11. Lose not 1, not 2, but 3 times in the Finals.
12. Host a national televised TV show to leave his team
13. Play on the same team as his moms boyfriend
14. Go 2 for 18 in an NBA playoff game.
15. Get stuffed by a player under 6 feet (Nate Robinson)
16. Flop every single game in the playoffs
17. Choke 4 out of 5 finals games by dropping FG% by 18
18. Vow revenge for 2007 sweep, then proceed to choke again

For He Shall Not Be Disappointed.

When was the last time you gave any serious thought to your priorities, and where you expend your energy? Can you say with certainty that you are completely focused on ‘abundance’ and not on ‘lack’?

I don’t think people are born with an abundance mentality or a lack mentality. I think for many of us our priorities are the result of subtle, subconscious ‘programming’ that determines our approach to just about everything in life. Instead of being programmed for success, most people are programmed to avoid failure.

This programming controls how you react to hundreds of situations, each and every day. And the way you react reveals what your programming really is.There are many different warning signs all around us that we are suffering from lack programming or a poverty mentality, but none of these red flags will be of any use until we open our eyes and start looking for them.Like posted traffic signs and speed limits, these warning signs are there for our benefit, helping us raise awareness of our programming. Three of the most common warning signs I see are the following:

Warning sign #1: Constant Money Fixation What do you think about money? When you do think about it, are you concerned about how much of it you lack, or how much you can manifest? Have you ever thought about why you want to manifest money in the first place?

Most poor people spend all their time thinking about money (or more specifically, their lack of it). 

Warning sign #2: "I Hate Rich People!" Being jealous of all the things other people had That’s when the real problems start, because as much as you hate rich people, you  are working hard every day trying to become one! That sets the stage for a whole bunch of internal conflict. 

Warning sign #3: Fear-Based Decision-Making Making decisions based on fear of loss or failure never leads toward prosperity.In fact, fear-based decision-making can rob you of any sense of happiness or joy of success, and distort your behavior.

Have you ever seen someone experience more anguish at losing $10 than earning $100? Ever seen someone drive around a parking lot for 10 minutes to avoid a one-minute walk to the store?

These scenarios are fear-based, not prosperity driven. The decisions are not made on what the possible benefits are, but made in order to avoid a possible negative outcome.

How do you know what kind of programming you have? If you really want to know if you have prosperity programming or a poverty mentality, look for your answer in the previous scenarios. Do they sound familiar?

If you make decisions--particularly money and career ones--based on the "moving away from fear" model, you’ve got poverty programming. If your decisions are made based on a positive "move toward prosperity" model, then you have success programming.

The more you experience success and prosperity, the more you’ll start to realize how little they have to do with opportunity, chance, luck--or even training, education, or skill. It has everything to do with consciousness, beliefs, and even subconscious programming that you aren’t aware of.

You see, poverty is not an absence of money and things -- it is a mindset.

Prosperity is not an abundance of money and things--it’s also a mindset.

25 Signs You Have Grown Up ... ... Old!

1. Your houseplants are alive, and you can’t smoke any of them.

2. Having sex in a twin bed is out of the question.

3. You keep more food than beer in the fridge.

4. 6:00 a.m is when you get up, not when you go to bed.

5. You hear your favorite song in an elevator.

6. You watch the Weather Channel.

7. Your friends marry and divorce instead of hook up and breakup.

8. You go from 130 days of vacation time to 14.

9. Jeans and a sweater no longer qualify as dressed up.

10. You’re the one calling the police because those %&@# kids next door won’t turn down the stereo.

11. Older relatives feel comfortable telling sex jokes around you.

12. You don’t know what time Wendy’s closes anymore.

13. Your car insurance goes down and your car payments go up.

14. You feed your dog Science Diets… Instead of McDonald’s leftovers.

15. Sleeping on the couch makes your back hurt.

16. You take naps.

17. Dinner and a movie is the whole date instead of the beginning of one.

18. Eating a basket of chicken wings at three in the morning would severely upset, rather than settle, your stomach.

19. You go to the drug store for ibuprofen and antacid, not condoms and pregnancy tests.

20. A four dollar bottle of wine is no longer pretty good shit.

21. You actually eat breakfast food at breakfast time.

22. “I just can’t drink the way I used to” replaces “I’m never going to drink that much again”

23. Ninety percent of the time you spend in front of a computer is for real work.

24. You drink at home to save money before going to a bar.

25. When you find out your friend is pregnant you congratulate them instead of asking , ”Oh shit what the hell happened??”

Bonus:

26: You read this entire list looking desperately for one sign that it doesn’t apply to you and can’t find one to save your sorry old ass.

Eish! A New African Language

Bad - you sleep on it in the badroom Beds -,eagles, doves, sea-gulls etc Beg - container, as in shopping beg, hend-beg, tog-beg Ben - to set alight Chealdren - our future is in their hands Chetz - where worshippers go on Sundays Cuds - you can play poker or rummy with them Cut - a small donkey-drawn vehicle Debben - city in KwaZulu Natal Deekshunry - where you find weds Detty - opposite of clean Driva - holds the steering wheel of a teksi Duck - very duck at night when the lights are all off Ebben - you get ebben erriors and rural erriors Effrican - from the continent of Africa Erriors - districts, e.g. ebben erriors Ewways - eg. SAA, Comair, Lufthansa etc Fems - companies, e.g., Anglo-American Fest - the one before second and third Fok - used with nifes Fok ass - focus Fum - you can fum with ship or kettle Fumma - he owns the fum and grows bins Guddin - where you grow kebbijees and rep Geave - you MUST geave, I WILL take Get - a hinged device in a fence, may be used instead of door Hair - as opposed to heem/hairs (gender) Heppi - state of elatement, e.g. I'm so heppi - I just voted Hiss - masculine form of hairs Hubba - where sheeps dock amd boats sell Jems - little bugs that give you the flu Kah - what you drive around in Kebbijees - vegetable Keptown - some think parliament doesn't belong there Kettegry - in a system of classification Kipper - one who kips, as in goal kipper Kleenix - where nesses wek Kot - where the judges sit and you pay fines Len - to acquire knowledge Leeda - as in Arwa Leeda, Obama the president Lungwich - weds that are spokkin Nesses - they wek in kleenix and hospitals Pee pull - powa to da pee pull Peppa - one way to get the news Pesson - one of pee pull Pees - symbolised by white dove Pees-Tox - between IRA and Tony Blair Reeva - e.g. Limpopo, Vaal, Mississippi Ree kwest - replaced by dee mands Sheep - big boat Shex - houses in squatter camps Ship - provider of wool Shuck-attak - if the shuck-net is brokkin Shuck-nets - at Debben, for safety of sweemas Spitch - what politicians make at a relly Sweemas - compete in a sweeming pul Teksi - kah for hire - sometimes parrot teksi Thest - ice cold Coke will relieve it on a hot day Tipic ally - characteristically Tox - negotiations Ummy - military force Wee men - ladies We pon - a gun Wean-dow - with glus for throwing bricks through Weaner - the one with the most votes Weds - what the dictionary is made up of Wekkas - do the wek Weld - the whole eth Wems - small crawly creatures

American Pimp .... A Hughes Brothers Production

I've always had a guilty curiosity about the life of a pimp. Of course, we have those "pimp stereotypes" in films like "The Mack" and "Willie Dynamite." But do we really, really know ALL about this lucrative, though immoral, profession? Thanks to the Hughes Brothers, now we do.

First of all, this well-made documentary doesn't glorify the life of street pimps. I'm sure a lot of you out there (especially women) will take one look at a film like this, and say to yourself, "Why the hell do I want to watch a movie about greedy, heartless, misogynistic 'mack daddies' who make a living at degrading women for their own financial pleasure?" The Hughes Brothers don't try to take sides. In fact, the film opens with a montage of opinions (mostly negative) from everyday people about these pimps. Whether you condone the industry or condemn it, that's not the issue.

Allen and Albert Hughes do a wonderful job at intercutting the views and "days in the lives" of real pimps with clips from seventies blaxploitation flicks and topping it off with a vivid soundtrack filled with classic soul music. The film starts out by showing the more luxurious, darkly comic side of pimping. It's interesting to learn what real pimps really have to say. Of course, their vocabularies practically consist of three words: "ni**a," "motherf**ker" and "b**ch." But hey, that's how they talk. Am I going to blame the Hughes Brothers for writing an excessively profane script? They didn't write a script! This is how these pimps really talk!

As the film goes on, we learn the more serious side of pimping. We learn the pimping REALLY ain't easy. But at the same time, they're not completely heartless. When one of their "hos" die or get sucked into drug addiction, they can't go on with their lives like nothing happened. And it's interesting to see how different pimps took different paths. Some decided to quit the business and concentrate on raising their families, some ended up in the penitentiary and some (believe it or not) found religion. But some still feel that pimping is the way to go, and though it's immoral, they don't necessarily think it's wrong. We even get a brief introduction into the lives of "legal pimps." You know, those clean-cut white guys with the fancy whorehouses with quality hookers who will do anything they please for a large sum of money.

Expect to see gratuitous close-ups of female rear ends. At times, you feel as if you're watching a 2 Live Crew video. This is another film that I can consider a feminist's nightmare. Nevertheless, it's wonderfully done, eye-catching, compelling, funny and sometimes heartfelt. The Hughes meant to explore the subject without patronizing it. And I found it quite fascinating. If there happened to be a filmmaker who explored the world of pimping before these guys, then let me know. Until then, I give Allen and Albert two thumbs up for taking on daring subject matter involving an underworld of people often overlooked--or broadly portrayed--by the average filmmaker.

Be Wary Of Fal$e Prophets!

Remember this chick? Ms Cleo, the tarot card, crystal ball, 1-800 fortune telling, tele-scammer?

How many of you minkeys n monkeys actually called this number? ….. Yeah Right!?!

Truth be told we all knew she was a scam and so did she. But you know what, a hell of a lot of people “believed” in her n $he cashed in…. She knew and we knew but she damned conventional thought and wisdom! She marketed a lie in the form of hope and people believed. I know there are others like me who at one point thought about calling her at 3.28am on a Sunday, not because I was wasted, but just to see .....

My question to you is this. Are you telling the lies or are you listening?

Try Living Below Your Means

Remember the old saying that "A Penny Saved is A Penny Earned" made famous by the master of frugal, Ben Franklin? Over the years, there has been much written about how you should forget about watching the pennies and focus on building your business, increasing your means and all that other nonsense. Okay, maybe it’s not nonsense, but for the 95% of people who are LAZY and are NOT going to build a business, invest in investment real estate properties or strike it rich with the next Microsoft, I offer a simpler solution – one that’s been around for decades. Try Living Below Your Means.

Andrew Tobias in his book "The Only Investment Guide You Will Ever Need" wrote about living below your means and saving money. The title of his chapter was "A Penny Saved Is Two Pennies Earned" seems contrary to what Franklin was talking about, but it’s really not. What Tobias was getting at was that if you save a penny or dollar and don’t spend it, it’s like earning two pennies or dollars. How? Simple.

While the book has some good insights into investing (it was written 25 years ago and some things have changed), the subject of saving money is one of the best I’ve seen because of it’s clarity and ability to get straight to the point. His lesson about 50% money is really critical to changing your mindset. You heard me right, 50% money, which is what he writes about.

Tobias shows you in a couple of paragraphs how the last few dollars you earn are worth only 50 cents after you pay federal, state, local, social security and Medicare taxes. So if you make $10 bucks an hour, you’re only taking home $5 at the end of the week. It’s just that you can’t see the 50% tax because when you look at your paycheck and the amount you paid in taxes, you’ll see what percent you paid on average.


“Yeah, but I’ve tried living below my means, but……”
No buts about it! Take a look at some of the following and see if you can’t cut that budget of yours!

Tips for Living Below Your Means

- Don't drink alcohol, don't smoke. You’ll save a ton of money, live longer and feel better. (You, not me!)
- Learn to cook. It’s cheaper to eat at home and save your left overs for cold cuts and sandwiches.
- Dine out less often.
- Bring your lunch to work. Say no to sodas and other junk food and vending machines. If you need your junk food fix, bring it with you.
- Pay your highest interest rate cards first to save money on interest charges.
- If you carry a balance on your cards, pay your bill as soon as it arrives. You’ll pay less in interest.
- Pay off your credit cards in full every month. (May take a while till you are ready for this!)
- Save for your vacations in advance. Don’t pay with a credit card and carry a balance.
- Kill Your TV. Well, not really, just turn it off and invest in yourself by reading books, listening to tapes or calling on investment properties.
- Borrow books from the Library.
- Carpool to work if you can.
- Don’t order wine with your dinner. Drink water! You gotta drive home right?

- Skip dessert and coffee when dining out, eat it at home.
- Eat "OUT" at friends’ houses instead of going out to a restaurant. It’s worth the extra effort.
- Don’t lease, buy your USED car.
- Use coupons and shop on double or triple coupon days. Most people don’t use coupons, only 1.5%
- Try figuring out the cost per ounce. Usually the smaller the bottle, the more you’re paying per ounce. That’s why warehouse clubs have great deals – bigger sizes
- Buy store brands. If you don’t like the store brand’s taste/quality, switch back, but at least give it a try.
- Find the place around you that has the cheapest gas.
- If you’re not using your membership at the local gym, quit.
- Return your videos on time. Late fees are killers.
- Say NO to the ATM. Take out cash in advance and put it in a drawer at home.
- Take out money when you need it. If that’s too much work, then ONLY use your bank’s ATM, save the fees. Same rule for using ATMs at the grocery store.
- Shop for groceries on a full stomach, you’ll buy less. Try shopping sober…
- Cancel subscriptions.
- Buy your clothes out of season. J. Paul Getty was quoted as saying he bought his straw hats in the winter and he had MILLIONS of dollars and yet was concerned with saving a few pennies. Think end of season.
- Movies? Go to matinees or go to the library and take them out for free! If you go to the movies, bring your own snacks. Do you really need to spend $3.00 for a dollar bag of Skittles?

VALUE YOUR MONEY

- Pay Yourself First – Set Up an Automatic withdrawal from your account/paycheck every time you get paid. Aim to save 10% of your net pay. - Before you spend every dollar, ask yourself if the purchase is a good use of your money. After all, you worked hard for that money. You might as well get a good return (fun is a return as well) from it.
- On purchases over $100, wait two weeks before buying. IF you still want the item, purchase it.
- Establish a debt-repayment plan to get you out of debt. Pay off High Interest debt first, then when a balance is paid off, attack the next highest interest loan/balance. The Richest Man in Babylon suggested allocating 20% of your pay toward debt repayment. Why make the credit card company or banker rich, why not make yourself rich instead? Interest you’re paying is working AGAINST YOU. The whole Idea is to have money work FOR you, not the other way around.
- Create a Cash Can – Put all your loose change in it at the end of every day. Never pay with ‘coins’ always pay with dollars. Deposit the change in your account each month
- Create a Mad Money Fund – Sure all this stuff sounds fine and dandy, but it seems like you’d be cutting out EVERYTHING and living in a shack. Fine, create what I call a Mad Money Fund. Set aside a couple of bucks a week into a separate bank account or another Cash Can and this money is yours…to SPEND…on whatever you want!!!!! Seriously.

Okay, I’m almost done. Essentially what I’m saying is that there are 1,001 different ways to save more money in your budget every month. Only YOU can DECIDE where you’re going to cut back. I suggest that you make those choices that will not leave you feeling deprived as in, "I’m not enjoying this thing called life anymore because I’m trying to free up some cash to invest." Life is about making choices. You can choose to have instant gratification, but that often burdens you under a mountain of debt. Live too frugally and you’ll never make it because your psyche will revolt.

For the skeptics, critics or the just plain uneducated, before you flame me with responses, check out The Millionaire Next Door and once you’ve read it, you’ll realize that the majority of millionaires in this country LIVE BELOW THEIR MEANS.

Just learn to manage and control your spending habits. Make those tough choices. Pay yourself first, set aside 20% or more for debt repayment, give something back in the form of money, time or service to charity and prosper. It’s a simple path, but not an easy one to follow. I suggest you:

Concentrate first on learning to live below your means
Take control of your cash flow by managing your expenses
Increase your knowledge by reading up on ways to increase your means
Decide how you’re going to "GET RICH"
Create your plan of action
Take action…duh!
By the time you’re ready to put your "GET RICH" plan in motion, you should have some extra money every month thanks to managing your expenses that can be put toward building your empire.

So what are you waiting for? As Rich Dad Said - Mind Your Own Business and TAKE ACTION!!!!

Be Prosperous!