John Assaraf : Reinventing the Entrepreneur

Hi friends,

If you are in business and have an interest in learning from one of the most brilliant minds in the world today I suggest you review the two links below. One is about Marshall Thurber, the other is about the program he is conducting.

Marshall is a dear friend of mine and someone I was in a mastermind group with him a few years back. He is an absolute genius and thinks very differently than most people. It’s brilliant to observe. The list of people he has helped is miles long and you will see some of them when you click the links.

Take a moment to learn more about Marshall Thurber and check out what he’s doing.

Do you ever feel like you have so many things to do and so little time to get them done? Do you ever feel like life is happening to you and sometimes the high quality of your life or day just isn’t there?

In our fast-paced life we want to be wonderful parents, lovers, business people, friends and contributors to others. In addition, we want to have lots of energy, money and to live a healthy life that is fun, fulfilling and rewarding. It’s no wonder that overwhelm seems to be a common side effect.

I say that feeling overwhelmed is an “effect” because any feeling we have must be produced by something prior to the feeling. Your thoughts, reactions and actions produce your feelings. So what is the solution for eliminating your overwhelm and feeling less than highly productive?

In my own quest to manage all of my daily, weekly and monthly responsibilities and personal desires and to live an abundant and fulfilling life, I created a values-based decision and action process for myself that many other people have found useful. I hope you do also.

First and foremost it does not need to be complicated. Simplicity is the way of nature and nature does what she does with maximum efficiency, on time, every time.

So, with that said, let me ask you a question. Of all the things you value in your life… what do you value the most? Is it your health? You connection with God? Making money? Your children?  Your family? Doing charitable things? Compassion? Peace? Serenity?

We developed and acquired most of our values from our parents and teachers during our very early years of imprinting and through our modeling and mirroring stages between the ages of 14-21. Some of what our parents/teachers valued and deemed important to them may not be what we value most or what will serve our lives best.

When you start your day off with what you value most, your sense of doing and living with your highest purpose and for your highest values will make you feel great every day.

We all get caught up in all the stuff there is to do and get overwhelmed when we don’t get it all done and our day has just slipped by again. By doing THE highest and most important stuff first, every day, the little things that don’t get done seem trivial. In addition, by prioritizing what is really important and MUST get done vs. all the stuff that needs to get done, you begin to shift your mentality to one of high impact and high value.

There are two steps to this process and they both require a bit of thinking and planning.

Take 15 minutes and write down all the things you value in your life. When you are done, rate them from 1-10 or more. Next is ask yourself this question:

What must I do today to act upon my highest value?

For example, if health is on your list as one of the top things you value, what can you do every day (including today) to make sure that you take care of that value? You then schedule that somewhere in your day and you make sure you do it. If it’s being connected to God, what can you do every day, including today, to take care of that value?

When you take care of the highest values and most important things first, your life has more meaning and you feel fulfilled.

In addition, when you have lists upon lists of things to do, you cannot give the same value to all the stuff on the list. You must prioritize the ones that will have the highest impact on whatever outcome you want to achieve. Not all your activities are worth or are valued the same. Learn to say “no,” and learn to prioritize your to-do list and do only your highest-impact or income-producing activities first.

This process may take you 10 minutes a day, and it will save you hours every day when you apply it. Here is a Daily-To-Do document I use to plan my day.

Feel free to use the Daily To-Do, and please pass it on to friends (The “Share This” link at the lower left allows you to e-mail this to friends, and to Digg it, which is another great way to pass it on. You can also Digg it from the link in the upper right corner.)

You can use the Daily To-Do for both your personal life and your business. Filling this out daily will keep you focused and help you achieve more than ever before.

All my best,

John

Hi Friends,

Many of you commented on my being away so I decided to write a little about my family trip with my wife Maria and sons Keenan and Noah. I’ve also included some photos to share with you.

In my desire to see the whole world and teach my children about its beautiful people, cultures and history, we decided to go to Greece to explore the Parthenon and to see where the first Olympics were held in Athens. I can share with you that they cleaned up the city a lot in the last 10 years and our visit there was awesome. In one of the pictures on the hotel rooftop in Athens you’ll see the Acropolis in the background. It’s pretty amazing that this was the first real city in Europe where it all started 3000 years ago.

We then went on to Santorini, one of the most beautiful and romantic places in the world (and I have been to MANY). Santorini was created by a massive volcanic eruption and then they built the city on top of the lava rocks 1000 feet above sea level. The Aegean Sea is spectacular and we had two awesome suites with views that will take your breath away. My kids who are 10 and 12 had their own suite and had a ball with their independence. I am not so sure the people in the room next to them appreciated the fact that kids had so much fun. I did. I highly recommend that you make Santorini one of your “must see” places in your lifetime and, if you go with kids, make sure they have their own room so you can enjoy the romantic moments watching the most glorious sunsets while a gentle breeze caresses your face.

From there we flew to Israel where I was born and where my father lives. It was great to see all my aunts and uncles and to introduce my kids and wife to them. I haven’t been back there for 12 years so it was really fun catching up and eating way too much. I came back feeling somewhat bigger than when I left.

Although there is still a lot of tension in the Middle East, our side trips to the Dead Sea (the lowest place on the earth) and the Wailing Wall in Jerusalem were highlights for all of us. The Dead Sea is so full of salt that you actually float in it like sitting in a chair. It’s wild! You can scoop up handfuls of sea salt from the bottom and actually taste the salt, which is extremely strong.

In Jerusalem, we went to the Wailing Wall and the old city. It was like going back 5000 years. The vendors were selling and haggling with buyers and I taught my sons the art of negotiating when they wanted to buy small bracelets for themselves. Even though it was just a few shekels, the art of negotiating was in full force. I got the vendor to my price, but I gave him the money he wanted anyway just for allowing me to teach my sons. The extra dollar I paid was more than worth the lesson they learned. The fact that his son was also watching him and learning made it even more fun.

King Solomon built the original city and the West Wall of the Temple Mount is said to be what was left of his original temple after its destruction. (see photos)

All in all it was a great few weeks and I am sparing you the 162 pictures we took.

One of the reasons I want to teach as many people in the world how to Have It All is so that they can create life-long memories for themselves and the ones they treasure.

All my best,

John

Hi friends,

So many people look at their financial status as an indicator of their net worth and I frankly don’t agree with this logic.

We are so caught up in our society by seeing how much each of us has financially but the true picture can’t be that shallow or empty. How can we allow green paper with ink on it to define our “net worth”?

Let me walk you through what I see as the real measure of your true “Net Worth.”

Our lives are multi faceted and thank god we are all created with a multitude of talents, abilities and varying interests. What if we started to look at our true net worth by looking at life as it is, and not just through the jaded eyes of finances.

Since we all basically are playing six games simultaneously, lets measure each section and give each one a point factor that determines the “net worth” of each section. The areas to consider are. Spiritual, Relationships, Contribution, Financial, Health and Career.

So for example…

We all have relationships with friends, family, co-workers, maybe kids, etc. So ask yourself on a scale of one to 10, what point value do you give your relationship with…

Your kids, your spouse, your best friends, your colleagues, etc.

Give each one a point value and then I move on to another section.

What you’ll find as I have, is that you may be at a 10 in contribution but a 6 financially. Relationships and spirituality may be at a 9 and health may be slightly lagging behind.

In either case, I’ll bet you that when you look at the whole picture rather than just a small part like money, you’ll see that your “Real Net Worth” is much greater than you gave yourself credit for.

We all go through the ups and downs of life and I find it easier to go through them when I refer to an area that is peaking versus and area that is not doing as well. It’s the ebb and flow of life and nobody is impervious to it.

Start to look at yourself and your life on many fronts and you’ll always be able to find an area that you are content with or can quickly improve.

Learn to change what you can and let go of what you can’t.

I wish you a great day and remember to smile; you just might make someone else smile as well.

And, pass this blog to friends and colleagues.

John

I am still on vacation but I wanted to check in and let you know that the informational call for the Having It All Challenge was a great success, with more than 1,650 people registered. If you weren’t able to make the call, you can find a recording of it here, where we’ve posted more information about the program.

I’m looking forward to it — we’re going to activate the Law of Attraction in a big way. Not only are we going to harness the full power of the subconscious mind to address whatever challenges our program participants have; we are going to multiply that energy exponentially, by assembling a group of like-minded individuals who are focused on attracting what they really want in life.

I’ve led this kind of group before, and I can tell you that it is a powerful way to manifest positive change in your life. It’s going to be a blast!

I am writing this blog entry 1,000 feet above sea level, from my rooftop balcony overlooking the Aegean sea in Santorini, Greece.

To say it is spectacular is a gross understatement. This natural beauty was created by a massive volcanic eruption and the sapphire blue waters below are a testament to God’s creation. I am here with my wonderful wife and two boys who are all in awe. I promised myself that when my kids were old enough to grasp some of our planet’s natural beauty, I would take them on special trips to explore the world with me. It’s something that my parents couldn’t afford to do because they lacked the understanding of how to earn the income needed to take such trips. I feel blessed that my mentors taught me that despite not having a college degree and feeling that I wasn’t smart enough, I too could learn how to have an amazing life. It’s now something I am committed to teaching others how to have.

If you are ready to take your life to the next level and beyond and want me to show you exactly how you can have it also, join me on Tuesday night where I’ll discuss my new program, the Having it All Challenge. I’m going to select a few people with strong commitments to success, and we’ll meet online, on the phone, and ultimately in person, for regular, real-time personal interaction and support in achieving true wealth. I’m really excited about the Having It All Challenge, and I’m eager to gauge your interest and share more details. I’ve set up a conference call for Tuesday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. (PDT) to discuss the program in more detail.

Join me on the call to learn more!

I wish you the very best of life,

John

Let’s try a quick thought experiment: What’s the first thing that pops into your head when I toss out the word “wealth?”

A big pile of money? That’s definitely part of what we mean by wealth. But to me, true wealth is a total package of fulfillment and happiness. It includes:

• Complete financial security
• Loving relationships with your significant other, friends and family
• Robust health, so that you can do what you want to do
• A spiritual connection to the universe

This is the total package of wealth… and it’s totally achievable. I’ve helped many people get there through my products and presentations, and I’m really excited about a new way to do this.  It’s a program I’ve developed called the Having It All Challenge, and here’s how it’s going to work:

I am going to choose a select number of individuals who really want to manifest true wealth in their lives… and I am going to personally mentor them in a group setting.

My time is limited, so the Having It All Challenge is very exclusive program.  We will meet online, on the phone, and ultimately in person, for the regular, real-time personal interaction that makes this format so much more powerful than any book, film, CD, or one-time seminar.

I’m really excited about this program, and I’m eager to gauge your interest and share more details. I’ve set up a conference call for Tuesday, Aug. 14 at 5 p.m. (PDT) to discuss the program in more detail.

Register for the call now so that you can learn more about the Having It All Challenge. This is going to be an incredible opportunity for you to leverage all of my experience, and all the passion and energy of your peers in the Having It All community to create true wealth— financial, physical, emotional, and spiritual—in your life, right now!

This post is going to be slightly longer than usual but I think you will enjoy it!

For over 20 years I have been fascinated with what it really takes to make a lot of money. I realized a long time ago that if someone else could do something or achieve something… then I could at least copy what they did, and get a similar… or better result.

In my younger years, making money was on top of my list so I became a very good student. But what I have discovered in my search is that it’s not just the people with the college degrees or the most potential who make the most money.

For example, you and I both could probably name some people who we think are smarter than we are, yet who don’t make as much money as we do. And we also could probably name some people who we think aren’t as smart as we are, but who make more money.

I was VERY fortunate that I had the desire to earn a lot of money…just as I hope you do. The reason I say that is because money is not hard to make if you understand how. But more than having just desire, I found a few mentors who really knew what making money was really all about; they were making millions, so I wanted to make millions.

As a matter of fact, I decided at the age of 22… that I was going to be a millionaire! I had no idea how…. but I was going to listen to the mentors and then do what they did.

Let me share with you a few simple things I learned that I think will help you on your quest for earning significantly more money. And since the “Street Kid” part of me wants it simple and fast, everything I do is about getting results now, not in 6 months. So everything you learn from me, you will be able to apply immediately.

So let’s begin.

NO “SMARTS” REQUIRED

First and foremost…earning a lot of money is not reserved for smart people. It’s reserved for people who do the right things - spiritually, mentally and physically, that attract money.

One of the first things you must understand is that the internal belief you have about what you think you can earn, is not your true potential, but a conditioned ‘belief’ based on your past results and old mental conditioning.

And as a reminder from previous reports… your internal image and conditioning controls what you focus on, attract and see. If you are conditioned to make $35k a year, all you see are opportunities and jobs in line with that image and focus. If you are conditioned to earn $200k a year, then all you are focused on is things that are in line with that financial level.

There is an exact science to earning money that most people have never been taught. I’ll give you an example of a couple of the easy rules you must understand for earning money. Without understanding and applying these simple rules, you are working harder than you need to be.

I’ve been able to help many people significantly increase their financial intake and lifestyle by simply understanding and following the information that follows, so here you go…

(Now remember, individually these rules may seem simple. But when you look at the 3 together…you’ll understand the potential effect they have on how much you can earn.)

Rule One: Define the overall market potential for the product, service or talent you have.

This is pretty easy: Do a lot of people need what you do or have…or is it just a few? The more potential there is for what you have or do, the more total money there is for you to attract. For example:

If you are a doctor, a salesperson, a secretary or a baker…there is a clear need in our society for what you do. The same holds true for professional athletes or musicians. There are some professions and products that have less need than others, therefore less earning potential.

Rule Two: I get paid in direct proportion to how replaceable I am… or how replaceable my product or service is.

In other words - how good are you? This is where earning money starts to get a little competitive. If you are easy to replace because the entry to what you do is easy, then you have to be very, very good to do well in that field. Otherwise you will have to share the potential intake between lots of people. The harder the entry, the higher the potential intake is because there are fewer people to share it with.

The same is true if you have a product or service that is easy to duplicate. Rarity increases value:

- Think of surgeon vs. a general doctor.
- Think of a rare original painting vs. a print.
- Think of an excellent salesperson vs. an ‘OK’ one.
- Think of how much Michael Jordan earns vs. a rookie…
- Think of any service you currently use that is so-so vs. another one that is excellent.

Who do you prefer to do business with? These 3 question areas should get you thinking about some of the basic stuff like…

1. How good is your product or service? If you aren’t the best, or close…. then why not?

2. What reasons are you ‘internally’ telling yourself for not being better? What is this costing you in financial intake and your life style?

3. Plain and simple - is your product, service or talent easily replaceable?

Rule Three: I get paid in direct proportion to how many people I can get to use and pay me for products, services or my talent.

Think about this for a moment: Compared to other people in your line of work, how good are you at getting people to know what you do and what you have to offer (your products and services lines)? And how good are you at getting them to use your products or services?

If you are honest with yourself about the answers, I think you’ll agree that in one or more of the areas there is room for improvement.

I’d like you to imagine what it would be like to double or triple your intake or revenues right now, what would you buy, where would you go, what would you have that you don’t right now?

I ask you these questions because I was asked them when I was 21. I liked the answers I came up with, so I decided to really go for it and learn and do what was needed.

If you don’t keep growing and learning, you’ve made an internal agreement with yourself that you are fine with how much money you are earning right now and with what you’ve got right now.

Until next time…

Create a great day!

When he was just 14 years old, Malawian inventor William Kamkwamba built his family an electricity-generating windmill from spare parts, working from rough plans he found in a library book. In conversation with TED Curator Chris Anderson, Kamkwamba, now 19, tells a moving story of ingenuity and adaptation, and shares his dreams for the future. This talk inspired outpourings of support from the TED community and in the blogosphere. See the video story at http://www.ted.com/talks/view/id/153