What George Can Teach Us About Gratitude

Most people would love to have the bank accounts of today's A-list celebrities. Earning millions of dollars while doing work you love sure has appeal. But before you let jealousy set in or criticize others for having money, answer this: "Why aren't more 'average' people able to emulate the success of celebrities?" No, it has nothing to do with acting talent or singing ability (you can earn millions doing virtually anything). The real reason why most people aren't earning what they want is because they don't have the correct money mindset -- the mindset that many celebrities seem to have mastered.

Contrary to what you might think, at the core of this money mindset is the concept of giving. And if you think about it, this giving concept makes perfect sense. After all, when a natural disaster hits or when an organization is in need, we often hear stories of celebrities coming forward and donating money, doing performances for charity, or giving of themselves in some way. And it's no coincidence that the celebrities we hear doing the most are also the ones earning the most. These celebrities prove that the more you give, the more you get. You can easily follow their lead.

For example, Richard Branson is doing what he loves. As a child, he wanted to be a mogul. Today he is and he loves it. In my work as a life coach, I find that he is the exception to the rule. He decided up front to make his work fun and he committed to giving back. As he says, "With extreme wealth comes extreme responsibility. And the responsibility for me is to invest in creating new businesses, create jobs, employ people, and to put money aside to tackle issues where we can make a difference." For over 40 years, Branson has been creating new business ventures and has stayed on top.

George Clooney is another example of a "mogul" who knows how to give back and have fun. He has one of the most charitable hearts in Hollywood, and, alongside his current mission to stop the human rights atrocities in the Darfur region of Sudan, Clooney has been known to give generous donations to homeless people, is a supporter of Bono's poverty-fighting ONE Campaign, and is also on the Board of Trustees for the United Way.

So take a lesson from these celebrities, because when you understand the importance of giving back, it will literally change your financial life. But does this mean you have to give away every cent you earn to attract more money into your life? Of course not. It simply means you need to start looking at money and why you want it in new ways.

Know What You Want and Why

Can you imagine yourself a millionaire? Of course you can. There are millions of millionaires. In order to build your fortune, you must have desire. But desire alone is not good enough. You also have to know what outcome you want to have, why you are doing whatever it is you are doing, and why you want the money. Once you can answer those questions, you can get started on wealth creation.

To that end, I want to share with you a simple, five-part goal mindset, which will help you get clear on what you truly want (even financially) and why you want it. Whether your goal is to become a millionaire, open a business, or just become a better person, this is how you turn your dream into an actionable goal.

Complete each of the following sentences:
•I want...
•I want it because...
•The outcome will be...
•My action steps are...
•My gratitude for the journey and what I'm GIVING to the world...
While these statements may seem simple, your answers will profoundly affect your results. For example, I don't think anyone ever imagined that one day we would be spending most of our time on the computer, talking with people we've never met, answering emails from all over the world, and posting pictures of events and family on a web page for the world to see and comment upon -- but one person did and now he's worth billions. He had an idea and turned it into his passion. He knew what he wanted his outcome to be and why he wanted it. I don't think even Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of Facebook, knew how big a dream he was creating, but the universe did. When you have a big dream that is coming from a good place and you take action each day, the universe will conspire to help you.
But in order for the money to come, you must tame your impostors -- those false sides of you that cause you to sabotage your efforts and repeat negative behavior patterns. When most people come up with their "next big idea," their impostors start immediately building a case against them. Suddenly, your thoughts turn into a negative campaign that you are fighting against. Unfortunately, most people can't take the negativity, and so they quit. The ones who do the internal work reap the rewards.

By curbing the negative talk diatribe by your scared Impostor, you will soon be aware of increased creativity and productivity on a daily basis. Understand, this won't be easy. Breaking a pattern is hard. But stay on it, and your bank account will grow. It goes back to the old saying, "Change your thoughts, and you change your life."

Right now, I want you to write down your top ten strongest negative statements your impostors are screaming in your head about money, and then I want you to write your authentic soul's reply. For example:

When your Imposter says... Your Authentic Soul replies...
I can't. I can.
I'm too old. I am the perfect age.
I fear that... I am fearless.
It's too risky. If I can dream it, I can do it.
I don't have the time. I have all the time I need.
It's too challenging to... It's a great opportunity to...
I'm sure someone else is doing it already. I have my unique angle.
I'm too fat. I'm a perfect weight & getting thinner each day.
I don't have the energy to... I am filled with an abundance of energy.
I'm not smart enough. I am smart and resourceful.

You Are Worthy of Wealth

It's hard to talk about money without mentioning Donald Trump. Mr. Trump is a good example of someone who not only has a millionaire mindset, but a billionaire mindset. He has lost and made millions of dollars in business. Defeat is not an option for him. He has set a standard for himself and he works hard to stay focused on his goals.

When you want to manifest money, it's important to know that the money and opportunities are right in front of your face. In order to see them, you have to believe you are worthy of wealth.

Are you worthy? Answer these questions:

1. What do you think money can give you?
2. Why are you not worthy of it?
3. Now write why you ARE worthy of it.

When you adopt the money mindset many celebrities have--namely living by the concepts of giving to others, knowing what you want and why, and believing you are worthy--you can attract wealth into your life. Remember that celebrities are regular people just like you. And if they can earn millions, you can too.