How to Thrive During Economic Uncertainty

By Alex Goumakos / Source: MindStudio.net

If you’ve been following the news over the last couple of weeks, you’ll know that there’s been quite a stir happening on Wall Street.

We’ve heard about collapses, bailouts and the possibility of more to come.

On September 30 the Dow Jones Industrial Average fell nearly 778 points, the largest single point drop in history.

Thankfully, a few days later, it had the 3rd HIGHEST point gain on record.

No question, the financial markets are definitely unstable.

Whether the situation quickly improves or gets worse before it gets better, remains to be seen.

BUT MAKE NO MISTAKE…

The road to abundance and prosperity starts in your own mind.

Many people believe that a new government will help them to succeed.

Many feel that lower food and gas prices will make things better.

Still others blame the economy, taxes, the war in Iraq and countless other factors which are beyond the control of most people.

While all of these issues do have an impact on our collective abundance and prosperity, they are all inconsequential compared to the most important factor of all…

Your focus…

Energy flows to where attention goes.

What you focus on has the greatest impact on your abundance and prosperity.

Now more than ever, it’s important to realize that YOU and YOU ALONE hold the keys to your financial success.

In the grand scheme of things, it doesn’t really matter what happens on Wall Street or any place else.

The only thing that matters is what happens inside of YOU…

“All personal achievement starts within the mind of the individual.”
~ W. Clement Stone

The fact is, you can still make money and enjoy a wonderful lifestyle regardless of what’s happening in the economy.

All it takes is focus, simple knowledge, and realizing how powerful you really are.

Sadly, many people relinquish their personal power by inadvertently giving it to other people, institutions and the government.

Personal power is also dissipated when we listen to the news, especially economic news, most of which has been terrible lately.

Now, I’m not saying to ignore economic and financial news. That would be irresponsible.

But what I am saying is to not let it sour your entire outlook on what is and isn’t possible financially.

“99.99% of what happens is not on the news.” ~ Loesje

For many people, bad economic news is a self-fulfilling prophesy.

It gives them an excuse to complain and be negative instead of being positive and focusing on opportunities to succeed.

Please keep the following in mind…

Aside from the cold, hard statistical facts, most of the financial pundits you hear on the TV and radio are discussing opinion, not gospel.

And opinion doesn’t turn into prophesy unless you let it.

The reality is, opportunities are endless and everywhere.

“We are all faced with a series of great opportunities brilliantly disguised as impossible situations.” ~ Charles R. Swindoll

The fact is, you are ONE IDEA away from your greatest opportunity, regardless of the economic climate.

You are one idea away from solving any one of your problems, whether it’s personal, financial or anything else.

One idea. That’s all it takes.

“Ideas are the beginning points of all fortunes.” ~ Napoleon Hill

Circumstances may “appear” tougher during uncertain economic times, but in reality, opportunities to succeed are still all over the place. They just may not be in the same place you originally thought.

The Law of Cycles and Why Money is Still Really Everywhere

There is a natural, rhythmic order of things.

Everything you can see, hear or touch, everything you can sense is subject to the natural law of cycles.

If you observe closely, you’ll notice that many events tend to recur in cycles at regular intervals; the four seasons, the rise and fall of the tides, optimum agricultural plantings, animal populations, and yes — even economic activity.

If you carefully observe your own life, you’ll probably notice that you too experience natural rhythms of moods, circumstances and energy levels.

In a recent article, The Secret to Money is Having Some, I discussed the fact that the flow of money is governed by physical and natural laws.

The fact is, the entire universe is subject to the law of cycles and money is no exception.

But since money is merely a shadow of the value we place in goods and services, there’s really no change in its flow.

Instead, there’s only a natural shift in the opportunities required to create it.

“Resources are unlimited because our minds are unlimited.”
~ Paul Zane Pilzer

In other words, if you want a constant flow of money in your life, you need to focus on two things:

1) You must properly structure your financial life so no matter which phase of a cycle you’re in, money continues to flow, and…

2) You need to be aware of and act on any new opportunities presented to you.

Despite the bad news about the economy, some people are still making a lot of money.

There’s no reason why you can’t be one of them.

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Tips for Thriving During Economic Uncertainty
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#1 - Start Your Own Business

I’ve been urging and showing people how to start their own businesses for a very long time.

If one of your goals in life is to achieve material wealth and financial independence, one of the quickest and surest ways to achieve those results is through owning a business of your own. Period.

Owning a thriving and profitable business beats investing in the stock market, speculating in real estate and other money-making ventures.

Believe it or not, but a recession can actually be a wonderful time to start a new business venture.

Having been a business adviser for nearly 25 years, I can tell you that some great businesses were started during a recession.

The owners simply addressed a need during an economic downturn which continued to be successful even when the economy rebounded.

“Starting a business in a recession is like vacationing in the off-season. It’s a little less crowded, and everything starts going on sale.” ~ an entrepreneur

During a recession, entrepreneurs have to be resourceful with their money in order to succeed.

A recession forces you to be smarter with your cash than you might be otherwise.

It teaches patience and money wisdom; two qualities needed to make a fortune.

If you already have a business, make it better by engaging in strategic thinking.

Strategic thinking, or planning your business’s future, often takes a back-seat during boom times because business owners are too busy working in their business instead of on it.

By taking advantage of downtime to think strategically, you can spot new opportunities you didn’t think you had.

This includes tapping new markets, launching new products, streamlining operations and countless other growth-oriented maneuvers.

#2 - Pay Close Attention to What You Think and Say

During tough times, it’s easy to get into the habit of thinking negative thoughts and making negative comments, especially when the mass media makes it easy for you to do so.

Constantly thinking and talking about the bad stuff will only serve to bring you — and anyone around you — down.

Before you know it, you’ll end up in one of those self-fulfilling prophecies we talked about earlier.

Stay informed, but don’t keep repeating what you hear on the news. Remember, energy flows to where attention goes.

Monitor your thoughts and speech (including self-talk) at all costs.

“Watch your thoughts, for they become words.
Watch your words, for they become actions.
Watch your actions, for they become habits.
Watch your habits, for they become character.
Watch your character, for it becomes your destiny.” ~ Frank Outlaw

By focusing on the positive, you’ll also do wonders for your creative thinking.

Creative thinking allows you to come up with solutions to your problems.

It also allows you to see new opportunities.

One of the biggest downsides to being in a negative frame of mind is that it blinds you to opportunities.

#3 - Take a Sharp Axe to Expenses

Not too many people like to talk about this, but if you want to thrive during uncertain economic times, it may be the perfect time to take a serious look at every single one of your personal expenditures.

Actually, this is good practice at ANY time, regardless of how much or how little money you have.

“Do not confuse needs with wants. All are burdened with more desires than they can gratify.” ~ George S. Clason

Despite what many prosperity teachers claim, reducing your expenses does not send out the wrong message to the universe that you don’t have enough money, and therefore you’ll just get more of the same.

On the contrary; I believe it tells the universe that you are smart enough to handle more money.

Simple truth: the better you are at managing money, the more of it you end up having.

#4 - Count Your Blessings Not Your Problems

If you really take stock of all the things you do have in your life, I bet you will be amazed.

Too often people focus on what’s missing in their lives and as a result, they ignore the riches they do have; like a great family, a loving spouse, wonderful children, fantastic pets, loyal friends, and the freedom to be or do whatever they want.

Every so often someone will write to me and tell me how desperate things are for them. Since I’ve been there myself at one time, I can surely sympathize.

But I always point out the same thing…

How bad can it really be?

I mean, how bad can it really be if you are still alive and reaching out to others?

Many people around the world haven’t had a bite to eat in days….

How bad can it really be if you are sitting at a computer and writing emails?

Some people around the world don’t even have electricity or running water.

Ask yourself: how bad is it really?

Focusing on your blessings will cause you to feel grateful.

“Reflect upon your present blessings of which every man has many - not on your past misfortunes, of which all men have some.”
~ Charles Dickens

And when you feel grateful, you create a shift in your thinking from the negative to the positive.

Being positive opens the doorway to your mind. Only when its open, can opportunity can jump in.

Your Financial Destiny is in Your Own Hands

Remember, the road to abundance and prosperity begins in your own mind.

Money is unlimited because your mind is unlimited.

Stay focused on opportunity and learn to take full control over your personal finances.

Because at the end of the day, it’s not the bankers or politicians who are ultimately responsible for your financial situation, it’s you and you alone.

ALSO BY ALEX GOUMAKOS: Don't Listen to "Them"