Success and Freedom

7 Powerful Habits of a Self-Made Millionaire - Part 2

  by Daniel Ally

4. Be congruent.

You must do what you say you're going to do. There will be many times in your life where you'll be asked to sacrifice your personal values to reach professional goals. Don’t do it. There's nothing more valuable than remaining congruent in your personal and professional lives—it allows you to mix "business with pleasure."

Many people will tell you that you can't mix business with pleasure, but they’re wrong. When you're doing what you love, business is pleasure. When you're living a life that is based on integrity, your reputation will grow, enriching yourself and many others in the process. Never put your reputation in jeopardy by failing to remain congruent with your highest values and ideals. 

5. Make decisions.

The more decisions you make, the more successful you will be. While one person could make a dozen decisions in a day, another one can make hundreds. The person who makes the most decisions will win, even if their decisions lead to failure. Just imagine, if you were going the opposite way on a one-way street, you'd learn to quickly make adjustments!

But most people are afraid to make crucial decisions because they are conquered by fears, which leaves them paralyzed. Being paralyzed prevents them from making decisions, forcing them to forfeit opportunities. Always make a decision, even if you don't know where it will lead. Soon enough, you'll find the answers you need. 

6. Ask questions.

Most people assume that they know answers. Their assumptions actually hold them back from knowing the truth. You should want to ask questions to gain clarity about the direction you are heading, but the fact is that many people don't ask any questions—they habitually guess their way. Why? Many people don't want to ask questions because it exposes them to confront the reality of their circumstance, which may scare them, or asking questions forces them into the laborious task of thinking, which is why they fail to do it. 

To become a millionaire, don't answer your questions, but question your answers. When you need to know the facts, you must inquire—don’t just make assumptions.

“Judge a man by his questions rather than his answers.” —Voltaire

7. Become a master.

One time, a fine pianist performed at a party. After she was done, a woman from the party said to the virtuoso, "I'd give anything to play as you do." As the master pianist sipped her coffee in slow motion, she took a brief pause and said, "Oh no you wouldn't." Soon, a great hush filled the room as they were baffled in astonishment and massive confusion.

She continued, "You'd give anything to play as I do, except time. You wouldn't sit and practice, hour after hour, day after day, year after years." Then she flashed a warm smile while repositioning her coffee cup. "Please understand, I'm not criticizing," she said. "I'm just telling you that when you say you'd give anything to play as I do, you don't really mean it. You really don't mean it at all."

“Every master was once a disaster.” —T. Harv Eker

Good habits are as addictive as bad habits. Once you've adopted a good habit, keep gaining new ones. An average person develops up to 10 new habits a year, which also means that they are dropping that many old habits. Regardless, think about your daily habits and how they affect you.

And remember, you make your habits in the beginning—then your habits make you!