Financial Fitness – Offense
Posted by Orrin Woodward on April 1, 2016
The civilized world is the midst of a debt deluge; nonetheless, pessimism is not the answer. After all, although no one can control what governments or businesses do, everyone can stop being seduced into debt slavery. This alone would return 33% of the average person’s income back into his control and why defense is such an important part of financial literacy. Defense, simply stated, is spending less than one makes compounded over time. The difference between what one makes and what one spends is then applied to the current debt until all debts are eliminated. Amazing how simple it all sounds and also amazing how difficult it is to stop being seduced into slavery by the latest shiny object.
Interestingly, however, most financial literacy programs cover little, if anything, of the playing field and focus mainly on the defensive steps. While defense is good, no one can win a sports championship without offense also. Strangely, however, most programs are silent on the crucial aspect of the financial game. Hence, the typical financial education directs a person’s focus to his current reality. Naturally, this keeps his head down in the details and dirt of his current financial mess. The problem with financial mindset alone is it gets a person thinking so logically about scrimping today that he forgets to dream about a better tomorrow. In contrast, a proper financial plan should lead a person to look down into the details to develop today’s belt-tightening plan to be set into motion. Then, however, one must look up so he can get up. After all, the goal is not for a person to surrender all his dreams in order to live debt free. Rather the goal is for him to live below his means so he can begin investing, as Warren Buffett said, in his number one resource, namely, his personal development.
Indeed, developing personal and professional skills is essential for offense. Why this is not emphasized in a person’s financial plan is beyond me. Especially when one considers there are only two methods to increase the amount remaining between what one makes and one spends: either make more or spend less. As a result, both the make more (offense) and spend less (defense) are vital. To make more money, however, a person must dream for a better future and then invest in more skills. Did the reader catch the crucial distinction? The financial plan defense teaches to spend less while the offense teaches to invest more to develop marketable skills. Interestingly, the skills most highly prized are not the hard technical skills, but rather the soft people skills. For many gain the technical skills but lack the people skills to convey their ideas and work as part of a healthy team. Above all else, improved people skills is the fastest way to increase one’s income. For instance, Dale Carnegie once wrote, “…15 percent of one’s financial success is due to one’s technical knowledge and about 85 percent is due to skill in human engineering—to personality and the ability to lead people.”
Perhaps a person may believe that Carnegie’s quote, written back in 1936, is no longer valid in today’s highly technical age. However, if anything, people skills are more valued today than ever. For instance, even the technology giant, Google, realized that technical skills alone did not make for a good manager. According to Google Vice President Laszlo Bock, “In the Google context, we’d always believed that to be a manager, particularly on the engineering side, you needed to be as deep or deeper a technical expert than the people who work for you. It turns out that that’s absolutely the least important thing. It’s important, but pales in comparison. Much more important is just making that connection and being accessible.” This is the where the Financial Fitness Program shines above all others. For not only does it teach all the principles of defense, but also provides the best offense skills available through LIFE Leadership’s personal development library of products. The founders of LIFE have heard thousands of testimonies from people who have raised their incomes through increased commissions, job promotions, or improved effectiveness.
Be that as it may, this is still just the tip of the offense iceberg. The real secret of offense is to develop a burning desire. In contrast to getting buried in defensive details for the next 20 years, the Financial Fitness Program teaches a person how to dream and achieve. Perhaps there has never been a time in history where Napoleon Hill’s advice (he studied over 300 multi-millionaires before writing his classic Think and Grow Rich) is more needed than today: “There is one quality which one must possess to win, and that is definiteness of purpose, the knowledge of what one wants, and a burning desire to possess it.” Indeed, a burning desire turns fantasies into dreams and dreams into goals that are achievable. Unfortunately, most people live their lives as wandering generalities rather than one with specific intention. After all, success can be boiled down to three thoughts: 1) What do you want? 2) What’s it cost? 3) Pay it. The burning desire, needless to say, is what helps a person answer these three critical questions to help them live a life of purpose in an age of purposelessness. A burning desire turns a someday fantasy into a dream with a deadline through the power of goal setting set today. Success, like they said of Rome, isn’t built in a day, but it is built day by day.
Sincerely,
15 Responses to “Financial Fitness – Offense”
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Lloyd weiler said
I love the simplicity of your writing and while it is not easy every day takes us farther down a path laid out so well by the life community!!
Rick satterstrom said
Love it ! Now I need to start applying this knowledge. I’ve read it before but must not have that burning desire- I didn’t do much with it. Need to find or work on a passion for my life.
Rob Brown said
Great article Orrin! Thank you!
Brandon J Perry said
My favorite life lines are the ones where regular people are getting raises and promotions at work because they applied what our material teaches.
MORGAN BROOKS said
You have mentioned Think and Grow Rich Alot recently, this will be my next read.
Elaine Mallios said
We have been reading the new version of Think and Grow Rich and really studying it. Also got the CD version for Charlie to enhance his reading skills. What an amazing book! So many principles that are pertinent to today’s industries and success stories. It is very valuable reading. It’s all in how we think! Including what is holding us back! It discusses new ways of doing things in business, what works and what doesn’t. The author’s unabashed transparency in how he changed his life is truly amazing! Thanks for the great article.
Ken Hendon said
You nailed it again!
SJB said
Right on the mark. Check.
Aannnddd… The sequel, ‘Outwitting the Devil’ is just as powerful; I’d say even better!
Renee Oettinger said
The explanation of the playing field and the financial matrix has been life changing in decision making for so many who have used the Financial Fitness Program. Thank you Orrin for all the time into studying and research so millions will reap the benefits.
Bob Rasmussen said
Someday CAN be a real day today!! Today we did a dreambuilding exercise with a group working through the FFP together and the room became electric!!! The results were tons of families will get or are getting their SOMEDAY in the calendar!!! Awesome Program!!!!
Danny Kellenberger said
Orrin,
Love the secret is the burning desire! Such an important message but seldom taught message. Glad I learned it through Life Leadership!
Danny K
Carpe Diem
#lovelifeleadership
Steve Duba said
Thanks Orrin. The analogies between sports and financial literacy are amazing. When I coached football twenty years ago I never realized it was going to help me today explain the financial matrix. When playing basketball, understanding the playing field is critical when shooting a three point shot. All of these are simply and amazingly important to success. The Cd that I have been through now at least a dozen times is Life 211,money, media, and military. Thank you for all you do.
Joel said
Hi Orrin,
Thank you for all you do. Every time I respond to your blog it seems as though I always thank you. LOL. But really. A big Thank You.
In addition to all the life-changing information I’ve learned from Life the past 2 years since becoming a member of this magnificent organization, I’ve also developed the hunger to continue to learn on my own from other sources as well.
Orrin – It is incumbent upon each and every single American to GET OUT OF DEBT ASAP.
Two years ago when I first joined Life, when I heard Chris Brady in the ‘Camel in the Tent’ and ‘As Good as Gold’ CDs in the Financial Fitness Pack, I decided to go deeper when he made some thought-provoking statements.
I studied more on the topic.
We are in the middle of the proverbial ‘eye of the storm’. And that eye is quickly moving away from us. And this is not good because we all know what comes after.
Let’s take the following into account:
a) There are talks of becoming a ‘cashless’ society. Can you say mark of the beast? There are countries in Europe that are on their way. In fact, the bankers are already talking about eliminating 500 Euros. Even here in the US, there are talks of eliminating the 100 dollar bill.
b) NIRP – Negative Interest Rate Policy. Japan. The Citizens there are hoarding cash. It does not make any sense to keep money in the bank if banks will only (legally) steal the depositors’ monies.
c) Bail out versus bail in. Many Americans don’t realize that if we ever go NIRP, banks can seize our money. Can you say ‘bank holiday?’
d) All wars are bankers’ wars. Currency wars -> Trade wars -> World wars. History proves this.
…..i) Currency war. Check. Many nations (China and Russia) have been dumping US treasuries.
…..ii) Trade war. Check. The US imposed a 256% tariff on Chinese steels a few months ago, for example.
…..iii) World Wars. Semi-check. Look at the build up of military forces in the Middle East and South China Seas.
The bottom line is that the government and central banks are doing what they can to keep the petrodollar alive.
I don’t want to sound negative, Orrin. But it’s important that we continue to help people wake up. I am a Brother in Christ, just like you and many Life members. God comes first and foremost. So I’m not worried about anything. But we still have to prepare.
Thank you and God Bless.
Cindy Yoder said
Orrin is so on point here! In the transformative age that we are living, Carnegie’s words are truer than ever. All of the tech giants Apple, Facebook,Google, Amazon, etc have mastered the 85% the ability to lead people. If someone is so entrenched in the financial matrix of working a majority of their waking hours to pay off debt, that person has little chance of being able to invest in developing themselves. The financial fitness program is such a great tool to break free of debt so anyone can create that opportunity!!! Thanks Orrin!!!!
Jammie Fisher said
Burning Desire!!!
Cannot wait to be in Wyoming and a second home on the island.
Cannot!!
Thanks