Simpleology Blog

Women often get a bad rap when it comes to money. In sitcoms, for instance, most of us are portrayed as shopping addicts who'll think nothing of maxing out our husbands' credit cards or scatterbrained spoiled brats who'll blow $400 on a pair of shoes but will forget to pay the rent.

To help erase these stereotypes, here are three books written by women for women who want to bring home the bacon (as opposed to just "cooking" or "eating" it):

Prince Charming Isn't Coming: How Women Get Smart About Money by Barbara Stanny In her delightfully empowering book, Stanny asserts that women don't need to wait around for a man in order to have financial security. Instead, she's all for genuine financial freedom. She asserts: "'Mr. Right' or 'Prince Charming' need not be a man, or even a person. Our 'prince' could be an ideal job, an insurance settlement, the lottery jackpot, or just an amorphous 'something'--anything that we fantasize will save us financially. To become genuinely smart with money, we must get to the point where we can say with total conviction, 'I can do it myself!'"

Rich Woman: A Book on Investing for Women by Kim Kiyosaki
Kiyosaki hits a home run for women with this book, as she shares tips on how they can take the reins on their finances and take it further by launching their own businesses or by making smart investments. "The problem is so many of us have not been educated about money and investing. This book is not about how to buy car insurance or save pennies at the grocery store. I think we women are a little smarter than that," she states. Enough said.

Women & Money: Owning the Power to Control Your Destiny by Suze Orman
Bent on dispelling the preconceived notions about females and money, Orman encourages women to be proactive with their finances. "The shifting roles of women at home and at work have dramatically changed where and how money interacts with a woman's life," she writes. "Yet what I see is that while women have established or expanded their roles and relationships, when it comes to navigating the financial ramifications of this new world, they are using old maps that don't get them where they really want and need to go."

Aside from reading these books, women who want to manage their finances like pros should also check out Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money. The course applies to anyone who wants to feel empowered by bringing home the bacon--and then some.

Posted by Grace Cook at 8:08 AM | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBacks (0)

Before we dig into our next post, I recommend that you read the last two blog posts. That way this one will make a lot more sense.

First, we talked about how uncertainty can hold you back and that the best way to conquer this is with a predictable system.

Next, we discussed the most critical element to any business: traffic. Even if you don't do any marketing whatsoever, as long as people are visiting your website or store, you have a chance to make a sale.

Then again, we said that not all traffic is equal. There are some forms of traffic that bring you a lot more people who are a lot more targeted. These are the people who are truly excited about you and/or your products.

Would you like to know what that source of traffic is?

Before I tell you, let me cite once again one of our Simpleology students who focused on using this one form of traffic every week last year.

Sales Revenue 12 Months Preceding: $1,499,384.00 Sales Revenue 12 Months After: $3,474,343.83

These numbers say a lot.

It's fair to say that the entire increase may not be due to this one method but it certainly played a large role.

You see, most business owners make marketing too hard. And when marketing is hard, it becomes painful, tiresome, and unpredictable.

Have you ever felt that way?

There is a much easier way to do it!

In fact, this simpler way will allow you to ...

• Build a base of loyal fans who steadily and surely bring more and more business to your door.
• Make slow, gradual, almost effortless improvements that will not only consistently increase your sales, but will also make running your business easier and easier.

Unfortunately, even though most entrepreneurs know about this tried-and-tested way, they don't actually know how to use it.

And even the people who use it don't exactly know their way around it. In fact, very few of them use it in a predictable way to produce gradual, consistent and reliable results.

The amazing part about what I'm going to share is that it isn't difficult to implement. It's something anyone can do--no matter what kind of budget they're on. All it takes is knowing what small gradual changes to make and then coming up with a clear plan for implementing them.

Business only becomes hard when you keep doing stuff that doesn't work.

It's all pretty simple...

If you do stuff that gets results, you'll keep doing it. (Of course!)

If you do stuff that doesn't give results, you'll get frustrated and quit. (Naturally!)

So what is this ultra effective traffic-generating method?

What I'm referring to is Positive Word of Mouth Marketing.

This comes from a customer's spontaneous desire to tell someone about your product. They tell people because they love your product so much they want others to know about it.

You're probably saying to yourself, "Hey, I already knew that!" But let me ask you this killer question...

Do you know how to implement Positive Word of Mouth Marketing practices on a regular and consistent basis?

You see, if you know how to go about Positive Word of Mouth Marketing, people will often completely bypass the sales process and go right to the order.

Think about it. Have you ever experienced a situation where a friend or family member told you about something and you just went and purchased it based on their recommendation?

They were so enthusiastic about the product, sharing with you all the benefits that they've gained from it. As such, even before you went to the store or website, you already knew you were going to buy the very same product, too.

But did you notice something about what I mentioned above...

When your friend told you about this product, they weren't compensated for it. After all, they genuinely liked the product and just eagerly told you about it.

This is different from Incentivized Word of Mouth Marketing (which isn't nearly as effective). This is Inspired Word of Mouth Marketing.

The exciting part about this is you can actually have more control over the process. All you have to do is implement some small, uncomplicated changes over a gradual period of time to take your business from "getting by" to "booming."

That's all there is to it.

Next, we'll explore how to design a very simple plan to start implementing these gradual changes. I will tell you upfront, this will be a unique experience if you decide to participate because you'll be able to follow the Simpleology student I mentioned above, week by week, as he makes these changes in his business.

You'll see exactly how he went from sales revenue of $1,499,384.00 to sales revenue of $3,474,343.83. You'll also see the exact plan he used so that you can do the same in your business.

It's going to be a blast so stay tuned!

Credits: Photo by Vojko Kalan, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Posted by Bean Jones at 9:59 PM | Permalink | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (0)

Going Overboard
Case in point: a 2006 survey done by LivingWithBadCredit.com, reveals that 67 percent of people who signed up for store credit cards during the holidays that year were still paying off their debts until August the following year.

Likewise, a recent Gallup poll revealed that Americans will spend, on average, $616 this holiday shopping season. The figure is said to be "the lowest in Gallup's 10-year history" of tracking the spending habits of Americans during the holidays. Though $616 is still a pretty big amount, it is a vast improvement from our average Christmas spending in 2007, which was estimated at $866.

Even so, it's evident that we still have a lot to learn when it comes to being wise with money during the holidays.

Thrift Shop
To make sure that we don't get into a tight financial fix this Yuletide season, here are five tips that will help keep our spending in check:

1. Make a realistic list. Make a list of people you want to give gifts to and write down how much you can afford to spend on each person. People often get high on the holiday cheer and start buying extravagant gifts that are worth several months of rent money. So, if you can only spend, say $40, for your sister's gift then don't go overboard. It's really the thought that counts. Besides, people who love you will appreciate your presence whether or not you are giving them presents.

2. Don't card it. In his article "Tips on Saving Money at Christmas," Ben Minor advises: "Do away with Christmas cards. If you take into consideration the amount of cards you'll send out this year then you'll quickly realize that it can be costly. Instead of cards, send out postcards or personalized letters. [You could also go for] e-cards."

3. Go green. Aside from recycling Christmas ornaments, you can make your Yuletide celebrations more eco-friendly if you reuse wrapping paper from gifts you've received or the Comics pages of old newspapers.

4. Get crafty. Minor explains: "Instead of purchasing a $50 gift basket, you can buy $10 worth of goodies and assemble it yourself." This tip inspired me to put together Christmas loot bags for my little nephews, nieces, and my friends' kids. I'll buy an assortment of funky animal-shaped cookies or candies and then place a bunch of them in a colorful bag. I plan to spend $10 for each bag.

5. Use cash. Don't give in to the temptation of using your credit card to shop for presents. Use cash to buy presents and remember to shop within your means so you won't be saddled with a heavy debt that you'll be struggling to pay for months.

The Real Gift
These five tips aren't rocket science, so following them should be easy. This way, you make sure that you give yourself a great Christmas gift: a debt-free New Year.

We should all realize that though Christmas is the season to be jolly, it certainly shouldn't be the season where we all spend like crazy.

For more advice on how you can curb your spending and tips on saving money all year round, check out Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money.

Credits: Photo by Petr Kratochvil, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Posted by Bean Jones at 11:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

Saving money isn't just about making huge lifestyle changes and cutting down on your everyday spending. Sometimes, a minor alteration is all it takes. By recognizing where savings can be made and focusing your attention on particular goals, it's not difficult to make your money go a lot further.

In any case, saving sometimes requires spending first--like when paying off debts or buying things you need.

Given this, here are five ways you can start giving your hard-earned cash a longer life in your possession:

1. Pay off your debts before you save. Your debts are often burdened with high interest rates. Your savings, in contrast, don't usually have such high rates of interest.

So before you go looking at savings, you might as well use your money to pay off your debts. It's best to have a little money stashed away for emergencies (around two to six months of equivalent income is wise), but any extra savings amounts are best used to get rid of your debts.

And the more expensive debts with high interest rates are best paid off before the loans with more competitive rates. For instance, home loans are likely to attract cheaper rates than credit card rates. So, pay off the credit cards before the lower rates of debt.

2. Ask your bank for help...when things are good. Banks don't like to give preferential treatment when you're in trouble, but they're happy to help when you're in a positive position. So don't go asking for loans, better rates, or special perks when you're in dire need of assistance. Instead, plan ahead and see what your bank can do for you when you don't particularly need the help.

With the financial and economic climate as it is, this isn't the best of times for the world's banks. This is why it's crucial for you to present yourself as a happy customer without any pressing issues. Banks should be more willing to listen to your requests if it means hanging on to your money.

3. Haggle everywhere. It doesn't matter what store you're at, you should always try asking for a discount. I went to a chain of bookshops and noticed one of the books I wanted had a slight scratch on the spine. It was the only copy available, so I asked the cashier if any discount was available. He told me he was able to give an instant 10-percent discount, no questions asked. Since I had another couple of books, I suggested 10 percent off all the books would make me a lot happier buying the scratched book. Guess what? I got 10 percent off the lot.

So it's always worth asking. After daring to request a discount a few times, it should become second nature to you. If your request is refused, what have you lost? Nothing!

4. Check the interest rates and best-buy tables for saving accounts. Shopping around for the best savings deals is easy. However, a lot of people still keep their money in an old account with a totally uncompetitive rate. Find out where you can get more interest on your hard-earned savings and deposit the money there instead. Then, if there comes a time when you feel that the account isn't so beneficial anymore, you can deposit your money elsewhere. Check the best buy tables that get published and consult price comparison websites for an idea of the top offers out there.

Even if you don't want to bother moving to a different company or bank, chances are your current financial provider or bank will regularly introduce new accounts. So, look out for any impressive deals they will offer in the future.

5. Make a list of the items you want more than anything else. With a list, it's a lot easier to put yourself off impulse buys. It's likely that you often don't think twice about making an impulse purchase when you have a little cash to spare. You forget that by doing this your money won't go toward the things you REALLY want.

A list of ultimate wants (and their respective prices) can remind you about the things that really matter to you and give you reason to leave that dress on the hook or walk away from the tempting video game.

A few years ago, I was saving for some camera equipment. I wasn't getting very far. So, one month, I worked out how much I'd spent on impulse purchases alone. As it turned out, after one month, it added up to about a quarter of the money I'd been trying to save up!

As soon as I made my list of wants, I realized that my shopping habits changed for the better. Soon after that, saving money was like second nature to me and I was able to afford the camera equipment.

These tips ought to make it clear that saving doesn't just involve building up a long-term nest egg. It also requires you to be wise about spending.

Credits: Photo by Petr Kratochvil, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

Suggested Resource: To get smarter at money math, sign up for Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money. The first lesson alone, "The Grand Law of Wealth: Increase Your Incomings and Decrease Your Outgoings," is simply priceless.

Posted by Martin Hughes at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (9) | TrackBacks (0)

I used to think that making money was hard. (Who's with me?)

You study hard, get into a good college, graduate with a decent degree, find a well-paying job in a multinational corporation, and work really hard. Then (and only then) if you've done everything right, you can retire happy with a truckload full of cash!

I mean, that's the formula for success and earning big bucks, right? Or so most of us were told.

Well, I followed the formula. However, barely 10 months into my first and last full-time job at a multinational company, I saw the light and figured that enough was enough. I wasn't learning the formula for success. Instead, I was simply learning the formula for surviving the rat race!

Now, don't get me wrong. I'm not asking you to drop out of college or do anything drastic like quit your job (unless you choose to). I'm all for education and a high-profile career--if you're pursuing it for the right reasons.

What I'm saying is, making money needn't be as hard as you think.

In fact, I'm going to share with you three powerful secrets that enabled me to become a money magnet and get an income from working online.

1. Break all the rules--and ditch your limiting beliefs while you're at it. Who said you could only get rich if you become a doctor or lawyer or graduate from an Ivy League university? It's common knowledge that some of the richest and most successful people never even graduated from college. Bill Gates, Michael Dell, and Steve Jobs made their fortunes without a college degree to their name.

People often ask what these men did to amass the kind of fortune that the rest of us can only dream about. Then again, an even better question to ask is this: What didn't they do?

That's right! None of them followed The Rat Race-to-Riches Formula.

Why?

Because it doesn't work!

Now, if you're like me, you've probably been told what you can and cannot do all your life. I'm pretty sure Bill, Michael, and Steve faced the same problem, too. But they chose not to listen nor believe what other people told them to. They believed in striking out on their own in the face of doubt and discouragement from the people around them.

You see sometimes, in order to get where you want to go, you need to become a rebel of sorts. You don't have to wait for people to give you their permission for you to go pursue your passions and lead the kind of life you want.

So, have the courage to break a few rules and start living the kind of life you dream of. When you are happy doing what you love and vibrating to a higher frequency, you'll start to attract wealth and abundance quickly and easily.

2. Invest in your financial knowledge and personal development.
Buying a big house or splurging on a new expensive car may seem like great decisions...until the monthly bills weigh you down. In order to become a money magnet, you need to learn how to manage your money well first. Splurging on external luxuries that you can ill afford isn't the wisest move to make. Worse, you may end up incurring massive credit card debts just to keep up with the perceived appearance of success.

As motivational speaker Jim Rohn, author of books like The Art of Exceptional Living, so eloquently puts it: "Work harder on yourself than you do on your job."

Thus, you should take time to attend personal development seminars, read self-help books, and listen to audio programs to improve yourself. The world is always changing and you need to keep up if you don't want to be left behind.

When you start to mirror the mindset of successful people, the money will start to flow straight into your bank account.

3. Ask for what you want.
It's all so simple.

You want a raise? Ask for it!

A discount? Ask for it!

More money in your life? ASK FOR IT!

I'm serious!

Before I started to study and understand the Law of Attraction, I was a complete train wreck. At that point in my life, I had just left my full-time job to pursue internet marketing. But I was getting nowhere. In fact, I was on the verge of giving up.

Then, I decided to try out affirmations and began asking the universe for what I want.

The rest as they say is history.

The Law of Attraction works--but the problem with most people is that they don't feel that they deserve the right to ask for what they want. In such cases, the power of the Law of Attraction usually fizzles out.

In any case, it's really your choice. Continue trying to work really hard for your money. Likewise, continue to just ask for what you want, believe, and get ready to receive. It's really a no-brainer if you ask me.

The minute you commit to these three powerful moves, true wealth starts coming your way. Of course, you still have to work hard. But, as I said, it won't be that hard when you've already got the right mindset.

Credits: Photo by Anna Cercova, courtesy of Public Domain Pictures.

The author is an award-winning personal development blogger and life coach whose mission is to bring more love, hope, and joy to the world. If you dig this article, feel free to visit his blog, Personal Development for the Book Smart. You could also subscribe to his Personal Development Tips e-newsletter to receive 101 Powerful Affirmations absolutely free!

Suggested Resource: To help you get on the road to true wealth--without you having to become a frazzled and disgruntled player in the rat race--check out Simpleology 102: The Simple Science of Money.

Posted by Yee Shun Jian at 8:00 AM | Permalink | Comments (8) | TrackBacks (0)

First I want to thank everyone who participated in this exciting exercise.

If you read the hundreds upon hundreds of comments you'll likely get the same overwhelming sense that I did: this is one super smart and unflinchingly positive crowd of people!

Click here to read the 4 questions, see if you're one of the winners (they're at the bottom of the page), and join this new club.

This is one of the most exciting things we've done in a long time - and the proof that it works is in the reality unfolding around it. We went live while I was on stage on the other side of the globe in Indonesia - my team in control of the launch. I still haven't even checked our "stats" - that's how confident I am in my team.

If I hadn't been making regular "deposits" in the bank of those 4 investments there's no way this could have happened.

Posted by Mark Joyner at 8:14 PM | Permalink | Comments (2) | TrackBacks (0)

This is one smart crowd.

The replies to my challenge question are mostly right on the money. (we're drawing 5 winners randomly so please keep the replies coming)

Everyone's pretty much right ... Who can really say what the actual 4 are?

It's a question with no "right" answer.

I have my definite preference for "the 4" and I have a strong case to back them up - and I'll reveal that next week when we launch the club - but there's a bigger question ...

If you know what 4 areas in which to invest, how do you do it?

This is a really important question - the answer to which holds the key to just about anything you want.

First, how not to make those investments:

- scatter yourself to the wind and do everything at once

- try this - then try that - and then try something else - never sticking to anything long enough for it to work

Sounds obvious, but that's what we all do.

The solution is in a Japanese word: kaizen.

It means "continuous improvement."

Change can happen to us suddenly - if, for example, we experience a profound event. But if we want to cause the change to happen, we kind of need to sneak up on ourselves.

Kaizen is all about sneaking up on yourself to make gradual changes.

The beauty is that those gradual changes over time can add up to something profoundly huge. It's sort of like the "compound interest" of your life.

For example, there is a man in Reno who lost 35 pounds in 6 months just by making one tiny adjustment to his life: he stopped driving and started walking to work every day.

That's it. He did nothing else at all.

He didn't live far from work. The walk was on a totally flat surface. But this single change had a profound impact on him.

He later went on to become a serious athlete.

If he hadn't made that simple change - and more importantly if he hadn't stuck with it - his life would have been extremely different.

Kaizen.

Another man in Seattle lost 50 pounds of body fat by making another simple change: instead of eating at Burger King every day he started having his lunch at a salad buffet.

What if you could find other simple changes in your life that could have an impact on your money? Your ...

(not so fast - I'm not ready to reveal "the four" yet ...)

All this sounds great, but the problem is:

a. You need to know the right changes to make (some are more or less effective ... some are more or less difficult ... you want the easy and effective ones, right?)

b. You need to know how to make them stick

We're getting dangerously close to learning about what this new club is all about.

Stay tuned.

It all happens on Wednesday.

Posted by Mark Joyner at 10:20 PM | Permalink | Comments (96) | TrackBacks (0)