“Today Matters” Part IX – Book Review
Book Review 9 – Today Matters by John Maxwell
Finances: I will make and properly manage dollars daily, because my finances give me options
Why finances matter today? Because there isn’t an aspect of life that financial matters don’t touch. And when people don’t handle finances well day to day, it causes huge problems.
Money won’t make you happy. And money has yet to make anyone rich. Henry Ford said “Money doesn’t change men, it merely unmasks them. If a man is naturally selfish, or arrogant, or greedy, the money brings it out; that’s all”
Debt will make you unhappy. “All progress is based upon a universal innate desire on the part of every living organism to live beyond its income.” Yet the truth is that if your outgo exceeds your income, then your upkeep will be your downfall
Having a financial margin gives you options. Bottom line is that money is nothing but a tool
Decide today that “I will sacrifice today so that I can have options tomorrow”
Put the value of things into perspective. To know whether your attitude about money and possession is what it should be, ask yourself the following five questions:
- Am I preoccupied with things?
- Am I envious of others?
- Do I find my personal value in possessions?
- Do I believe that money will make me happy?
- Do I continually want more?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to do some soul-searching. “If a person gets his attitude toward money straight, it will help straighten out almost every other area of his life.” Materialism is not about possession – it’s an obsession.
Recognize your season your life:
Learn: When you’re young, your focus should be on exploring your talents, discovering your purpose, and learning your trade.
Earn: If you’re on track with your purpose, you’ve learned your trade well, and you practice it with excellence, the hope is that you will be able to earn a good living.
Return: we should always try to be generous, no matter our age. But if you planned well, you may enter a phase of life where you can focus on giving back to others.
Reduce your debt. Here are five steps:
- Stop incurring debt
- Track your cash
- Plan for the future
- Don’t expect instant miracles
- Seek professional help
Put your financial formula into place. The difference between the rich and the poor is that the rich invest their money and spend what’s left, while the poor spend their money and invest what’s left
Managing the disciplines of finances
“Every day I will focus on my financial game plan so that each day I will have more, not fewer, options”
Be a good earner. To become a good financial manager, you must first have something to manage
Be grateful every day. Keep your perspective and be thankful for whatever you have. “Do not pay too much attention to fame, power, or money. Some day you will meet a person who care for none of these, and then you will know how poor you are”
Don’t compare yourself to others
Give as much as you can. “Money is another pair of hands to heal and feed and bless the desperate families of the earth… A man’s money is an extension of himself.” Money can go where you don’t have the time to go, where you do not have the passport to go.
“Earn all you can, save all you can, give all you can” – John Wesley