Are you forever chasing yesterday money?  According to the headlines, you’re not alone. You can’t escape news stories about foreclosures, credit card debt, and bailouts these days.

Sounds like we’re suffering from an epidemic of wealthy-weak here in America.

I write about wealthy-strong versus wealthy-weak in my book, Success for Life.  Here’s a passage, from Streetwise Strategy #5, Be a Giant.

Too many people are stuck in the endless race of chasing yesterday money (money they’ve already spent) and dream money (the kind of cash they can only fantasize about), rather than today money – the kind that will take them into the future, and maybe even make some of those dreams come true.

Yup, we’re so busy chasing the fantasy of big bucks, that we spend all of our today money on cars, big houses, bling, and exotic vacations to impress others into believing we’ve made it. Guess what? Today money borrowed on credit soon becomes yesterday money, and any chance of earning dream money slips further away from our grasp. Chasing yesterday money is exhausting and thankless. If anything will kill your dreams, this will. How can you look forward when your life is in hock, and debt and creditors are pulling you backward?

I went through this learning curve as a young, foolish guy. I earned millions as a street kid doing all the wrong things, but what I did next is not so different from what so many respectable, professional, white-collar folks do today: I squandered all my money on stuff I didn’t need. I lost millions, by making stupid, reactive, materially-driven decisions.

Don’t get me wrong. I love wearing fine clothes and state-of-the-art watches. I enjoy diamonds and magnificent cars. So no, don’t get me wrong. I’m not advocating you hide your shine under a bushel of corn, but I AM advising that, like me, you make sure these material things aren’t driving you, but that you’re driving them.

Giants know the true value of wealth. They understand that it’s simply a trading currency, a means to an end, and that it can disappear as fast – or even faster – than it arrived.

If wealthy-weak sounds like you, then I challenge you to really pay attention to how you handle your money. I heard on the news the other day that the average Starbucks customer spends $1500 a year. Now, if people have this much money to spend on a cup of coffee – that most could get at work for free – why can’t they pay their mortgages and car notes?

Because they’re wealthy weak!

Like I said in my book, I’m a guy who likes flash.  I drive a Phantom Rolls Royce and wear a Audemar Piguet watch.  But I also lease my Phantom, AKA “Triple Black”, to movie studios and up-and-comers who want to make a good impression for the night. My car pays me, not the other way around, see?  And although I spend money making sure I always look my best, I take my style out to be seen – not to boost my ego - but to attract new business opportunities.

The difference between wealthy-strong and wealthy-weak is a state of mind.  Rich state or poor state, it’s up to you where you reside.

Spring has sprung! Out here in Southern California, it’s the most beautiful time of the year. We had a nice, wet winter, and our hills and mountains are as green as Ireland - just in time for St. Patrick’s Day, right?

Speaking of St. Patrick’s Day, I’d like to talk about luck. What do you think about luck? Are people born lucky, or do they create their own luck? Well, I’ve known some pretty lucky people, and sometimes their consistent good fortune leaves me scratching my head. Yes, I think some people are born lucky.

But for the most part, I strongly believe that people make their own luck. I wrote a lot about luck in my new book, Success for Life. It falls under my Streetwise Strategy #4: Be a Success Magnet. I’d like to share a passage with you that will help you get some of that sweet luck for yourself.

HOW TO BECOME POSITIVELY MAGNETIC!
My first practical lesson on magnetism came about in my gangster days when my best friend Wenny and I ran a few very profitable gambling dens on Chicago’s West Side. We were making a ton of money on dice and card games. Today, as you know, I don’t gamble – not even in Vegas. I don’t support gambling, and I actually spend quite a bit of time explaining to other folks why gambling is a fool’s game. But, back in the day, I was a serious gambler. On one wild, regrettable, unforgettable occasion, I lost millions of bucks in a single wager!

Over the years, however, I learned to harness the power of magnetism in a much more responsible way. You see, if you try to force two magnets together, the positive force of each will repel them away from each other. Many of us played with magnets a time or two when we were kids, and you might remember: you can literally feel the force of one pushing the other away. Now, strangely enough, with people, the exact opposite is true!

When it comes to humans, positive force attracts more positive force.

1. Positive mental images attract positive results.
2. Positive attitudes attract positive reactions.
3. Positive appearances attract positive perceptions.
4. Positive people expect good things to happen to them, and good things happen.

I’ve always been a positive guy. Extroverted, expressive, and, yes, loud! Although, believe it or not, I spent the first 18 months of my life silent, just chillin’ quietly on the floor, amidst the Wilks’ family circus, not cryin’ or crawlin’ or nothin’. Then, one day, I decided to join the party, and you know I haven’t stopped since!

People enjoy being around positive energy. It’s energizing to bask in its warmth, and recharge yourself with its high-voltage electricity. Want to add more juice to your positive “charge”? It’s simple – just turn on the “happy channel!”

Sounds too easy to be true, doesn’t it? But think about the people who seem to get all the lucky breaks. They’re usually happy, positive people, aren’t they? If you’re one of those people, or maybe you used to be one, well congratulations – you know the secret! If you’re the kind who sits and watches, grumblin’ and hatin’ because you never get yours, I’d suggest you check your attitude.

It takes quite a bit of “reprogramming” to remove those negative thoughts from your head and replace them with positive ones. But like the saying goes, it may be not be easy, but it really is that simple.

Do you really want to turn your luck around? Then starting right now, I want you to pay close attention to the things you think and say. Every negative thought and statement takes you one step further away from the good luck and fortune that awaits the positive, lucky you!

Remember this: be happy, and success will follow.

Now go get that good luck!
- Burrel

Did you catch the NBA All-Star slam dunk contest on TV last weekend?  Dwight Howard brought a new brand of showmanship to New Orleans this year, and he’s reaping the rewards.

I work with NBA players in my life coaching practice, and when I hear a guy gets a contract, I always think the same thing: Congratulations … now what are you gonna do with it?

An NBA contract is good money, but it’s nothing compared to the endorsements and other business opportunities that come with it.  Everybody gets a chance to prove themselves on the big stage, and when Howard’s time came, he was ready. He was having a good season before All Star weekend, but after he killed it in that slam dunk contest, I guarantee his phone is ringing off the hook now with new offers and opportunities!

Now THAT’S power branding! Here’s some more about Building a Personal Power Brand from my new book, Success for Life.

There are practical reasons why you need to stand out from the crowd: attracting a partner, improving job security, or taking advantage of promotional opportunities. I mean, with all the economic uncertainty today, competition in the job market, and a rapidly changing, technology-enabled world that offers little in the way of predictability or stability, you’ve gotta find ways to differentiate yourself, to stand out from the masses.

Once you view your personal power branding strategy as both defense and offense, you understand that taking care of yourself, dressing sharp and staying groomed and cool is not self-indulgence - it’s good business.

What’s YOUR power brand? If you don’t know, I’d suggest you give it some thought, because you won’t achieve big time success with one. Take me, for instance.  I’m Burrel Lee Wilks III, America’s Most Authentic Life Coach.  It tells you what I do - life coach; and, how I’m different - I’m as real as they come!

Think about your power brand, and get yourself ready for your big chance. Maybe someday I’ll be writing about you!

Be a Giant,
Burrel