Famous comedian Groucho Marx once said, “Money frees you from doing things you dislike. Since I dislike doing nearly everything, money is handy.”
Given my own experience, I’d not only agree with him, but take it a step further and say that, besides freeing you up from things you dislike doing, money frees you up to do what you love.
So let me ask you this, what would you love doing if you had, say, a billion dollars?
Lay around on your favorite beaches of the world sipping margaritas?
Charter a plane to New York or London for dinner?
Buy an island in the Caribbean?
Naturally…what all billionaires do, right?
Well, actually, no…not Oprah, anyway.
She got busy and started her own cable television network.
Oh, that’s easy for her, you might be thinking. She’s been in television forever, she’s already mega-successful, and she’s rich. No big deal. Heck, she could probably do it with her eyes closed.
Wishes Granted. Click image.
So imagine my surprise when I heard her say in an interview that she almost had a nervous breakdown from the stress of taking on the CEO role, something she’d hadn’t planned on and, in fact, resisted.
She talked about how hard it was to constantly read or hear the media describe OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network) as “struggling.”
“Every time I opened a paper, there was that word – struggling. Not a word I like to have associated with my name, nor a space that I really choose to be in personally, emotionally or spiritually…. So really, inside myself became the desire to literally change the narrative – more important than anything was to change the narrative.” – Oprah
Imagine that – a billionaire working on her mindset.
Yep, even after all the years of abundant success, fame and money, she still has to focus on transformation because, as she said, “You can’t let the outside world – be it your mother, sister, cousin, friends, whomever, and for me, the media – define the space that you’re in. You’ve got to do that for yourself.”
So just in case you were thinking there was some magic amount of money that would allow you to just sail on and coast…
Think again.
No one’s immune from the chilling effects that things “out there” can have on their mind – things like the economy, the government, the stock market, the news, friends, family, co-workers…
They never go away.
You have to stay vigilantly conscious and aware.
Like Oprah, you have to choose something different – “change the narrative” and create a new story for yourself, a new conversation.
And sometimes you need support.
According to Oprah, she didn’t do it by herself. She sought out mentors, people who could help her to see things differently, to see what was possible.
That’s the power of having access to the right people and the right tools, and why I’ve put together a one-of-a-kind event in Austin this November.
Because transformation doesn’t have to take forever – it can happen in one fell swoop.
And you’re never too rich, too successful, or, for that matter, too old to do more…become more…have more.
Now go sign up at http://www.attractmoneynowlive.com
Ao Akua,
Joe
PS – Link for Oprah interview: http://watch.accesshollywood.com/video/oprah-winfrey-discusses-owns-success/2708207036001
Member BBB 2003 - 2013
11 Comments
Hi Dr. Joe,
Amazing. We are all human. Maybe the few enlightened souls get over this stuff but all else – billionaires, millionaires, and the rest – need help, and coaching, and mentoring, to reach their goals.
Awesome stuff and inspiring too.
Thanks!
Ryan
Thank you, Ryan.
Joe Vitale is really an expert writing things in blogs and emails, even speaking out there in favorite platforms, however, I DO NOT LIKE the fact that he is all the time trying to sell something, he is not really interested in helping you as far as he increases sales, too bad, because he would be a good teacher if he would stop the commercial intent behind his words.
Diego, thank you for the compliment. As for your judgement of my intent, you might read http://blog.mrfire.com/chasing-dimes-or-the-divine/
Diego, I was actually going to rebut your comment. I decided against it because, like Joe, I don’t want to waste time trying to change your mind if that’s how you honestly think or feel.
But I will say this: I wrote a short, informative report that: a) taught people something, and b) made me some money (not a lot, but it’s a start). Although I want to make money like others (including you, perhaps) do, I thought and took great pleasure in helping those people FIRST by sharing what I know. That’s partly my motivation, anyway, and I figure that the rest will follow.
Joe, thanks for sharing that previous post. You’re right in there that there’ll always be people who will question one’s intent. Sometimes sad or “worse” is that no matter how or what you say to those critics, some of them just won’t believe what you tell them.
Although I still struggle with some of the issues you specified in your previous posts, they give me some answers and some direction. I thank you for those as well. Keep writing as long as the passion is there!
Thank you, David.
Hi Deiego
I just saw the last post on your blog. You asked people to reach out to you and teach you.
It doesnt work that way. you have to seek…meaning you have to go to people
maybe you should not make it about yourself in the beginning….maybe you should give first
i see alot of people online in the comment sections of an article saying….”this is my email….please contact me. i have something important to say”
none of them receive a response….
people want to sit and have other people come to them…..are they lazy?
i think people have “entitlement’ issues….they feel they are entitled to everything…
i have done this myself…..but my first roommate told me something that i still believe in today
he said…”take anything that a person does for you as a favor. remember that no one owes you anything. even if people do the most basic thing for you, like bring you a glass of water, see it as a favor that they just did for you. ”
when i began to think like that…i came out of the “entitlement” mindset
many people think that a guru or self help writer has a duty to sacrifice their time and energy to help everyone.
they don’t…..no one owes anyone anything
but people will flock to people who provide value….whether that value is in the form of a good article, good advice, good service at a restaurant or other business, good entertainment value etc
all the best
I’ve only just come across Joe in the last 6 weeks and I hear what you’re saying Diego. In can be off-putting.
However in everything I have read and watched thus far, Joe is very clear that he is an entrepreneur and having been up front about it I don’t think it’s unreasonable for him to promote himself and his works in this way.
For me it doesn’t take anything away from the information he shares and sells. Because he does both. I don’t know if it’s just the product I happened to buy, however I feel his offers are fair and reasonable and he gives incredible value for money.
This is SO good. The human experience contains challenges at all levels. As a younger man I too thought a life without problems is a sign of things going right… in fact, it may be a sign I’m coasting 🙂
Thanks for the insight Joe, and by all means keep selling us the good stuff! 🙂
Well said, my friend.
Hi Joe!
You know, I’ve heard of other famous people who went through hard times and are now really successful, and it never really surprised me. However, this one really did!
I remember not too long ago when everyone was talking about her weight constantly. Between having her own company and show, and being in the limelight all of the time, it must take quite a toll on that poor woman!
I’m glad that she knew what she needed to pull through it, though. I’m sure that she is much better for it! ^_^
Thank you for telling us about this! In a way, it’s very reassuring. ^-^
Best,
Cheryl