AP check this post

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Before I can start formulating a response to you I need to know where it is you want to be in 10 years.

Do you want to be a career military guy, start a new career doing something else or do you want to retire for good by the time you're 30?

Your answer to this means "everything," so put some thought into it before you respond.

There are two things I can promise you:

1) I have no time for lazy people (I will challenge the hell out of you) and,

2) If you have unlimited ambition and energy, you WILL EVENTUALLY BE a gazillionaire if you take what I say to heart and ignore everything you read, hear or "think you already know" to the contrary.

[AmericanPride]

Alright, here are some of my goals:

(1) Paid off on any and all debt
(2) Stay in the Reserves
(3) In a federal career
(4) Have completed a masters program (with the option of continuing to a PhD)
(5) Funds set aside for kids and their future
(6) A decent house and two family vehicles

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americanpride2 said:

Alright, here are some of my goals:

(1) Paid off on any and all debt
(2) Stay in the Reserves
(3) In a federal career
(4) Have completed a masters program (with the option of continuing to a PhD)
(5) Funds set aside for kids and their future
(6) A decent house and two family vehicles

OK, first of all, these goals are nowhere NEAR specific enough.

What does "funds" mean?
What does "decent" mean?
What is your timeframe?

One of the first things you need to do is take a seminar on "goal-setting."

You cannot arrive at a predetermined destination if you don't know EXACTLY where it is you want to end up.

Secondly, you have a lot to learn about "debt."

Debt is like fire. When used recklessly, it should be avoided because it can kill you.

However, when used intelligently, fire can propel a jet through the dead of night at 40,000 well about the turbulence and storms below.

Debt, is not only a good thing, it's MANDATORY. However, you must have the wisdom to use it wisely.

When Trump builds up one of his enormous properties he doesn't use HIS MONEY. Money is simply a tool. You must learn to use OTHER PEOPLES' MONEY because there is NO WAY you will live long enough to earn it yourself, live on less than you earn (after taxes and expenses) and then invest only your own.

The simple idea that you should be OUT OF DEBT is an idea that will KILL your financial future.

Read a book on goal setting, re-answer the question I posed in a 5-year and 10-year time frame and then I can start to help you.

[AmericanPride]

Well. Fuck. Ok. I'll get back to ya.

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americanpride2 said:

Well. Fuck. Ok. I'll get back to ya.

OK, stop right there....

I have talked to hundreds of people about money.

I gave a lecture at a financial seminar in Vegas back in 2002.

The reason I am telling you this is because I asked you what your goals are as a set-up.

I KNEW what you were going to say before you answered because I have heard your answer a million times.

The first step is to set goals - WRITTEN GOALS - that you keep in front of you every single GD day. YOU HAVE TO HAVE THAT and if you don't nothing else I say will make any sense.

Here is the point of decision.

99.999% of the people I talk to STOP RIGHT HERE.

I tell them to go read a book or buy an audio book on goals and get back to me.

Guess what, I never hear from them again.

So, here is the decision point you are at.

You either get totally serious - and I mean serious enough to do what I am telling you to do - which will start costing you time and money - or you will stay on the path you are on.

It's your choice and 99%+ of the people I talk to NEVER TAKE THE FIRST STEP because it just isn't convenient for them to do so.

It's a big decision and almost NOBODY will take the first step.

[AmericanPride]

I'll do this. However, I prefer to talk about this more privately (over e-mail, or at least in the C&C forum).

And I'll hit the books tomorrow!

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americanpride2 said:

I'll do this. However, I prefer to talk about this more privately (over e-mail, or at least in the C&C forum).

And I'll hit the books tomorrow!

I was looking back over your stated goals.

Let me ask you this:

If you won a $100 million dollar lottery tomorrow, would you STILL want to stay in the "reserves," have some sort of "Federal" career and get a "Master's" degree?

I'd hope not.

Those goals come from an idea in your head that there is some sort of "security" in a "Federal career" and that the professors in college know something about financial success.

I want you to understand that these ideas are some of the 99% of things you "know" that are completely untrue.

You will find out that it isn't what YOU DON'T KNOW that will hurt you. It's all the shit you know for sure that simply isn't true.

You need to dump the idea that there is any kind of success to be had in a government career. That is the path to financial mediocrity.

Moreover, if you treat your education on the subject of "money" like a Master's Degree program, you will be MUCH better off.

[AmericanPride]

Well, I need the Masters for the federal job I plan to apply for. And I don't think I'll be winning the lottery anytime soon. But yeah -- job security is one of the enticements of federal employment I think.

[jfree]

I know it aint aimed at me, but if I won the lottery there is no way I would be worrying about extended my degree, I'd be investing some money in land and a fat home, buy a few properties for rentals, be a good landlord and take care of my parents, that about it...

[FightingFalcon]

If I won the lottery, I'd still go after my PhD and remain in the AF.

People spell success different ways. Money isn't the only way.

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americanpride2 said:

Well, I need the Masters for the federal job I plan to apply for. And I don't think I'll be winning the lottery anytime soon. But yeah -- job security is one of the enticements of federal employment I think.

I think you missed my point.

It didn't have to do with the lottery - that was just an analogy for having more money coming in than you need to live.

What if you did a few things (as I tell you what to do) and five years from now you had and EFFORTLESS $30,000/month coming in?

The check comes in whether or not you decide to get out of bed.

Can you see your goals changing?

If you can, why waste time on the federal job progression?

WTF is being a G-99 going to do for you that $30K per month in passive income wouldn't do?

If your answer is the obvious "NOTHING," then don't waste time with it. The "I wanna be a slave to the government's money" mentality won't do you any good. THOSE IDEAS SUCK in light of all the other options you have available to you!

It takes effort, but you can break free of those limiting ideas.

Careers SUCK. There is no security there except that you can be secure with the idea that you will never be able to quit.

Everyone and anyone can feel free to post here.

I am posting this here to help everyone who is interested. I am speaking to AP, but it's really for everyone.

Falcon, posts like yours do nothing but show how limited your field of view is.

You need to stick your head up out of the sand and take a look around.

It's OK to dream a little. Dreaming of a seemingly impossible future is very important. You can achieve those things (even those that seem impossible).

As far as the lotter goes, I don't play it. My point is that you can create your own lottery jack-pot.

I do want to give you all a word of warning right here though...

To achieve what I have achieved (follow in my footsteps) will require you to give up what I have found (in others) to be the most prized possession people have.

Many people cannot do what I have done because they refuse to pay this price and it's a lot more difficult than it may sound.

The prize you will have to give up are the bogus and incorrect and limiting ideas you have.

People are loathe to give up bad, limiting and incorrect ideas about reality and what is and isn't possible.

I started in on AP here explaining in his short post about some of the bad ideas he has, but everyone has them to one extent or another.

99% of what you think you know is wrong. It would be so much easier if your mind was a blank slate and I could imprint what's possible, but I can't do that.

The first step is to understand where you are right now is a result of what you THINK.

The next step is to start thinking differently.

I can tell you what to think, but I can't tell you how to stop thinking BS. Stinkin thinkin is a killer. You will have to do that on your own and believe me, it's tough as all hell sometimes.