| เพื่อนความคิด ชีวิตคริสตชน : บทความอิสระย้อนหลัง | "ความจริงจะทำให้ท่านเป็นอิสระ" (ยน.8:32) | |
| หน้ารัง | บทความ | บทความอิสระย้อนหลัง | ||
Dear readers, I would like to share some of my thoughts and outlook on life with you. I hope it will be interesting and entertaining. I also hope that after reading this article, you will find some thing you like and take it with you. I apologize for writing in English. I do not have the command of Thai language (have been living abroad for the past twenty-four years) and I do not have a Thai typewriter. I am a Catholic and Thai American serving in the United States Army and spending most of my adult life in the U.S.A. I also have been deployed to South Korea (one year), Bosnia-Herzegovina (eleven months and four days) and Germany (five years and still counting) I have seen and been exposed to the good, bad and ugly side of each country I have the privilege to live there. In general, most people are decent, friendly and well meaning. All of these counties also have some things in common. Every country has the rich, middle class and the poor, even in communist countries which wealth was supposed to be equally spread out (the government officials and people close to the center of power have their own shopping centers, better apartments and nice amenities). There is a big different what and where the rich, middle class and the poor live. The rich live in a house located in prime real estate money can buy, right next to each other. Every country has a first class ticket/seat for airplane, train, ship, bus, theatre, concert, etc. Every country also has famous and not so famous universities or colleges to choose, even though you would have thought a degree from any one of the accredited institutions should be the same. Not a single country has one religion for the population (Catholic, protestants, Islam, etc.) And equal justice is, some time, not for all. Money, who your parents are, well-placed connection, your look (physical shape and ethnic background), your brain and education make a lot of difference in life. These are the cause of the problems through out human history. These are why religions, cults and politics were born, and will be born, until the end of the world. I learned to accept the fact that life is not fair a long time ago. I also learned to make the best out of life. I also know beyond a shred of doubt that in the eye of GOD we are equal. GOD does not care about our race, physical shape, religion (every founder of particular religion always claimed his or her to be the real deal), wealth, our brain, our well-placed connection, our parents or our education. GOD will judge us according to the way we live our life based on whether we have followed the commandments or golden rules of our religions and keep trying until the day our time on earth is over. Meanwhile you want to survive and have a decent living. Is there a secret to a happy, successful and reasonably prosperous life? There is an industry selling hope for people searching for this elusive quest. Tons of books have been written about it. I would like to present my version of how to have a happy, successful and reasonably prosperous life to you. It has been heavily borrowed from famous people from all walks of life, especially Mr. Zig Ziglar (best selling author of Over the Top and, most sought after, motivational speaker). I am still a long way from my goal. But it has already started to work for my family and me. I hope it will work for you, too. How to Have a Happy, Successful and Reasonably Prosperous Life The Saevivat Family OUR PHILOSOPHY: LIVE WELL AND FINISH WELL OUR GOLDEN RULES 1. WE WIL NOT DO ANY THING THAT IS MORALLY AND LEGALLY WRONG JUST TO BE ONE OF THE BOYS OR GIRLS. 2. WE UNDERSTAND THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN A LIABILTY AND AN ASSET, AND WE BUY ASSET. WE KNOW THAT A LIABILITY (CREDIT CARDS, CONSUMER LOANS, MORTGAGE) TAKES MONEY OUT OF OUR POCKET. AN ASSET (STOCKS, BONDS, NOTES, REAL ESTATES, INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY) PUTS MONEY IN OUR POCKET. 3. WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE INCOME (SALARY, DIVIDENDS, INTEREST, RENTAL INCOME, ROYALTIES) AND WE ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE EXPENSE (TAXES, FOOD, RENT, CLOTHES, FUN, TRANSPORTAION). WE WILL NOT SPEND MORE THAN WE MAKE. OUR ROADMAP TO HAPPY, SUCCESSFUL AND REASONABLE WEALTH Step 1. We must know what we want. We set the goals and go after them. We understand that it is never too late to make the most of what we are. We set our realistic goals, break them in small pieces and work toward them on a daily basis. We understand the power of visualization, self-talk and " I can" attitude. We will do visualization and self-talk in the morning and before we go to bed every day. We make a total commitment to reach the goals and hold ourselves accountable. We learn to positively respond to disappointments or mistakes, forgive others and ourselves. We learn to accept the roadblocks and delays but we will never give up our goals, getting up and staying up when we have been knocked down. We paint a positive picture of ourselves accomplishing the goals, a winner not a loser. We understand that the people (our spouse and loved ones) with whom we share our goals will play a major part in whether or not we reach the goals, relationship is a major source of pain in our lives. We learn to be a team player and get all the help we can (our spouse, loved ones and professionals). We use the same measuring stick for ourselves and others, no double standards. We are secure in who we are, so we are at peace with God and in fellowship with man. We love the unlovable, give hope to the hopeless, friendship to the friendless, and encouragement to the discouraged. We can look back in forgiveness, forward in hope, down in compassion, and up with gratitude. We understand that life is an endurance race, not a sprint. We clearly understand that failure is an event, not a person; that yesterday ended last night, and today is our brand new day. We understand that wealth is a state of mind-an attitude. We might be temporarily broke but we would never be poor because we have a wealth of experience and knowledge to draw upon. We talk to God and Mother Mary every day. We ask for help and also give thanks for the blessing we have, and will, received. Step 2. Education. We will have at least a Bachelor Degree in the field that we like. Daddy and Mommy already have one. Christy and Joe Michael have to get one because it will allow both of you to get a good job with good pay. Step 3. Marriage. Christy and Joe Michael will not get married until both of you get the Bachelor Degree and a good job with good pay so you can support yourselves and your families. Step 4. Steady income or employment security. We will always pay ourselves first. We will save at least 20 cents of every dollar we make. We are worried but not too much about our job because we are honest, intelligent, goal-directed, organized, responsible, committed, punctual, a self-starter, motivated, optimistic, enthusiastic, decisive and make good choices. We also are disciplined, persistent and positive. We also have a good self-image. We also manage ourselves well; are confident, competent, energized, resourceful, creative, knowledgeable, focused, a believer, emotionally intelligent, self controlled, an extra-miler, and a team player. If we lack some of these quality or skills we can acquire them and put them in practice. Our employer will take care of us. If worse comes to worst, we will have an outstanding reference from him or her and have a better chance to get a job some where else. Many unemployed people remain unemployed because they don't think a job is available (everybody has told them so), or they don't think they would be lucky enough to get one. Step 5. Smart investments. We know that we could not make a substantial investment until we get rid of most of our debts (credit card, car loan, vacation bills, house payment, etc.). We should have at least six months of our monthly income in our savings account (put aside for the rainy day) before we commit ourselves to the investment with large sum that in time would generate substantial profit. Here is another fact that we know. "Contrary to popular opinion, the rich don't always get richer. With few notable exceptions, which are always in the news, fast movement up or down [the wealth ladder] in two generations has been the fate of the American rich." George Gilder, author of Wealth and Poverty. We have to smartly spend money learning about investments by attending classes, seminars, reading books and seeking knowledge from reputable experts in his or her field (the good ones might be expensive but it will be worth it). We also want to understand about inflation and tax and how they affect our income. We definitely want to know how and why having our own corporation will put a big smile on our faces when it is time to pay tax. Here is another fact that we know. Mr. Robert G. Allen, an investor, lecturer and author of a colossal #1 best seller Nothing Down and Creating Wealth hired twenty-two experts in their areas to give him their "educated guess" as to the ten-year growth outlook for their specialty investment with realistic yearly growth rate. The twenty-two investments have been broken into six major categories with annual projected growth rates. The following is a list of the results. We will keep this list in mind and updating it before we make any investment
Step 6. Stay or get in shape physically, mentally and spiritually in order to grow and be able to enjoy the fruit of our labor. We don't do drugs, smoke and drink because they are bad for our bodies and mind. We also want to be fit to mind our own business. According to Robert T. Kiyosaki (multimillionaire, millionaire schoolteacher, famous speaker and author of the #1 New York Times Bestseller Rich Dad and Poor Dad), our business revolves around our asset. We want to build and keep our asset strong. Step 7. Enjoy the fruit of our labor with our loved ones and share it with others too. And finish well. Our major objective/goal in life is to live well and finish well. There are three factors that will help us finish well. The first one is compassion, which has love as its foundation. The second one is faith. Faith gives us confidence and the third one is courage. Regardless of how much love and compassion we have, or how much confidence we have through our faith, if we do not have the courage to take action, nothing significant is going to happen. We want to look back and say, "I am glad I did," instead of, "I wish I had." Recommended Reading Beating the Street (Stock Picking), Peter Lynch
Tip: While you read, highlight the messages you like and go over them as often as you need.
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12 มกราคม 2002
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