Various Strategies Toward Success, Wealth, and Happiness: Assessments and Courses of Action

© Copyright 2012 Narciso D. Domingo.

All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, or otherwise, without the written prior permission of the author.

ISBN: 978-1-4669-5763-3 (sc)

ISBN: 978-1-4669-5764-0 (e)

Trafford rev. 09/12/2012

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CONTENTS

DEDICATION

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

INTRODUCTION

PART 1

46773.jpg Why success, wealth and happiness?

46773.jpg Is it possible for everybody?

46773.jpg Common Denominator

46773.jpg When is enough, enough?

Various Strategies

— Rhonda Byrne (www.thesecret.tv)

— Christy Whitman (www.7EssentialLaws.com)

— Rod Finnie (The Science of Generating Wealth)

— Robert Kiyosaki (www.RichDad.com)

— Francisco Colayco (Wealth Within Your Reach)

— Bo Sanchez (Secrets of the Truly Rich)

— Robert Greene (48 Laws of Power)

— David J. Schwartz (The Magic of Thinking Big)

— Henriette Anne Klauser, Ph. D (Write It Down, Make It Happent)

— Stephen R. Covey (7 The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People)

PART 11

46773.jpg Critiques and Assessments

— www.TheSecret.tv

— www.7essentiallaws.com

— The Science of Generating Wealth

— www.RichDad.com

— Wealth Within Your Reach

— Secrets of the Truly Rich

— The 48 Laws of Power

— The Magic of Thinking Big

— Write it Down, Make it Happen

— 7 Habits of Highly effective People

46773.jpg A Glimpse on the 2010 World’s Top Three Richest Men

46773.jpg Common Background, Attitude and Values

46773.jpg The 2010 World’s Happiest Countries

46773.jpg Common Profiles and Characteristics

46773.jpg 10 Secrets of the Happiest People in the World

46773.jpg Over-all Assessment

PART 111

46773.jpg Courses of Actions

46773.jpg The search is over

46773.jpg What Now?

46773.jpg The 7-Move Checkmate

46773.jpg 5 ‘W’s and 1 ‘H’ of Happiness

46773.jpg 10 Deadly Sins of Negative Thinking

46773.jpg The 90/10 Principle

46773.jpg Past, Present and the Future

46773.jpg The Number One Obstacle

46773.jpg A Balanced Life

46773.jpg The Greatest Challenge

AFTERWORD

BIBLIOGRAPHY

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

DEDICATION

To the Great Architect of the Universe from whom real success, wealth and happiness emanates…

ACKNOWLEDGMENT

To the 7 Billionth human being, who as of this writing was born on Earth and inspired the author to write, edit and edit again this book, for the betterment of mankind.

INTRODUCTION

At present, there are thousands—if not millions of materials—both online and offline, taking up the subject matter—SUCCESS, WEALTH and HAPPINESS. I will not be talking about another notions or ideas.

This book just strategically assesses some of the existing references available in terms of their applicability and practicality. It also analyzes why—despite of these voluminous materials, the search for these elusive states continues.

This book tries to find why and how come a lot of people—still see life as a grim struggle between success or failure, scarcity or abundance and sadness or happiness.

I don’t only mean hardships in its real sense but also to the same failures, scarcity or miseries inside the hearts and minds of people.

For instance, while some may already have everything that others just dream of—or may never have in their wildest dreams, you still can see discontent among them. Some even gamble their family’s honor and prestige just to further increase what they already have—to the extent that they are involved in anomalies, their families neglected and they even mastermind murders to eradicate opposition.

Most people wonder why and how come only a small percentage of the population owned large properties in their locality. Such imbalance is prevalent not only among the so-called third world countries but also even in the developed world.

On the other hand, one may found it strange that some seemed happy and contented with their own simple lives. There are people who worked in foreign lands—even leaving their children behind just to earn, but still found happiness and contentment in life.

I personally know a medical doctor who found fulfillment and joy working for a rural community in the hinterlands rather than working in the more comfortable, high-paying hospital in the city.

Out of those voluminous references, I had personally selected a sample of 10 strategies written by various authors, to be assessed. I’ll present to you in capsule form their secrets, laws, habits, rules and commandments that accordingly, give you everything you want in life.

We will also have a glimpse on the lives of the world’s top 3 richest men as published by www.forbes.com and take a discerning look on the world’s happiest countries as surveyed by Gallup World Poll.

The purpose of which is not to attempt a cheap copycat from them but to find what character, attitude and values had made them as such. Likewise, we will evaluate what probably made the people in the world’s happiest countries—happy.

We will together take a run through on the concepts and principles of each strategy in Part 1, the critiques and assessments in Part 11 and decide which among the strategies assessed can be applied and can be practiced by anyone who aspires betterment of his life in Part 111.

I tailor-made some analysis, reflections and courses of action out of the critics and assessments in such a way that it can be easily implemented. When internalized and made as a way of living, it will surely benefit each reader in all of his/her life’s aspects.

I won’t guarantee or promise everything but I personally believe that if you read this book with an open mind, you will be able to further improve you present self, contribute something better towards making this world a better place to live and perhaps, eventually leave a good legacy to your children’s children.

I know that each of us has that utmost desire to remove that unknown vacuum within us and break those barriers that hinder one’s success, wealth and happiness.

But one can never help others if—he in the first place, also needs to be helped.

The fact that this book is now in your hand is not an accident. It is with you right now for a purpose—that is, to help you attain what you really want in life while helping others do the same. I just did!

YOU DESERVE TO SUCCEED, BE WEALTHY AND BE HAPPY!!!

PART 1

You will find out here why I chose this subject matter for my research. You’ll find also how possible these states of life be attained by every reader based on the parameters—which will be set, basing on the generally accepted definition of terms. More than half of Part 1 presents the selected books, websites and materials in summarized form. Each author varies in certain degrees, in his or her insights toward the achievement of those age-old human needs.

Why success, wealth and happiness?

A lot of people for sure will wonder how a police officer dare discuss serious subjects such as these. Well, wonder no more because it does not really matter.

The belief that one must only discuss things within his or her usual vocation had made our world where it is today—full of misunderstanding, conflict and wars, both in its implied and literal meanings. If we all stick on such traditional mentality, mankind goes nowhere!

A politician for instance, must stop thinking about politics right after elections. He must instead focus more on paving solutions to the immediate problems—economic, socio-cultural and even happiness of his constituents.

The same is true with the Priests, Pastors, Monks, Imams or Rabbis. It’s high time for them to cease to sound like clanging cymbals, preaching morality according to what they learned from their seniors rather than basing it on the realities of life.

The Police and the Military on the other hand—ought to know, not only on winning the fight against crimes or security operations but more so in winning the hearts and minds of the community they serve.

What counts most is that—before a person delves on something, he must have known the intricacies—the ins and outs of a particular subject. In this case, the author took much time—5 years to be exact, assessing and implementing the most popular references on said subjects available.

This is the reason why this book comes to you as a finished product, ready for implementation.

Everything in this world is in one way or another, interconnected. You cannot separate mental or physical achievements for instance, to your failures in the emotional and spiritual aspects. You can never say that you are happy when you succeeded in some of your endeavors yet lacked almost in everything.

I believe that one cannot and will never be able to attain what he wants in life if he focuses on the mechanics of those he do not want. Thus, I was inclined to these—some say, selfish goal to succeed, wealth and happiness.

I had chosen to share and discuss the said subjects since as we see, millions—if not billions of people still suffer misery, pain and poverty. If 2 readers share what they have learned from this book to 2 of their friends and their friends will do the same to their other friends, it will not take too long until those problems shall be eased up—if not totally eradicated.

Is it possible for everybody?

The better question is, is it necessary to succeed and be wealthy to be happy?

I never saw a normal person who is very happy because he failed in his endeavor. I specified here normal because I already saw a crazy man who found it very funny when a naughty boy pulled down his pants!

Ironically, I also meet people who—despite of their great success, seemed so unhappy. I know for instance a great man who—after taking the highest position in his organization, continued to achieve with a very laudable performance as chief of various governments agencies and thus received prestigious awards both national and international. Yet—at the twilight of his life, he shot himself and died on top of his mother’s grave.

Forget for the meantime, whatever been taught, conditioned and made to believe by your parents, teachers and peers. Empty your mind from those societal standards—even temporarily and while reading this book, if you really want to learn new possibilities. Let me cite to you some important points which our society in general, overlooked.

One example is the society’s dual standards on the justice system. If a powerful, wealthy and successful man evades a warrant of arrest by hiding in another country, the society condones it and even welcome when he resurfaced only after his warrant is quashed by a higher court.

But, when an ordinary citizen—say a lowly police officer tries self-preservation by going underground, expect a high-ranking official or some Dirty Harry to immediately issue shot-to-kill order if he refuses to surrender.

The society’s elite brags what are we in power for? It goes without saying that by societal standards, one has to prove and improve himself first before he can be on the level with the rest of the society. Again, would it be possible for everybody?

My answer is YES!

Everything that happened in our life is the sum of all our fears and beliefs. Whatever you think and act every minute of every hour, manifests accordingly and make you as what you are today.

Think and act like an unimportant joker for instance and the society treats you as a joker. Think an act as if you’re a graft-buster and the society will vote for you.

Nothing really is impossible under the heat of the sun. But again, as I had earlier mentioned, all the possibilities will depend from each according to his need, to all according to his will. It is here where goal-setting and the individual standard of living differs.

It’s just unfortunate that I came to realize these things only a few years ago. Had I been shared with these principles while I was still younger, I would have had enjoyed life to the fullest years earlier.

Well, there may be some truth to that adage that life begins at 40!

When we were young, we were told by our parents to study hard to get good grades in school so that when we graduate we can easily look for jobs. We were then told that when we get jobs, we will be able to feed ourselves and our family at least 3x a day and have a good life.

Such teachings were inculcated into our hearts and minds so we studied hard, found a job and eat not only 3x but even 6x a day, and complain why we are getting fat!

As a result, many of us landed to that condition where we always fight for survival. Our salary oftentimes would not last up to the next salary. It became some sort of a survival of the fittest situation wherein no matter how you wish to help your aging parents or friends, you can only afford to provide them limited assistance and limited time because you have to attend first to your own self, your job and your immediate family’s needs.

You may ask so our parents were wrong with their teachings? Of course, not! They are right in their own way.

It’s just that they didn’t have this opportunity to know that success, wealth and happiness is possible for everybody and that it only takes a simple change in one’s thinking and action. Unlike us, they got a limited source of knowledge which may have propelled them to a higher state of existence.

How I wished that they had that chance to know that it is possible for anybody to enjoy life in abundance instead of scarcity—that it is possible for anyone to choose success instead of failures and it is possible for anyone to be happy all the time instead of worrying for survival.

Let me remind you though, that each definition of success, wealth and happiness largely depends on each reader’s individual mindset. It is proportional to one’s own perception on things and in accordance to the foundation taken in his formative stage.

As you begin to build a stronger foundation for your new life’s ladder, let me show to you the common ground—that common denominator where we could discuss and mean the same things.

Common Denominator

A man’s terrorist may be another man’s freedom fighter. What might be good for one may be bad for another. The great warrior—Genghis Khan for instance, believed that the greatest happiness is conquering one’s enemies, taking their property, savoring their despair while outraging their wives and daughters.

To clear out these ambiguities, we must align all our thoughts, words and actions to mean the same as it is communicated. There are various notions on the above terms and each meaning varies according to what one advocates or who’s the speaker.

For purposes of having that common denominator, we will focus on the most widely accepted definitions not only among us but also with the past and perhaps, the future generations.

Hereunder are some of the descriptions as cited by Encarta, Webster’s, Wikipedia, and other authorities.

Success refers to the attainment of objective or goal; something that turns out well as planned or intended; an impressive achievement; An attainment of fame, prestige and power. It is further referred as a favorable or prosperous termination of attempts or endeavors.

Wealth is commonly referred to as an abundance of everything; the state of having plenty of money and possessions, goods or services with monetary, exchangeable or productive value; a sufficiency of money and material possessions.

Happiness is generally described as a feeling of pleasure, contentment or joy; feeling satisfied that something good has been done right and shared with others.

These definitions are again, the widely accepted parameters although as we go on, we will see further notions and or interpretations expounding these terms according to the authors’ own biases. But from now on, treat these references as your own.

This has nothing to do to Einstein’s theory of relativity but I would still say that relativity could also be applied in human relations, when it comes to the concept of good and bad.

A good example is that man who feels success and happiness after detonating a bomb, instantly killing himself and others. For his organization, he was a hero yet for the victims and their relatives, he was a terrorist.

But that is another story. I just mentioned it in passing to stress the importance of a common denominator as we from this time onwards, agree on the general descriptions of success, wealth and happiness.

When is enough, enough?

The common grounds cited above serves as our barometer to measure or quantify those simple yet complicated terms. The problem now is when can one tell he is already successful? How can one say that he is already wealthy? What will be his basis to say that he enjoy and is happy with his life?

Each human being has his or her own standard. This standard is unique such as that no two individuals are the same.

With this insight, it could be generalized that one’s concept of success, wealth and happiness varies from person to person and that the height, width or weight of his dreams are directly proportional to his or her ability to set it.

Enough is enough when one successfully achieved his or her goals in life. As for me, it is enough when I can already do whatever I need to do, neither worrying on resources to support it nor expect a return of the support given.

Enough is enough when I enjoy life and live accordingly with my own dreams, with gratefulness in my heart and satisfied in sharing and helping others just as what I’m doing right now.

It is yours—and yours alone, to responsibly set up your own standard based on your own perception—not as what other people dictate. Set your own standard for that enough which is enough for you right now.

I felt I had to repeat this. I said, set your own standard according to what you think is enough for you—not according to the standards of Slim, Gates, Buffet or to the standards of Mother Theresa, your unemployed friends or your children.

Desiderata says; Never compare—for always, there will be greater and lesser person than you. Think and act according to your own parameters—not as what others told you. You cannot please everybody and there will always be pro or against your action.

A million dollars is more than enough for an ordinary employee or worker. But it is not enough for an entrepreneur with so many streams of income. As you go on reading, find time to set your own goals and dreams and set it as your specific target for a definite period of time.

Without those goals and dreams to be acted upon—and the necessary courses of action which I will further discuss in Part 111, anybody would just like be that rich, successful man I earlier cited, who died seemingly unhappy.

Somebody joked: Success, wealth and happiness is relative. The more success, wealth and happiness, the more relatives you’ll have!

Various Strategies

I had carefully selected 10 references, as enumerated below, which I think many have or already heard about. It’s out in the bookstores for many years now but for those who may not yet accessed it, I purposely presented the respective author’s salient points so that any reader shall have a brief background on what I am talking about.

I said carefully selected because I had read and researched on twice as many materials—out of which 10 were chosen and assessed. I also wanted to present ideas and strategies from different perspectives—mentalists, motivational, psychological and even spiritual outlooks from east to west or north to south and vice versa, from which we will derive assessments to base our own courses of action.

Please take note by the way, that the authors below will not pay me for mentioning