Makin' a Million Startin' with Zero

a career handbook for ages 16 and up

Some of us want to have a lot of money. Some of us don't. After Mother Theresa visited my aunt's small Alberta town, my aunt shared a story of how the famous nun carried all her earthly belongings in a small handbag. It included a change of saris and very little else. Mother Theresa wasn't interested in accumulating money, but she had accumulated much wealth. I consider her a billionaire. I'm sure she had more than a billion admirers. The following principles apply to building a career and accumulating many kinds of wealth.

Table of Contents

1. WRITE DOWN YOUR GOALS
   . . . even the little ones

2. GO AN EXTRA MILE
   . . . and achieve your goals

3. KEEP YOUR AGREEMENTS
   . . . do what you say you will and re-negotiate when you can't

4. BUILD YOUR NETWORKS
   . . . find a mentor and other key advisers

5. THINK IN OPTIONS AND CHOOSE WISELY
   . . . making thoughtful decisions that are right for you

6. ASK QUESTIONS
   . . . ask many of them, of yourself and others - every kind, every day

7. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF AND DECLARE YOUR RARITY to yourself
   . . . a different way of being humble

8. BECOME AWARE OF YOUR FEARS
   . . . use them as building blocks instead of stumbling blocks

9. GET IN TOUCH WITH YOUR FEELINGS
   . . . especially your gratitude and excitement

10. DEVELOP HEALTHY COMMUNICATION SKILLS
    . . . including self-awareness, speaking from the "I" point of view, listening, clarifying and paraphrasing

11. KEEP BOOKS AND SELL
    . . . manage your finances and sell yourself

12. FIND BALANCE IN LIFE AND GIVE BACK
    . . . work hard and play hard

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