Million Dollar Habits

1. Reality is the Foundation: Embrace Truth, Not Delusion

"Reality is the foundation for every other success habit, so in order for the ideas, strategies, and information that I discuss in this book to be of maximum benefit to you, it's crucial that you develop the Reality Habit."

Truth over fantasy. Success hinges on a clear perception of reality, not wishful thinking. Many people create a world in their minds based on how they want things to be, rather than how they actually are. This self-delusion leads to frustration and failure. The "Reality Habit" requires accepting truth, even when it's uncomfortable.
* There is only one reality, but many perceptions of it.
* A faulty perception of reality is destructive.
* Truth is often abhorred by the masses.

Actions have consequences. The foundational principle of success is that actions have consequences. Every action, no matter how small, will have a result. Ignoring this principle leads to problems. The consequences may not be immediate, but they are inevitable.
* Kindness begets kindness; cruelty begets cruelty.
* Reactions tend to be greater than the actions that provoke them.
* Everything you do goes into your book of life.

Transcend delusions. The world is full of delusions, from advertising to self-deception. To develop the Reality Habit, you must carefully examine your own beliefs and premises. Don't let the desire for something-for-nothing or delusions of grandeur cloud your judgment.
* Advertising often sells what people want, not what they need.
* Self-delusion can lead to mental illness, financial failure, and war.
* The desire for something for nothing can separate you from the real world.

2. Attitude is Everything: Belief Fuels Positive Action

"Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms—to choose one's attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one's own way."

Belief is the foundation. A positive mental attitude (PMA) is not just about superficial optimism; it's about having a strong belief system. Belief is fueled by knowledge and wisdom. The more you understand how the world works, the more confident you become.
* PMA without belief is just playacting.
* Belief cannot be willed; it is acquired through knowledge and wisdom.
* A positive mental attitude is synonymous with a strong belief system.

Four realities for PMA. To sustain a true positive mental attitude, you must understand four basic realities:
* Problems are an ongoing part of life.
* The Natural Law of Balance means there's an offsetting positive to every negative.
* The Law of Averages guarantees that if you keep trying, things will work out.
* Through the power of the mind, you can control your destiny.

Expansive mental paradigm. A positive mental attitude is linked to an expansive mental paradigm, a mind that is open to new ideas and possibilities. This leads to resourcefulness and alternative thinking.
* A resourceful mind is a mind that is willing to consider all possibilities.
* Limitations are often self-imposed.
* PMA and an expansive mental paradigm are synonymous.

3. Perspective is Key: Problems are Relative, Not Absolute

"When problems arise, get in the habit of asking yourself: problems relative to what?"

Problems are inevitable. Life is a never-ending stream of problems, obstacles, and setbacks. It's crucial to view these as normal, not unexpected occurrences. A Pollyanna-like outlook is an invitation to disaster.
* Life is lost jobs, failed deals, and unfair treatment.
* Problems are a normal, integral part of the living experience.
* Accepting this reality allows you to adapt and maximize negative situations.

Misfortune is an illusion. Misfortune and setbacks are often illusions because we fail to see the long-term benefits. Every negative situation has an offsetting positive. The key is to look for the opportunity hidden within the adversity.
* Every failure plants the seed of an equivalent success.
* Look at your glass as half full rather than half empty.
* Misfortune and setbacks are often nothing more than illusions.

Keep things in perspective. The inability to view problems in a relative light is a widespread human defect. Don't blow problems out of proportion. Use genuinely serious problems to keep routine problems in perspective.
* All problems are relative.
* Financial problems are not life-or-death matters.
* The best deal in the world comes along every day.

4. Present Living is Purposeful: Find Meaning in the Now

"The best day really is today. Forget about today being the first day of the rest of your life. Today could be the last day of the rest of your life."

Striving is the goal. Striving toward goals is not a means to an end, but an end in itself. Don't wish your life away in anticipation of achieving some long-awaited goal. The journey is more important than the destination.
* Happiness is a condition, not a destination.
* Man's real purpose is not to achieve goals, but to constantly strive toward them.
* The future doesn't need your attention; it has an annoying habit of arriving ahead of schedule.

Five Present Living Questions. To live in the present, you must answer five key questions:
* What do I enjoy?
* What am I good at?
* What do I want out of life?
* What's the price?
* Am I willing to pay the price?

Meaning over money. The will to money is just another form of the will to power, which always brings about self-destruction. Money should be a side effect of a higher purpose. Focus on finding a game worth playing, something you enjoy and are good at.
* The will to power always brings about self-destruction.
* Money, like happiness, must be a side effect of a higher purpose.
* The game is here and now; it's the present; it gives life its meaning.

5. Morality is Non-Negotiable: Honesty is the Best Policy

"Plain and simple, honesty is the absolute refusal to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive in any way."

Honesty is paramount. Honesty is the absolute refusal to lie, steal, cheat, or deceive. It's a rigid standard that should guide your daily behavior. While you may choose to obey certain laws for pragmatic reasons, your personal moral beliefs should remain steadfast.
* Honesty is a personal choice, not a legal obligation.
* You should be honest because you want to, not because you have to.
* A clear set of values prevents you from straying off course.

Types of dishonesty. Be aware of the various forms of dishonesty, including:
* Little white lies: Seemingly insignificant lies that can lead to bigger lies.
* Exaggeration lies: Inflating facts or feats.
* Omission lies: Withholding relevant information.
* Sort-of-true lies: Deceptive statements that are technically true but misleading.

Concentricity is key. Integrity is the consistency of your beliefs, words, and actions. When these are aligned, you have integrity. When they pull apart, your integrity is slipping.
* You must be ever vigilant when it comes to not compromising your integrity.
* What you do must align with what you believe and say.
* Integrity is a highly personal matter; you embrace it for your own sake.

6. Human Relations Matter: Cooperation is the Path to Success

"The more successful you are in getting others to cooperate with you, and the more people you can solicit as allies, the greater your chances of achieving positive results."

Cooperation is essential. Success depends on your ability to relate well to others and gain their cooperation. Good human relations make life easier and success more attainable.
* Poor human relations lead to a problem-filled life.
* Good human relations lead to a pleasant life.
* The more people you can solicit as allies, the greater your chances of success.

Keys to cooperation. Effective communication is key to successful human relations. Some important traits include:
* Brevity: Be succinct and to the point.
* Compassion: Put yourself in the other person's shoes.
* Decisiveness: Be firm and clear in your decisions.
* Discretion: Guard private matters and avoid overexposure.
* Genuineness: Be yourself and let your true self shine.
* Graciousness: Be kind and courteous to others.
* Refinement: Display good taste and manners.
* Responsibility: Do what you say you're going to do.
* Self-sufficiency: Be resourceful and take initiative.
* Tactfulness: Use diplomacy and avoid challenging others.
* Tolerance: Respect others' right to have different beliefs.

Value for value. The foundation for all sound relationships is value for value, or win-win. Make sure all parties to a transaction come out ahead.
* The surest way to succeed is to make certain that all parties to a transaction come out ahead.
* For every positive, there's an offsetting negative.
* Force always loses in the real world.

7. Simplicity is Powerful: Less is Often More

"The more I reflect on the question, and the more I draw from my own experience and the experiences of others, the more convinced I am that striving toward goals is not a means to an end, but, rather, an end in itself."

Simplicity is key. Simplicity is almost always the best approach when it comes to getting results. Avoid overcomplicating your life with unnecessary tasks and projects.
* Most people choose the complex way over the simple way.
* A clear mind is invaluable.
* The best day really is today.

Avoid overcommitment. Learn to say no politely and firmly. Don't overextend yourself by committing to too many projects.
* The problem with little white lies is that they tend to lead to bigger and bigger lies.
* The power of the understatement is enormous.
* Don't be so much to everyone else that you become nothing to yourself.

The Penny-ante Trap. Don't get caught up in minor, perceived injustices, especially when they involve money. Focus on the big picture and avoid wasting time on trivial matters.
* All problems are relative.
* The purpose of life isn't to see how often you can prove you're right.
* The purpose of life is to live.

Focus on the crux. Concentrate on what you do best and let others do the rest. Don't get bogged down in details that don't matter.
* Work expands to fill the time available for its completion.
* The most successful people are not workaholics.
* The preciousness lies in the lonely mind of a man.

Simple success formula. To make money, charge the highest price the market will bear, keep expenses low, and the difference is your profit.
* It's a lot simpler to follow a pioneer than be a pioneer.
* The easiest and most direct path to finding a marketable product or service is to modify a known success and improve on it.
* The more rapid the expansion, particularly in the early years, the less likely a business is to succeed.

8. Eliminate Drain People: Protect Your Time and Energy

"You'll never smell like a rose if you roll in a dunghill."

Drain people are costly. Drain People are those who drain you of time, energy, peace of mind, and/or money. They are a major obstacle to success.
* Who you associate with is like a neon sign that tells the world where you are on the success ladder.
* If you treat people in negative ways, they will act negatively toward you.
* You must have gold to make gold.

Types of drain people. Be aware of the various types of Drain People:
* The Burr Person: Always negative and critical.
* The Changer: Wants to change you to conform to his ways.
* The Chiseler: Always trying to get a better deal.
* The Conditional Person: Gives with strings attached.
* The Deal Gabber: Loves to talk but rarely acts.
* The Desperate Person: Prone to panic and bad decisions.
* The Destroyer: Tries to tear you down.
* The Hallucinator: Lives in a world of self-delusion.
* The Liar: Dishonest and untrustworthy.
* The Rude Monger: Self-centered and discourteous.
* The Skinflint: Obsessed with saving pennies.
* Legalman: The master of intimidation and fee-building.

Cut your losses. Once a Drain Person, always a Drain Person. Don't waste time trying to change them. Cut your losses and get them out of your life.
* Never leave the door open after a small evil manages to make its way inside.
* Once a person begins to drain you, cut your losses and get him completely out of your life.
* When in doubt, keep them out.

9. Self-Discipline is Essential: Master Yourself First

"Be first the master of yourself, and only then a master of others."

Self-control is key. Self-discipline is about overriding your emotions and acting on your intellectual conclusions. It's about mastering yourself and your impulses.
* Freedom comes from triumphing over your emotions.
* When you allow your emotions to rule, you subject yourself to emotional enslavement.
* Self-discipline manifests itself as a feeling of self-control.

Future-oriented thinking. Self-discipline requires connecting today's actions with tomorrow's results. Don't let the desire for instant gratification lead you to make poor long-term decisions.
* You always have a choice.
* The person who succeeds and the person who fails may both know how to succeed, but the successful person disciplines himself to do the right thing.
* The Natural Law of Balance assures us that those things that provide the greatest amount of immediate pleasure usually are the very things that are most detrimental to our long-term health, happiness, and success.

Conquer impulsive urges. Avoid acting impulsively, especially in high-stakes situations. Take time to analyze your options before making a decision.
* The power of the understatement is enormous.
* The more you talk, the more you increase your chances of saying something that may open a can of worms and kill a deal at the eleventh hour.
* Never try to promote a promoter.

Preparation is crucial. Be prepared for every situation. This includes both tangible preparation (documents, figures) and psychological preparation (anticipating objections).
* The hero is not impulsive. He prepares.
* Time and I against any other two.
* At the moment of truth, never risk a fumble.

10. Action is the Ultimate Key: Consistent Effort Wins

"Anything the mind can conceive and believe, it can achieve."

Consistent action is vital. Success is not about talent or luck; it's about consistent effort. The key is to take action every day, even when you don't feel like it.
* The law of averages guarantees that if you just keep trying, sooner or later things will usually work out.
* When you're ready for a thing, it will make its appearance.
* The greatest revolution of our generation is the discovery that human beings, by changing the inner attitudes of their minds, can change the outer aspects of their lives.

Avoid the Assumption Trap. Don't assume anything. Check the facts and verify information.
* The words "I assume" comprise one of the most dangerous phrases in the English language.
* The degree of miscommunication regarding what's been agreed upon in a business deal tends to increase in direct proportion to the amount of money involved.
* The person who assures you that everything is all right is all wrong.

Focus on the present. While it's important to plan for the future, don't let it distract you from the present. Find meaning in your daily work and enjoy the process of striving toward your goals.
* The best day really is today.
* Yesterday is a cancelled check; tomorrow is a promissory note; but today is cash.
* What man needs is not a tensionless state, but rather the striving and struggling of some goal worthy of him.

Last updated: January 14, 2025