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In this new business economy having strong leadership skills means more than just having effective habits or the ability to persuade. People have noticed there is a big ethics crisis within our leadership. This ethics disaster has created a global downward spiral in the confidence of current leadership.

Our CEO’s and corporate executives have shaken confidence in our economic future and corporate model. People are in an uproar about the lack of ethics and un-kept promises leaders have recently demonstrated. This lack of ethics has nearly bankrupt many industries and created the first ever global economic crisis. Confidence in the future is at an all time low.

People want leaders to demonstrate what it is that they espouse. People no longer want to follow someone’s pedigree. The CEO’s that have participated in today’s crisis all had degrees from prestigious universities and still many took huge “golden parachutes,” while the masses lost everything. Now more than ever, people are watching to see what it is that leaders believe in. People want to follow a leader’s actions and results. People no longer care what you say you are going to do; people instead watch the results of what you do, and how you support them.

Whatever you advocate as a leader, you must demonstrate in word, deed and action. It must be a mindset that clearly demonstrates excellent self-command. Leadership has taken on new meaning in the new business economy. People want to follow someone with new ideas that are based on serving and creating opportunity for everyone to win, not just the leader and his cronies. Leaders are creating career blunders by not understanding what kind of leadership the new business economy is demanding.

Here are 5 things you must avoid now if you want to succeed as a leader and have a team of people follow you into the new business economy.

Don’t let these blunders trip you up.

-You must not have lack or limited thinking.

Lack thinking is part of why we are in this current crisis right now. Somewhere along the way someone thought that they could not get ahead doing business fairly. If you want to lead now, you must be skilled at possibility thinking.

- Having an “I’m a company man” attitude and philosophy.

Leaders must think and create plans that demonstrate the ability to benefit everyone. Leadership such as “Newman’s Own” proved that a CEO could serve human kind, benefit the whole and still create wealth. No longer will people follow a leader whose ideas benefit only the company and its bottom line.

-Not having self command.

Leaders must learn self-command, which is the ability to take action in a direction and maintain a powerful level of sustained focused action to complete the task.

- Not having a big enough vision.

If you are a leader and your company’s vision is not big enough to create a “purpose and a cause” for others, you will ultimately fail. People want to be a part of something that can change the world and make it better.

- Believing that you are what you think.

You are not what you think. Thinking is a tool not who you are. You can however, experience what you think. There is a big difference here. When you understand this principle you will tap into the most powerful knowledge and skill you can have as a leader, which is the science of results oriented thinking. This is the understanding that things show up in your life because you are creating the thinking, actions and circumstances that produce them.

Our current and future leaders are now being put under a microscope because of our past leaders’ actions. If you are looking at having a leadership position where others are depending on your abilities to get the job done or create stability in the aftermath of another’s lack thinking leadership model; then understand you must lead from a new perspective and others will develop confidence in you and your ability to lead them. You must understand that people are frightened by past actions of our leadership and are wary of giving a new leader a fair break. Leaders who want to influence others must project the hope and possibilities of creating a better tomorrow, today.

Vickie Jimenez is the author of “Champgane thoughts and Caviar power The Science of Results Oriented Thinking” and has over 20 years in the Personal Development field. She is an expert in personal and business mind set performance as well as work enviornment management. She is a speaker, corporate trainer and the CEO of Success Systems Seminars. She teaches companies, parents, teachers and individuals how to raise accountability and performance through self-command. increasing production, revenues, culture, sales and career satifaction. To learn more visit http://successsystemsnow.com

In this article, you will find:

* What Is Real Wealth?

* Passive Wealth And Active Wealth

* Investment Strategies To Become Wealthy

* What Is Real Wealth?

Money is a symbol, but for many people, money = rich. Rich is loads of money, but wealth is totally different. You see, winning the lottery makes you rich, but it does not in no way make you wealthy!

Knowing the principles of wealth will always serve you. How is it that men such as Donald Trump can come to a point near to bankruptcy and still turn richer than before, and how others can actually go from poverty, no home, and no money, into some of the richest people on Earth? No doubt mindset has a big part to play, but it is also the principles as well.

The wealth principles are same as they always been. So knowing things like compound interest will serve you in relationships as well as with money. Knowing that more harmonious your interactions are with others, will allow you to have more harmony in the world; likewise good and regular investment into savings or other wealth building strategies and techniques will make you wealthy.

* Passive Wealth And Active Wealth

There are 2 types of wealth building principle. One is passive wealth and active wealth. One requires money, while the other requires time. So we have a general formula:

Passive Wealth = Money

Active Wealth = Time

Passive wealth could be thought of as a bank account that pays high interest. You add the money, and passively it grows. You can look back in 10 years and find that constant addition made you a nice growing wealth.

Active wealth can be thought of as something that needs your attention. More attention, the more likely the interest you receive. Yes a high yielding savings account needs your attention when adding money, however it is very small time needed. Your interest you receive is likewise small. In a home business, you need to add time, and effort, this investment ends up yielding people around 30% a year (at least in direct mail, I have found).

* Investment Strategies To Become Wealthy

You need to have a balance of both. Having passive wealth strategies is great; the only problem is that you need money. Everyone starts from nothing and has to grow there own personal wealth. The majority leaves the passive wealth strategy for decades, and likewise wealth is a foreign term!

When you utilize such an old wealth strategy as save 10% and get wealthy, you get exactly that, you get wealthy. When you have a business, and work to make it a success, you get wealthy.

There are so many strategies and tactics. There are real estate, high yielding savings accounts in Switzerland, and MLM. There are HYIP programs that say they will make you wealthy, and of course the stock exchange. They all need to be known by you, you need to create a strategy based on your needs. And remember to always add to them.

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“Getting Rich Your Own Way” by Brian Tracy is a solid text on succeeding in your financial matters. With the advice Tracy gives in this book, the reader can create a road map to financial success. With some hard work and sweat, the reader can achieve success from that road map.

Over the years, I’ve enjoyed many of Tracy’s books and audio programs. I’ve also enjoyed seeing him speak on dvds a time or two as well. I found this book especially insightful into what it takes to achieve fortunes, or as the title says, get rich.

Do not misstate this book for some get rich quick scheme. In fact, Tracy states that it may take patience and it will certainly take effort. But if you have the right attitude and are willing to do what it takes, Tracy’s advice and guidance in this book will help you along your way to riches beyond what you currently have obtained.

The book starts with a very motivating introduction where Tracy covers topics such as the difference between success and failure, starting with nothing, how you can do it, the differences between rich and poor and the encouragement that you can learn what you need to learn.

The book then has ten chapters that cover the following topics:

1. Learn How to Become Rich: Why people don’t become rich, five ways to stay poor, five ways to become rich, definition of wealth, find a need and fill it, big fortunes and small ideas, one idea is all you need, maximize your assets, and become a no-limit person.

2. Become a Money Magnet: Change your thinking, change your life, all causation is mental, expect the best, become a living magnet, as within, so without, the laws are neutral, what you put in determines what you get back, negative thinking drives money away, think like the rich think, settle in for the long haul, learn what you need to learn, the great truth, you will see it when you believe it, resolve to pay the price, not for everyone, get serious, take charge of yourself, you must want it badly enough, your reasons why, make your goals specific, think long-term, give yourself a raise, the magic of visualization, control you inner dialogue, practice affirmations, you can do it, feed your mind with mental protein, get around the right people, sleep on it, imagine your ideal life, the golden hour, million-dollar habits, the rudder of the day.

3. Invest for Success: The financial planning school, invest the way the wealthy invest, your own business, income-producing real estate, land held for development, liquid investments, stocks and bonds, investment alternatives available to you, where to put your money conservatively, investing in the stock market, mutual fund investing, different ways to invest, and guard your money carefully.

4. Start with Nothing: The golden chain, the statistics are dreadful, four steps to financial success, five ways to become wealthy, the starting point of riches, pay yourself first, work hard and save your money, attract the money you want, starting with nothing, pleasure and pain, the wedge strategy for financial success, don’t lose money, strategies of the wealthy, change your personality, the truth about entrepreneurship, reasons for business failure, business success is predictable, get on-the-job experience, learn while you earn, five keys to business success, use your job as a springboard, do your research, practice the 10/90 rule, study successful companies, five rules for entrepreneurship, network marketing opportunities, money in your mailbox, get wired, start small, trade time for experience, seven steps to business success, be action-oriented, take a chance, and seven steps to financial independence.

5. Build Your Own Business: The failure rate is high, seven principles for business success, the factor of three, questions you must ask and answer to succeed in business, the great marketing questions, getting into the game, test your idea before you invest, fast, cheap market research, test-market your product or service, how to build a profitable business, and business opportunities are everywhere.

6. Market and Sell Anything: Marketing and sales defined, the marketing mix, five rules for selling anything, anywhere, five questions you must answer, selling your product or service, multiple ways to sell, start small, grow slowly, master the art of selling, control the revenues, opportunity gap analysis, getting free publicity, opportunities everywhere, and just do it.

7. Get the Money You Need: Ignorance holds you back, lack of money, money is available everywhere, determinants of credit, choosing the ideal business for you, and you can start today.

8. Think and Grow Rich: You are a potential genius, why creativity is so important, use more of your intelligence, multiply your results, as within, so without, stimulate your thinking, the qualities of genius, thinking more creatively, ways to get rich your own way, clarity is essential, and evaluating your ideas.

9. Learn From the Best: Copy the best in your business, qualities of the great ones, think like a champion, follow the leaders, the qualities of leadership, find your own acres of diamonds, become an apprentice, rent or buy the knowledge you need, ask for advice, study successful companies, and learn by trial and error.

10. Lead the Field: Three pathways, the common denominators, secrets of health, wealth, and happiness, put your career onto the fast track, and become a no-limit person.

As you can see, this book covers a lot of area. And not ever area may apply to your situation, but I’m sure you will find advice and suggestions by Tracy that if applied will better your financial future. Additionally, the ideas presented in this book may help you think of things you have never thought of before, or maybe in ways you haven’t thought of yet. Most of all, the motivation and practical advice found in this book should get you working toward your financial goals so you can live a better life and enjoy more than before.

Additionally, this book is not the be all and end all regarding the above topics. But it gives a good overview and it will point out the areas that will help you most and you can then find resources that go deeper into the topics that you most need to learn. This is an excellent introduction to wealth, and contains many proven strategies for success. The only thing is that you have to act on the information provided, and if you do, you can’t help but be more successful.

Alain Burrese, J.D. is a mediator/attorney with Bennett Law Office P.C. and an author/speaker through his own company Burrese Enterprises Inc. He writes and speaks about a variety of topics focusing on the business areas of negotiation and success principles as well as self-defense and safety topics. He is the author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks, several instructional dvds, and numerous articles. You can find out more about Alain Burrese at his websites http://www.burrese.com or http://www.bennettlawofficepc.com

In the first seven tips, we focused largely on things applicable to success in general; now let’s take the next two or three tips to get specific and focus in on the other part of our series title – wealth!

Tip #8 – Follow my three rules for creating wealth in your life.
Rule #1 – Live below your means.
Rule #2 – Save and invest the difference.
Rule #3 – Continuously improve on rules #1 and #2.

Again I will return to the slogan, it is simple, but it isn’t easy. Common sense dictates that if you follow these rules, eventually, at some point in the future, you will become wealthy. However, the killer is in the doing.

Wealth building is not rocket science. Contrary to what many want to believe, it is actually very basic, simple math. Make ten dollars. Subtract nine dollars to live on. Save and invest the one dollar difference. Repeat over and over again. Then, as the one dollar differences add up over time, learn to invest them better and better. Eventually they become a massive pile of money that begins growing itself quickly and easily, and instead of you working for your money, your money works for you. The formula for wealth is so simple, it is actually boring.

Where does everyone go wrong? If I shared the long version – well, that would be a book in itself. So, the short version… We live in a consumer society. We are bombarded by hundreds or even thousands of messages a day saying spend, spend, spend. Don’t think so – when you wake up in the morning, start counting the television and radio commercials, billboards you drive past, banners in store windows, ads in magazines, phone calls from telemarketers, flyers in the mailbox, e-mails pitching you everything under the sun, etc. I would be surprised if you didn’t give up counting before lunch time! If you buy this product you will be beautiful. If you buy this product you will have a beautiful spouse. If you buy this product you will feel great. If you buy this product you will… blah, blah, blah, blah.

From children to adulthood, through home and school, we are taught how to be responsible, conform to society’s rules, get a good job, buy nice things that are beyond our means, etc. However, very few of us are taught how to manage our money (aka follow my three rules)!

Instead of having a solid, long term plan, we chase instant gratification, which, to use Robert Kiyosaki’s terminology, keeps us stuck in the rat race. We work to make money, which we spend to make ourselves feel good, then the money runs out, and we feel lousy. So we work harder and longer to make more money, which only allows us to spend more money, which predictably runs out again, so we feel even lousier. Then the trap starts all over again.

Brian Tracy says this is Parkinson’s Law – that expenses rise to meet income. Make a little more money – spend a little more money. Get a raise – and we immediately go out and upgrade our car, or our cable television, or our health club membership, or our home, etc.

The first step to living by my three rules – recognize the pattern you are currently in, and, assuming it is the pattern of the average American (Parkinson’s Law), make a decision to change it. More on how to do that coming soon in tip #9.

There are a lot of things you can do to improve your situation once you have made a decision to do so; there is very little you can do to improve if you haven’t yet decided to!

If you enjoy my tips, please pass this on to anyone you know who may benefit from it… Together, let’s get inspired, let’s get motivated, let’s create some buzzzz, and let’s help some people (family, friends, and ourselves) create all of the wealth and success they want in life!!!

Chris Lund is a loving husband and father of two amazing boys. He is a lifetime learner, and an avid real estate investor since 1998. In December 2008, he achieved financial freedom, and quit working at a JOB. He writes “The Lund Letters”, a blog found at http://thelundletters.blogspot.com/ where he shares many of his successes as well as lessons learned. Chris firmly believes that you can have your excuses, or you can have your dreams, but you can’t have both. He can be reached via e-mail at reinvestorsfl@aol.com

Tip #1 – Especially at a time like this, when our American economy, and to some degree world economies, are in turmoil, you must take 100% responsibility for your life, your wealth, and your success. You can not sit back and idly wait for success to come to you – you need to figure out what you want, take the bull by the horns, and go out and make your life what you want it to be.

Abraham Lincoln said, “Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left behind by those who hustle.” Are you living your life based on what is left behind, or are you out there hustling and going after the gold?

I have been using the quote, “You can have your excuses, or you can have your dreams, but you can’t have both,” for some time now, and I honestly don’t know where I got it from. I might have created it myself, or I might have got it from someone, somewhere along the line, but if so I don’t know who. Anyhow, do you go after and get what you want in life? Or do you make excuses? The easy way out is to blame the economy, blame the real estate market, blame the politicians, blame the competition, point out how bad things are, and say that just getting by is doing better than most today. Blame is a game that nobody wins. As long as it is someone or something else’s fault, you can not improve. That is the easy way out, but is it what you want for your life? “You can have your excuses, or you can have your dreams, but you can’t have both.”

“What you ardently desire, sincerely believe in, vividly imagine, and enthusiastically act on must inevitably come to pass.” -Paul J. Myer

What Paul Myer is saying in that quote is something that great and successful people have known for hundreds of years, but somehow the other 99% of us rarely get looped in. Our circumstances don’t make us – we make our circumstances. If we want something, anything, badly enough, we really can go out and make it happen in our lives. Jim Rohn has a neat saying – “you aren’t a tree”. You aren’t stuck in one place. If you aren’t happy where you are at, move. If your life isn’t what you want it to be, stop blaming, stop making excuses, figure out what you want your life to be, and start making it so! We have all heard the old adage, if you continue doing what you have always done, you will continue to get what you have always got. If you aren’t happy with your current results, own up to them, take 100% responsibility, and start figuring out and doing what is required to get where you want to go. I have had a number of young real estate investors over the years ask me for advice, and I told most something like this… start where you are right now, with what you have right now, and figure out what you need to do to get where you want to go, and then “just do it”. Nido Qubein said, “Your present circumstances don’t determine where you go; they merely determine where you start.” Isn’t that great?!!!

I am not sure if many of you have studied Abraham Lincoln much, but he had a ton of great sayings, including, “Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other one thing.” Ella Wheeler Wilcox said, “There is no chance, no destiny, no fate that can circumvent or hinder or control the firm resolve of a determined soul.” Now, personally, I think things may hinder us some, but if we are bound and determined, and we take 100% responsibility, I don’t think there is much that can keep us from accomplishing just about anything we make up our minds to accomplish.

Now, what you can expect going forward… I used a lot of quotes in this tip, and I will try no to be quite so loose with them in other tips, but I will still use some. I will continue to give you great information, and it will continue to be up to you what, if anything, you get out of it. If you read my tips, say that was nice, and go about your day, nothing much will happen. However, if you find some advice that is pertinent to you in your life, and you capture it, and you act on it, maybe, just maybe, something I share with you now or in the next few weeks could change the rest of your life for the better!!! Now, that would be what I would hope and pray for! Also, please pass this on to anyone you know who may benefit from it… Together, let’s get inspired, let’s get motivated, let’s create some buzzzz, and let’s help some people (family, friends, and ourselves) create all of the wealth and success they want in life!!!

Chris Lund is a loving husband and father of two amazing boys. He is a lifetime learner, and an avid real estate investor since 1998. In December 2008, he achieved financial freedom, and quit working at a JOB. He writes “The Lund Letters”, a blog found at http://thelundletters.blogspot.com/ where he shares many of his successes as well as lessons learned. Chris firmly believes that you can have your excuses, or you can have your dreams, but you can’t have both. He can be reached via e-mail at reinvestorsfl@aol.com