http://www.bizcovering.com/tags/forbes magazine New posts about forbes magazine http://www.bizcovering.com/Business-and-Society/Six-Excuses-That-Must-be-Discarded-to-Become-a-Millionaire.159937 Few years back, I read an inspirational article “Millionaires secret formula” in the 1994 issue of Money Saver Magazine. The article was condensed from Charles Poisant's book “How to think like a millionaire”. It was a beautiful story of getting rich without sacrificing one's principle. One step, the Money Saver pointed out, was not even money, but a simple attitude---determination. I was enthralled with the article that I did some research on the lives of the people mentioned there. Their stories touched a humble beginning, simple life's principles and the most powerful forces in the world-a will of a man who believes in himself. But before we marveled on their achievements, according to the above-mentioned magazine, we must learn to discard the common excuses; other people had been fretting down the centuries. These are the common excuses that must be rid off:

1. I'm too old to get rich

   Ray Kroc, creator of the McDonald's franchise was over 50 years old when he earned his first millions. He was a simple food machineries salesman when he bought the small burger house from the McDonaldbrothers in New York City, the brothers incurred huge debt that they decided to give up their burger store and venture in another business. Ray Croc reinvented the food store into franchising and began expanding his territory all over the US and then-to the world. Now Mc Donald is one of the most admired companies in the world with more than 200,000 outlets. Dr. William Welch, the founder of Welch 100% Grape Juice was a rural health physician who switched to dentistry. He was 60 years old when he realized that he can earn huge money by extracting juice rather than pulling teeth. At first, while maintaining a dental clinic in Baltimore, USA, Welch utilized his time in reading books about fermentation process (introduced by French Bacteriologist Louis Pasteur) with his wife. Then he started the draining process of extracting Grapes in their kitchen.
   
   He first introduced his product to their Methodist Church to use as a ceremonial drink, the words spread to neighboring towns about the goodness of pure Grape Juice. Eventually it flourished and Dr. Welch decided to leave his profession to devote more time in his juice business. He then bought a piece of land to plant Grapes, now the plantation is well known as Concord. Today, the product boasted recognition when American Heart Association endorses the Welch 100% Grape Juice as an ideal drink which helps prevent heart problem because of Resveratrol (an antioxidant known for the prevention of cardiovascular disorder present in the Grapes).
   
   John Grisham, Hollywood's blockbuster writer became multimillionaire when he was 45 years old, that's when he left his job as a criminal lawyer and concentrated on writing suspense books. His published paperbacks managed to be included in the best-sellers record of New York Time Magazine and became instant hits among Hollywood producers. Grisham's first movie blockbuster hit was “The Pelican Brief” starring Julia Roberts and Denzel Washington followed by “The Firm” which starred Tom Cruise. Grisham used his expertise in legal profession to make his writing works a truly believable plot.

2. I'm too young to get rich

   Bill Gates, the second richest man in the world (for a record of 10 years, Gates, hold the distinction as World's richest man, until fortune Magazine published in March 2008 that the number one spot was dominated by Mexican billionaire Carlos Slim Helu, a telecommunication moguls in Latin America), was only 23 years old when he started his Microsoft business. By the time he dropped out from the prestigious Harvard University where he took up Commerce, William Henry Gates Jr. already made up his mind to concentrate in his information technology empire. He first teamed up with another computer wizard Paul Allen, but later on decided to establish his own business. Paul Allen, however, remained his partner and became a self-made billionaire; he is currently in the top 30 list of richest people in the world.
   
   Lee Ka Shing, Hongkong's wealthiest man was 21 years old when he began making money. His family moved to Hong Kong when the civil war in China broke up in 1930's. When he was 14 years old his father died living his younger siblings under his care, he accepted different odd jobs, when he turned 20 he joined a direct selling business, it prospered and the boy who once did door to door selling to earn a living became a millionaire at 21. He did not go to college but his eagerness to leave a mark in the business industry fueled his desire to compete against well-educated individuals in the business world. Presently, he is the richest man in South East Asia and ranked number 9 in the world, based in the 2008 listing of Forbes Magazine (note: he is the only person from South East Asia who is in the top 10 ranking of world's richest people in Forbes).

3. I have no capital

   Did you know that Lucio Tan, the Philippines richest man was a poor boy from China? His family migrated in the Philippines when he was 4 years old. He was a working student at Far Eastern University, Manila, where he took up Chemical Engineering and part timed as janitor in nearby oil company. He was diligent and industrious who valued time, after passing the chemical board exam he worked full time as a chemist, then he started his own company. According to Panorama Magazine (1994 issue), Mr. Tan's secret ingredient to success is hard work. He personally worked in his business until wee hours. He is a simple person who wears only barong during important business functions even after he transferred to the glitzy subdivision-Forbes Park. His business empire includes Allied Bank, PNB, PAL, Asia Brewery, La Tondeña Distillery, Pentagon Electronics, Virginia Tobacco, among others. He is listed as the 415th richest man in the world by US based business magazine Forbes and ranked 12th in South East Asia.
   
   Philippine's second richest man Henry Sy (14th richest man in South East Asia), is a son of a poor Chinese immigrant, so poor that when he first set foot in the Philippine soil he was Shoeless, when he became of age he went to Manila and lived with Chinese traders. He first worked as assistant in a shoe factory then put his own shoe shop, with perseverance, his shoe shop prospered, later became Shoe Mart which known SM CITY today. His business empire grew so fast that he competed with Asia's traditional businessmen in establishing shopping malls, the latest addition; SM mall of Asia is the 3rd largest mall in the world thrilling behind West Edmonton Mall in Alberta, Canada and Golden Resources Mall in Beijing, China.
   
   Another poor man who captured the world's imagination was Benjamin Franklin, American statesman, writer and inventor. He was the youngest child in the brood of 16. Though his parents owned a candle shop in Boston, Massachusetts, the mean income could not support comfortably with the whole family. Young Benjamin did not think much of food and what to eat because he had been told not to do so, he hardly eat delicious food. His older siblings had large appetite and would jam the table even before Ben could occupy his chair. When he realized that his father could no longer afford to send him to school, he decided to work in his brother's printing shop. Much of his earnings went to books. He adored poetry and short stories. Amidst poverty, young Ben dreamed big things; he practiced writing, though he did not know the very basic of that profession. Then his brother started beating him cruelly, this prompted Ben to run away, with little bucks left in his pocket, he stole down to Boston harbor and went to New York City. Ben had nothing except clean t-shirt and the pants he wore. In New York, he was not accepted for any work, so he went to Philadelphia, because he had no money to pay for the transportation, he endured the long miles walking the rocky roads and sleeping at the fields at night, by the time he reached Philadelphia he was tired, dirty and hungry.
   
   Benjamin accepted odd jobs and work day and night until he earned enough money to support his schooling. Later in his colorful journey, he founded his own printing shop, invented the first gas stove, published stories and became America's most celebrated statesman.(trivia: When Benjamin owned a company, he noticed a young man, 14 years his junior, who was prone to failures despite his aggressiveness in work, though this young man armed with undisputed talent, intellect and strengths, he was easily intimidated and discouraged with slightest mistakes. Benjamin decided to train this man and making his own struggles in life as example, he taught him how to conquer odds, the result was remarkable, this man became an asset of the company which later on made him a successful professional, he later on quit his job and joined politics, but the great lesson Benjamin Franklin taught him never fade in his mind and he used it as his springboard as he soared high in his career. That young man was none other than James Madison, who became the fourth US President. It's amazing to know that his great teacher in life was a poor stow away boy from Boston who once endured walking a rocky road, tired and dirty just to reach his dreams.
   
   J.K. Rowling, Blockbuster writer of The Harry Potter series, made her humble beginning as a college secretary then a French language professor at the Edinburgh University in Scotland. By the time she was divorced from her first husband she had lost her job, she and her only child, a daughter, lived in a small cottage in Edinburgh City and would often ate in a charity kitchen. One time she traveled to Manchester City in England through a rail way transit and saw young children playing in the suburb area, this inspired her to write the initial plot of Harry Potter. Her manuscript rejected 12 times until Bloomsbury, a small publishing company in suburb England accepted it with one condition-that she will changed her name from Joanne to J.K(stands for Joanne Kathleen-Kathleen is her grandmother's name) to camouflage her gender.
   
   In a male dominated society like Britain, women usually endure a painful discrimination getting youngsters market. The publication feared that the target market of Harry Potter might not patronize the book if they'll find out that it's written by a female. Jo Rowling created such impact that it became an instant hit, by the time the reading public knew the true identity of the writer it had gone a long way to the best-selling list of the international poll for new generation books and signed up to a British major movie outfit. Presently, J.K Rowling is listed in Forbes Magazine as the wealthiest author in the Entertainment Industry (she currently ranked 700th richest person in the world). She is considered also as the richest woman in Great Britain (Queen Elizabeth II had been excluded in the poll, because her wealth is tied up to her position as the current ruling monarch). Money does not count in the beginning, what matter most is one's ability to pursue specific goals.

4. I'm not educated

   Great American inventor Thomas Alva Edison did not go to college and so Alfred Nobel, a Swedish born scientist who invented dynamite, in fact Nobel had no orthodox training in chemistry when he started experimenting home-made bombs. He was a son of a Swedish Engineer who maintained a laboratory for explosives. The Late Greek shipping tycoon Aristotle Onassis who almost owned the world in mid 60's with his vast fortunes, had no formal college education. South Asia's richest man Li Ka Sing was a high school drop out. Though they were not educated in the real sense of the word, they were personally knowledgeable on the field they excelled.

5. I'm not gutsy

   Alfred Nobel was often described by his family as a shy, grown up man who is afraid of meeting people. He didn't marry, however, there was one legend that tells that Alfred Nobel once proposed to a sweet Swedish girl but was turned down because she preferred another man, a Swedish great Mathematician, Nobel took the rejection terribly that he decided not to propose to any woman again (the story remained a legend). He won't join the group and would confine in his father's laboratory for the rest of the day (his father, an Engineer, owned a laboratory who experimented explosives), before his death in December 10, 1896 he instructed his most trusted secretary to split his millions to various charity and founded Nobel Prize, the highest award giving body for human achievement in the world.
   
   (Trivia: Alfred Nobel's hatred for that mathematician rival lasted for a life time. When he drafted his last will testament, he strongly pointed out that no mathematics field shall be included in the Nobel Prize Award. The 20th century great mathematician, Albert Einstein won the Nobel Prize in 1921, because there was no mathematics category, he was awarded in the Physics division for his resilient work in photo electric effect. It made controversies however, because at that time his famous work was the Law of Relativity, but the Nobel Prize Award committee doubted this theory because of insufficient evidence, he was advised to prove more work on Relativity [which he perfected many years later]. The committee played safe by giving Einstein recognition in Photo Electric Effect instead.)
   
   King George VI of England was tremendously shy, he suffered nervousness and often stammered in public which irritated his father George V. The timid monarch, who was known to his family as Bertie and The Duke of York before his surprise accession in 1936, never attended parties except for important royal functions. He once confided to his wife how much he hated social gatherings. When his older brother, David, told him that he planned to abdicate, Prince Bertie, who dreaded the idea of becoming King and carry the weight of the crown under his fragile shoulder, rushed to his mother's room Queen Mary and broke in tears, which he recorded in his diary as “I cried in my mother's lap for an hour like a poor child” (source: The Royal Sisters by Anne Edwards)
   
   He became king on the abdication of his brother King Edward VIII on December 11, 1936. Edward, who was known to his family as Prince David, chooses to marry the twice divorced American woman Wallis Simpson. The British constitution prohibited the monarch from taking a divorce woman as consort. Edward VIII voluntarily rendered his unforgettable abdication sending his shy brother to the throne. King George VI (he died in his sleep on February 1952 from coronary thrombosis) reign for 16 years and with the help of his gallant Prime Minister William Churchill and his Queen consort Elizabeth Bowes Lyon (known as the Queen Mother after her daughter's accession in 1952), surpassed World War II with amazing victory. Great Britain became known as one of the most powerful and richest nations in the world. The British subjects adored and praised George VI honesty and leadership over his stammering habits and shy nature.
   
   Even the world's most adored fairytale writer Hans Christian Andersen was a shy man who had inferiority complex. His inferior nature was rooted in his childhood. When he was a little boy growing up in a Danish village, he suffered many rejections among his playmates who sometimes bet themselves if Hans was a male or a female. Even his own family had little hopes for him. Hans would hide among trees and barns to write stories and eat alone. Amidst the rejection, Hans determined to become famous.
   
   When he was 19 he went to Copenhagen, the capital of Denmark, he auditioned to become an actor, but the theater owner rejected him for not being good looking, he didn't lose hope and tried several times but the result was the same. Thinking he would never qualify as a performer, he switched to another passion: writing. His effort paid off, one of the playwrights gave him a chance and accepted his plays. During Hans' time playwrights were valued more than ministers and businessmen and they were often invited to royal palaces to entertain aristocracy and royalty. This paved the way for Hans's greatness, in one of his plays; the King's counselor offered him a scholarship and a place in the palace. Many years later Hans Christian Andersen became famous through out the world. His very popular fairytale story “The Ugly Duckling” many said, was the fairytale of his life. His fairytale books are known today as “stories that never grow old”.

6. It's too late

   According to a Psychology expert, the phrase “too late” is the most terrible concept that ever landed in every human's brain. There's no such thing as too late, he said, because you can start at any point in your life, after all, success does not depend on the chronological age of a person; it is based on one's perspective and ability to create a concrete goal. Hollywood Actress Jane Fonda once said, “Never too late to start, never too late to begin”, she was 52 then and had just married CNN Tycoon Ted Turner. Italian astronomer Galileo, the father of modern physics who discovered the law of pendulum and falling bodies, published his last book at the age of 70 four years before he contacted blindness (important note: Galileo died in the birth year of another great physicist Isaac Newton, known to the world as the father of modern science).
   
   Hollywood actor Paul Newman leads his team to victory in a car racing event in Italy when he was 82 years old. American writer Steve Berry; became a best-selling author at the age of 45. His first published book “The Amber Room” suffered 80 rejections before it was finally accepted on his 81st submission. The book became a best-seller. Yes, it is possible…and we don't need to rob a bank, kidnap a millionaire, or be slave abroad just to earn money. What we need is the ability to learn and adopt new things and be equipped with 2 basic business functions-marketing and innovation, plus the principle of US President Theodore Roosevelt-Determination and Persistence.
   
   But if these things fail despite your effort to succeed, don't you ever think that wealth is everything. While aiming big money is fine there are still best things in life that cannot be reciprocated by any amount: true friends, love ones, family, satisfaction, happiness, fulfillment and peace of mind. All these things operate outside the world of money. Some of the loneliest people in the universe are those who have billions in their accounts. While money plays an important role in our survival, self-belongingness and genuine happiness always count most in the over-all sense. Wisdom often leads us to greatness.

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