Financial Pictogrigm, Money Matters, and that sort of stuff...
 

Here is the FINANCIAL PICTOGRIGM:



And here is a link to it in a bigger format so you can actually read what it says:

Financial Pictogrigm

And some explanations...

You have sources of money, and you then distribute your money.

If you distribute more than you source, you have debt. Now remember, SQ1 ain't rocket science...it is just another way of looking at things.

There is a list down the left hand side and work is at the top of the list. This is how most people make money or it is the primary source of their finances.

Go down the list a little way to TALENT.

I live across the street from an artist.

She works in stained glass. I saw one of her pieces last week in Peninsula OH, a quaint little town with lots of antique shops and places where the Cuyahoga Valley artisans display their work.

My neighbor’s work was selling for $550.00 for a piece about 8” X 14”. It won’t last long, her stuff doesn’t stay on display very long.

This is another form of CONSIGNMENT as I talked about earlier. Many artists work on Spec (speculation) and create then sell.

Using a CONSIGNMENT way to sell your TALENT is very smart.

The ARTIST wins because she is free to do what she does best, CREATE.

The MERCHANT wins because she gets quality work to sell at NO COST…

And the CUSTOMER wins because they get a one of a kind piece of work to display on their mantle or wall. Like I do with Amber’s egg.

So this example includes 3 pieces from the Financial Pictogrigm (FP)

Work
Talent
JV

Plus this example also is art, collectibles, and chattel, all under ownership.

In the middle of the FP you see a drawing of your future path.

There is an X that marks where you are today. You could be in either Abundance or Need, or somewhere in between.

Note that the path has a fork in it, which indicates a choice, your choice about which path you want to take.

If you choose the upper path you will see that is a result of YOU HAPPENING TO LIFE…

To land in the pit, the bottom of the barrel, well, that takes just the opposite action (or inaction) and that is LETTING LIFE HAPPEN TO YOU.

Even people who walk the path of Abundance can trip and fall down into the pit of need, I know, been there done that myself.

But there is a bridge that you can catch on too as you fall, or if you are in the pit, you can throw a rope up and climb out of the pit to the bridge of KNOWLEDGE.

Take a look at the list of sources again and on the bottom you will see PROPRIETARY properties.

Harvey Brody uses this source and a TOLL position to create wealth. He sources as much money in a day as most people do in a YEAR.

Which is why I’m trying to convince Harvey to share his techniques with us deserving people.

But you see these can be patents, copyrights, formulas, processes and KNOWLEDGE….

Look up to the right hand corner. See TOLLS.

That is what Harvey Brody uses and teaches. Get a TOLL position.

Some of these are on the FP, royalty, residuals, subscription, syndication.

Now, back to the list and we’re almost done for today.

Look under business…which is under ownership…and you will see Joint Ventures.

I think this may be for many of you the most important part of the FP.

I believe in multiple streams of income. I believe in cash transactions. I believe in Joint Ventures.

Do I practice what I teach? Fair question.

I have a JV with Dien Rice for sowpub. I have a JV with Mike Winicki for audio programs. I do JV’s with my brothers on cars and the occasional big chattel item.
I’m working on a JV for a couple of my books, as I’ve listed below.

I don’t work collectibles, but I do collect, and these are easily converted to cash if needed. Dien saw a few of the collections, he sat in a red mohair chair from pre 1920…Dien, you probably had no idea what that was worth do you?

I write and intend to have ROYALTY income from these writings. If I ever decide to bring out the Winged Wedge 222 it will produce a royalty income (but much higher than I was offered previously)…I am acquiring copyrights from other people, mostly old books, but I can’t say much, believe it or not, there really are marketers who will steal your stuff. OH Well.

My point? Yes, I do practice what I teach. I don’t make a big deal about my side of things.

How do you initiate a JV? The first thing is to actually write out how the CUSTOMER is going to benefit. How is the final user going to WIN.

Then, how is your JV partner going to WIN,

And finally, how are you going to WIN.

On the FP this is the rule in the upper right hand corner.

GIVE then GET.

SOW then HARVEST.

Serve then RECEIVE.

Now, we will be taking this kind of posting behind closed doors to a members only forum.

It will be FREE, sort of. The cost to get a password is a commitment to participate, no lurkers allowed.

Now with the FP to look at…check out the POA and the DOL…

See if you can tie them together…

http://www.sowpub.com/gordon/sq1life.JPG

This is the DIAGRIGM OF LIFE.

http://www.sowpub.com/gordon/poa.jpg

And the Pyramid of Accomplishment.

So set a financial goal for one year. Can you go to belief?

Use the Financial Pictogrigm to help you locate a way to reach your goal.

What SOURCES will you be using? What resources do you already have? What WIN/WIN/WIN ventures can you create?

If you have any questions, please post them here.

Before I wrap this up, here is Michael Ross’s challenge:

“Imagine this... you are out of work, have no money coming in whatsoever
and cannot get any on credit cards or in any other way. You are too
proud to go on welfare, have no products to sell, no customer list,
refuse to get money selling your body for sex, refuse to get a job
working for someone else for a wage and you refuse to sell any of your
possessions. Knowing what you know now, who you know now and having the
resources you currently have at your disposal, what would you do to get
yourself back on your feet before you ran out of money?

You only have $1,000 left.”

I’ll have my answer next week.

In the meantime, go ahead and post yours, there is NO right or NO wrong.

Just a way WE can share our thoughts and feelings on this subject and maybe learn a thing or two also.

When you start to see the whole SQUARE ONE WORKSHOPS program put together, it is like a puzzle, at first you can’t see it, then as a new piece is added, it starts getting clearer.

Spend a few minutes and plug your FINANCIAL GOALS into the POA and ask the DOL what you have to do to make it happen.

I think you will find the answer interesting.

Thanks for reading.

Gordon Alexander

PS to Michael Ross...about that sex part...
 

> refuse to get money selling your body for
> sex,

About this part...

It is not that I would refuse to sell my body for sex...

I just wouldn't have sex with anyone WILLING to buy it...

HA!

Sort of like what GROUCHO MARX said, that he wouldn't want to belong to any club that would have someone like him for a member...

Now I just can't imagine the person that would be willing to pay MY prices ("and I ain't cheap, but I am easy"...as I duckwalk across the floor raising my eyebrows and flicking the pretend cigar...) for a few BRIEF minutes of really mediocre sex.

But then, it is a strange world we live in...

Can we auction our bodies at e-bay?

Just wondering...

Gordon Alexander

Re: Financial Pictogrigm, Money Matters, and that sort of stuff...
 

Hi Gordon,

> Dien saw a few of the collections,
> he sat in a red mohair chair from pre
> 1920…Dien, you probably had no idea what
> that was worth do you?

You're right, I had no idea about the chair.... :)

> How do you initiate a JV? The first thing is
> to actually write out how the CUSTOMER is
> going to benefit. How is the final user
> going to WIN.

> Then, how is your JV partner going to WIN,

> And finally, how are you going to WIN.

Wow, thanks Gordon... this is all very useful advice....

Something I've been trying lately is to put myself in the other person's shoes. Pretend I'm the other person -- if I were them, how would I react? It's always good to try to see the other person's side....

(This is also true in an argument too.... If you can see the other person's point of view, you can probably help resolve the conflict....)

I don't know what my answer to Michael Ross's puzzle would be.... this is something I'd have to think about...!

Dien

Everything except a timeframe and target objective!
 

G ~

Quite the parameters you have laid out! I would amend these to also include a timeframe, of say one month. In addition, how much cash should be filtering in??? $500.00, $1,000.00 $2,500.00 or $5,000.00 and up???

One of the things I have strived to do over the last year and a half is to reduce my debtload so I do not have to make XXX amount of dollars to meet my monthly "basic" living expenses.

Looking back over my career, I cannot believe, how much money, has slipped through my hands!!! If I had the wisdom and foresight to understand the financial aspect of life.... I could have been retired before I was 39.

For many years I acquired a good 6 figure income from sales. But I worked hard at it. We had the beautiful home on the hill... New 4-Runner for the Mrs. New vehicle for Dad... Campers, vacations, expensive furniture, credit cards, jewelry, etc. All of the material things that said "Hey everybody!!! This guy has made it!!!"

Everyone just starting out in Product Development, should invest $22.00 or go to the local library, and read The Millionaire Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D and William D. Danko, Ph.D.

I've paid my car off. Reduced my overhead expenses and it's like receiving a $6,000.00 a year raise.

What's more important than that is the fact, I don't need to create a product to cover an extra $6,000.00 in sales, to meet those old expenses!

Your post is roughly a month too late for me... I've set myself up in this scenario already. Except I plan on continuing working in my sales arena until my income from product development, is 75% on my sales income. Then I'll retire from selling in the field and move into product development, and marketing consultation in our region, for retail business owners.

At one time I needed at least 5 grand a month to meet my monthly living expenses. That was only mortgage, 2nd mortgage, 3 vehicle payments , credit card debt, camper payment, utilities, groceries, etc.! As of this writing it is down to $2,000.00. (But dang I'd love a new Jeep again!!!! But $30,000???

So when all of you are reading G's post, be sure to plug in a deadline, and an income to achieve.

~ Mike

P.S. Dien ~ I'm here daily!!! I've been watching the forum grow and develop. Some real good stuff here for those who can see it.

Re: Everything except a timeframe and target objective!
 

> G ~

> Quite the parameters you have laid out! I
> would amend these to also include a
> timeframe, of say one month.

This would be a concern for the BUDGET, that you see between the sources and the distribution, on the WORKSHEET portion of the SQUARE ONE WORKSHOPS you would fill this information in.

In addition,
> how much cash should be filtering in???
> $500.00, $1,000.00 $2,500.00 or $5,000.00
> and up???

This is for the Individual to decide...as you stated, it has to do with need.

But whatever the amount, it gets plugged into the POA...which represents TIME, in any increments...

Sometime this week, I'll post a pic of a MONTHLY worksheet, with the daily activities on it.

> Looking back over my career, I cannot
> believe, how much money, has slipped through
> my hands!!! If I had the wisdom and
> foresight to understand the financial aspect
> of life.... I could have been retired before
> I was 39.

There is an old saying Mike, put a little bit of money back every week, and at the end of a year you've got a LITTLE BIT OF MONEY...

I prefer to have a little bit of "small potatoes" coming in every month...from one of the many sources I have in force (for you insurance types..HA!) But that's a good way to think of it, putting little bread and butter projects into "force", and letting them return you nice little portions ON TOP OF any other source you choose to initiate.

The Millionaire
> Next Door by Thomas J. Stanley, Ph.D and
> William D. Danko, Ph.D.

I agree this is a great book, must reading for today. Dien likes Robert Kyosagi's(sp) Rich Dad/Poor Dad too.

So when all of you are reading
> G's post, be sure to plug in a deadline, and
> an income to achieve. ~ Mike

Right on Mike, I'm glad you've got a plan and I know you will be successful with it.

The Master Pictogrigm shows a person on his/her lifeline...

moving daily toward their destiny.

The POA and the other Pictogrigms (those "Cave paintings") are tools to help the person FOCUS in and stay on the path he/she has chosen.

ALL goals, not just financial ones, require the POA, and the DOL...when it comes to Priorities, then the BINARY MATRIX comes into play, I'll be posting that later in the week.

The PICTOGRIGMS are child like drawings. I don't think there is a paragraph in the whole thing over 3 or 4 sentences...but that is not enough for some gurus...who just love to slay you with their long rambling sentences...do demonstrate something...knowlege?...superiority?...could be...I just can't get through all that reading...so I like to use Cave Paintings...know what I mean Mike?

Thanks for sharing with us, I know friend you will be wildly successful in your new life, enjoy the journey too.

Gordon (cave dweller) Alexander

> P.S. Dien ~ I'm here daily!!! I've been
> watching the forum grow and develop. Some
> real good stuff here for those who can see
> it.

"The Millionaire Next Door" and "Rich Dad Poor Dad"....
 

Thanks Mike and Gordon....

Mike, I've really enjoyed your many posts.... :)

(Although many of the earlier posts have now scrolled off the forum, you can still find them with the "Search" function....)

I've also read "The Millionaire Next Door." It's a great book -- it really opens your eyes. And I can verify that it's true....

I know some people who are like those described in the book. They are ordinary people -- you'd generally say they are "middle class". But they are sitting on quite a lot of investments which will see them quite comfortably through their retirement years....

They don't splash their money around on many luxuries, so you wouldn't know it by looking at them. People's investments are usually quite hidden from the general public. I guess for these people the main benefit is a feeling of security....

Investments, though, can come in many shapes and sizes. Gordon's JVs are a kind of investment.... He's invested his time in creating some products (like reports, cassettes, ebooks), and lets other people sell them for him.... He *invested* the time, and reaps the rewards in those monthly checks he gets, month after month (as Gordon wrote about in the "Small Potatoes" story....)

I saw (in many ways) how smart Gordon is. Not only in his *investments* in creating products, but also through his chattel, his promotions, and his other work.... That's one reason why I really wanted to work with him....

He's *really* doing it. He doesn't just talk about it.... Sometimes it's hard to find someone who's not just blowing hot air.... But we've found the "real thing" in Gordon and his wisdom.

Gordon, I also DO like "Rich Dad Poor Dad" and Robert Kiyosaki's two sequels, "Cashflow Quadrant" and "Rich Dad's Guide to Investment." There are a few things I like to do differently (he invests in property, I prefer long-term growth stocks). But one thing he hammers into you is "Start Your Own Business!"

And this ties right back into the "Millionaire Next Door". What did *most* of these millionaires do? Most of them were Business Owners!

Here's something I found on another forum.... I found it on one of the forums at www.richdad.com (for discussion related to Robert Kiyosaki's products).... I quote:

What are the ODDS of becoming a Millioniare
August 16, 2000 USA TODAY analyst Danny Sheridan

Inheriting $1 Million------------------------------------- 12 million to 1
Winning the Lottery--------------------------------------- 12 million to 1
Playing the slots in a casino----------------------------- 6 million to 1
Winning a game show--------------------------------------- 4 million to 1
Saving $800 a mth for 30 yrs.----------------------------- 1.5 million to 1
Working for a dot-com that goes public-------------------- 10,000 to 1
Owing a small business------------------------------------ 1,000 to 1

These numbers speak for themselves!

Cheers,

Dien

Re: "The Millionaire Next Door" and "Rich Dad Poor Dad"....
 

Dien wrote -

> Owing a small
> business------------------------------------
> 1,000 to 1

Yup. You got the "owing" part right! *g* I'm sure you meant "owning" but this brings up an important issue.

As small business "owners" we need to make sure we don't "owe" the business. I'm not talking about money although a small business can be just as much of a financial drain as any other debt.

I'm talking about "owing" our lives to the business. We have to do as Michael Gerber says and work *on* the business and not just *in* the business. Otherwise, we've traded one type of rat-race for another.

What do I mean by working *on* the business as opposed to working *in* the business? Let's say you write software. A client calls you to write a new software package. You spend 10 hours writing the application. That's 10 hours you spent working *in* the business. Now. You finish writing the application and the client has allowed you to keep the copyright. You decide to market the software. You spend 10 hours creating a web site to post the demo version of the software. That's working *on* the business. Basically, working *on* the business is anything you do that gets you closer to your goal of having your business run on autopilot. Working *in* the business is anything you do that can be classified as the "technical" components of producing the product or service whether it's wrtiting software, carving exquisite eggshells, whatever. (This was kind of a poor example because there are obviously technical components to creating the web site but the effort still goes to working *on* the business.)

Rick Smith, "The Net Guerrilla"

Re: "The Millionaire Next Door" and "Rich Dad Poor Dad"....
 

Rick --

I just finished reading "The E-Myth" by Gerber. Really good stuff and I could see exactly where my previous business fell down. Could also relate to his "prototype" model which many think is too restrictive but would save many hassles. I had experienced the "owners manual" in a business I managed once and it was so helpful.

That business closed (not due to my management!) and the last thing we did was burn those manuals in the barbeque pit in my backyard. About 3 o'clock the next morning fire trucks where buzzing up and down our street. Turned out it was the smoke from those manuals! Not relevant to the discussion but funny. Not so funny at the time though.

So thanks for mentioning that book. I think it should be read far by everyone. Unfortunately I think it's lessons will only be understood by those who have been through it already.

-- Dan Butler