Action and Attention - What you focus on does flourish!

We have all heard the saying a hundred times. What you focus on flourishes. What does that saying really mean? How can we understand how it applies to us and our everyday lives?

To better understand the saying, let's look to the dictionary. Merriam-Webster OnLine defines the word flourish as a center of activity, attraction, or attention. Action is described as a thing done and attention is described as the act of applying the mind on an object or thought.

Now that we understand the true definition of the words, ask yourself this question. Do my thoughts line up with my actions? Most do, even if we don't realize it. Hence the saying, what you focus on flourishes.

We look around; there is talk about the economy and a possible recession. Families are on the news begging for affordable healthcare. Elderly couples are shown living in one room because they can't afford to heat the entire home that they live in. We hear these negative reports and all the sudden, that's where our attention goes.

If you are in Corporate America and you can’t find the time to spend with friends and family, are you doing anything about that? Are you looking for a solution or are you sitting back making excuses to the people around you saying this is just the way Corporate America is?

If you are a stay at home mom and you are worried about finances, are you doing anything to improve them? Are you looking for a way to bring in some extra income or are you constantly complaining to your husband about the bills?

If you are a business owner and you are thinking about marketing your product/service, are you putting any action behind your attention? Are you getting your name out there as much as possible? Or are you just sitting back waiting for a divine intervention?

We usually do put some sort of action behind our attention. We need to figure out if that action has been positive or negative. Until you put some positive action into place to back up your thoughts, nothing is going to improve. Constant worry is not going to solve anything.

Take a moment to think about what you have been thinking about. Remember; only action, positive action, can get things where you want them to be. The only person that can make that change is you! What are you waiting for?

Rebate Checks

The hot topic on the news lately is the economic stimulus plan. This plan is intended to stimulate consumer spending in order to deter a possible recession. It looks as if there is going to be some sort of rebate check going out to millions of middle and low-income Americans. It doesn't matter if you think that this is a good plan or a bad one. The plan is the plan. Whatever passes, we, as Americans, need to be smart about it. I think that the rebate checks need to be used as a cure instead of a band-aid.

The point of the rebate checks is to stimulate our economy. What good is a one time check? Is it better to run out a buy a new flat screen TV or a new living room suite? How about using it to help pay the bills for a month or two? What good is spending that money in either of those ways really doing in the long run? None.

Invest that money. Do what both Robert Kiyosaki and Donald Trump said they would do to get rich if they had to start all over again in the book Why We Want You To Be Rich. Invest in yourself and in your family. Start a home business.

Starting a business with the rebate check is smart for so many reasons, here are just a few:

1. You are going to create that extra income that your family so desperately needs. You will not have to pay extra daycare, or gas, or car maintenance bills. You will not have to go out and buy different clothes to work in. You will not have to miss being there for the important moments in the lives of your loved ones.

2. The incredible tax breaks. The government is going to make everyone who gets a tax rebate check count it as income on the 2008 taxes. Starting your own business is a tax write off. Use that to your advantage.

3. The fun factor! Owning your own business puts you in charge of your life. You will be in charge of your time. How many times have you wanted to take a vacation, to go see a ball game, or go out with friends only to find out that you can't get off of work? Take charge of your own destiny.

I encourage you to Google the economic stimulus plan. Read it for yourself then make an educated decision. It could be the decision that changes your life completely.