Take a moment and write down your definition of success. Whatever you wrote is a good indicator of your view of money.

For me, the ultimate success is living a good life. Part of it is income and financial independence. The objectives I want to achieve. Dreams,goals and my family life.

Success is not just your job or bank balance. It's the whole package.

For most people, if you ask that what their cholesterol count is they don't know or care. The attitude is if something goes wrong they will fix it. You ask them what plan they are working on for financial independence you will get the same response.

So most people suffer one of two things. Either the pain of discipline or the pain of regret. Well, discipline weighs ounces, regret weighs tons. Getting control of your money is work until it becomes habit. It is easier to hope that your finances will get better than to start the process to make it better. Please, keep in mind, if you have enough reasons you can do anything.

Since you don't know where you are going unless you know where you have been, we will begin there.

Some of the big reasons people fail with finances:

1. Ignorance

   People don't ask

   Don't know what to ask for

   Never taught to ask or even who to ask

2. Limiting or inaccurate beliefs

   There isn't enough

   Nobody cares about my needs

3. Rejection

   People are afraid to look bad

4. Low Self Esteem

   Many people just don't feel worthy

5. Pride

   Many think that they are already supposed to know

   They don't want to look like they don't know or have any needs

So in order to get good at money you have to do two things: The first is get good at valuing every dollar for each dollar is a seed. The second is you have to control every dollar.

Understand, you can't have something in life without first imaging it. You have to dream then act. That is what feeds the image into your self conscience and that is where results are produced.

The first thing you want to do is set some goals. Don't get alarmed here. This will be pretty easy once you get started. Make lists of what you want and need to accomplish. Is is get out of debt or caught up on past due. Save for retirement. You should have big things and little things on your lists and keep them where you can see them often. Half the fun of lists are being able to check things off. That's why you want little things on those lists.

The second thing you want to do is get a little pocket notebook. Every penny that crosses your fingers must be written down in this notebook. Anything that comes in put a plus sign beside the amount whether it's your paycheck or a dime you picked up off the street. Write it down. Any amount going out must be written down as well. Even the newspaper you bought on a whim with pocket change, write it down. Don't think about why you are doing it or attempt to control it right now. Just do it. I will tell what to do with the information next time.

Remember, a good game plan without action won't work. You have the power to take control of your financial life. You just have to begin by making the commitment.