Dexter Nelson Blog

Reasoning And Talk About All That Interests Me

  • Tony Robbins TED Talk (Decisions & Destiny)

    Tony Robbins TED Talk (Decisions & Destiny)

    The Famous Tony Robbins TED Talk with Al Gore

    The Tony Robbins TED Talk with Al Gore is kind of famous now. For those of you that don’t know what I’m talking about, if you read yesterday’s article I featured two powerful videos by Tony Robbins, in which and in the first one he references a TED Talk he did featuring Al Gore.

    Today, I wanted to share that video with you. This TED Talk is titled Decisions and Destiny.

    In the video, he discusses the “invisible forces” that motivate everyone’s actions — and high-fives Al Gore in the front row!

    Enjoy the video!

    https://youtu.be/S9qNcOgbUdU

    If you follow the link to TED talks, the video (or audio) is available to download for free.

    If you aren’t familiar with TED, then just bookmark my site NOW and check back.

    They are one of the most awesome resources for learning, and their goal is to openly share ideas.

    They’ve done an amazing job of fostering and nurturing the right environment.

  • How Much Does Your Dream Life Cost?

    How Much Does Your Dream Life Cost?

    Do You Know How Much Your Dream Life Costs?

    Figuring out how much your dream life costs is a very important step on the road to success that many entrepreneurs often skip.

    On a recent Facebook post, I talked about goal clarity sharing how being precise and being clear is important.

    I highly recommend that you take the time to read it.

    To Summarize…

    A lot of people tend to be pretty generic about their goals. They’ll say things like, “I want to be rich,” or “I want a dream home” without being specific.

    For a long time I said, “I want to make a six figure income” and had no clue what that entailed.

    A six figure income can be anything from $100,000.00 dollars to $999,999.00 dollars — That is a really big gap.

    There’s nothing wrong with big dreams, but in order to achieve those dreams you have to be specific, and you have to be clear about your goals.

    Why Specifics?

    Because success is created in the actions you take every day. Success is created over time in the actions you take every day.

    If you don’t have goal clarity, you’ll end up with results you don’t want, or miss your dreams entirely.

    To use a more understandable example:

    Without being clear on your goals, it’s like trying to use your GPS without an end destination.

    Your GPS can give you directions, but it has to know where you want to go first.

    Figuring out how much your dream life costs? That’s important.

    So, do you know how much your dream life costs?

    Here is a simple exercise you can do right now.

    First, put yourself in the mindset that money is no object. Allow yourself to be a position where you can get whatever you want..

    Now picture your dream home. How many bedrooms does it have? How many bathrooms? Do you want land? If so, how many acres? Does it have a pool? A basement? What city do you want to live in?

    Really sit down and picture what you want for your house.

    Then? Go to a site like homes.com or realtor.com and search for your home. How much does it cost? What are the mortgage payments like?

    Write it down!

    Next? Do the same for your dream car. Is it a truck? Sedan? A sports coupe or luxury car? What color. What features do you want in it?

    Got it pictured?

    Now go to a site like autotrader.com and search for your car. How much does it cost? How much are the monthly payments?

    Yup. Write it down!

    Next, do you want to travel? Picture your dream vacation.

    Where are you going? Are you flying or going for a road trip? What kind of hotel are you staying in? Or is it a condo?

    Are you there for a weekend, a week or longer?

    Now, go to a vacation research site like tours.com, or a travel research site like travel.com and find out how much your dream vacation costs.

    Are you travelling once per year? Once every 3 or 4 months?

    Remember, money is no object.

    You guessed it. Write it down!

    Having all of those things is great, but what about keeping and maintaining them?

    You have to furnish that house. You’ll have utilities to pay. You’ll have to eat.

    Speaking of which, how would you eat?

    If you were to go grocery shopping right now and be able to buy the healthiest food possible, how much would it cost you?

    Next time you go grocery shopping, come up with an estimate and write that down too.

    What about your other expenses, like health insurance? Or even entertainment?

    Of course, these would be rough estimates of how much you would spend, but with a bit of research, you can get fairly accurate. Write it down!

    Now… here’s where the cool part comes in.

    Now that you have estimated monthly costs for your house, car, and travel, plus other expenses, add them all together.

    Then add 30% of that total.

    That’s how much money you need to make every month to live your dream life!

    A lot of people think that they’d be okay with an extra $1,000 or $2,000 dollars a month, but in reality, they’ve never stopped and actually figured out how much their dream life will actually cost them.

    Goal Clarity

    Now that you have a very specific income level to reach, what you want is probably a lot more real to you. Now all you’re missing is goal clarity – figuring out what you are going to do every day to achieve your income goal.

    For me, my goal was pretty low.

    My highest paying job ever was $78,000 a year, so I knew that if I made that, I’d be happy. Things were pretty good for me when I made that amount of money, so when I set my goal, it was $6,500 a month.

    I was sure that if I could find a way to replace my income I would be happy – and then I did that very same exercise I just told you to do and I was shocked!

    It turns out that in order to live the life of my dreams, I would have to make $13,130.00 per month. That’s $157,560.00 per year, which meant that my best paying job of $78,000 per year – 40+ hours a week? I would have had to do twice!

    80+ hours a week doesn’t sound like something I would want to do for the rest of my life!

    How about you?

    Multiply your monthly income by 12 to get an annual income amount, then divide it by your current annual income to how how many of your current job you need in order to make the kind of money you need to live the life of your dreams.

    A friend of mine realized he needed to work 5 and a half of his jobs in order to live the life of his dreams. Another friend, he had to work his job 9 times!

    What about you? How many times would you have to work your job?

    The Game Plan

    At this point, you ca stop reading. Honestly, you can. However, if you want to learn more about my solution, keep reading.

    So you are now clear on your dreams, and you have some goal clarity on where you need to go.

    What you’re missing now, is a system to get you there, and a daily action plan with steps you can follow to achieve your goals.

    Obviously, for most people, working a job, or a second job, or a part time job will NOT get them to where they want to be.

    The only option is to do something different – and the answer is to start a business. Become an entrepreneur.

    Don’t freak out!

    Thanks to the age we are living in today, working at home and starting a business, even on the side (if you have a full time job, or family responsibilities), has never been easier.

    In a recent post, I shared my story of hardships.

    From being a full time uncle, losing my business, and hitting rock bottom. Basically starting my life over and having to rely on family to keep the end met.

    Everyone’s situation is different. You may not even be facing hard times, but certainly you want more. You want the best life possible for you and your family, and after that exercise, you know EXACTLY how much is costs.

    All you need now, is a game plan.

    Goal clarity is the ability to set clear goals, so that you can take actionable steps to achieve them.

  • My Perfect Day

    My Perfect Day

    What Is Your Perfect Day?

    So, today we did this exercise where we were challenged to figure out exactly what we want in life — what is the reason why we’re even building a business in the first place.

    (And by “we” I mean our entrepreneur group).

    Anyway, the way we were instructed to help us figure that out was to close our eyes and imagine our perfect day, then describe it.

    Anyway, I wanted to share this with you guys, and also, challenge you all to do the same. It’s a really good exercise to help you figure out what it is that you want and where you want to go.

    My Perfect Day

    I’m slowly getting into the habit of writing down goals and dreams and visions, and it’s funny. For all of the things I want to accomplish, my perfect day is really simple.

    I paused the video, grabbed a pen and pad and spent a good hour just thinking about just what the heck I want, and with everything I wrote down, there are just two things, and they’re so simple.

    My perfect day is being able to sit at home and hang out with my family and friends, and have the time and freedom to travel with my dad and not have to worry about or even think about money.

    We’re immigrants and I watched my parents sacrifice and sacrifice and sacrifice for me and my sisters. My dad has been that unmovable rock my entire life. There is no quit in him.

    The past few months I’ve been hearing him talk about being tired of working and want to do other things with his life now that the kids are grown and he’s done all he has to do for us.

    He and I are always talking about taking a trip together. No destination specifically, just travel and see places we lived, track down old friends and neighbors, and just free up ourselves.

    I REALLY want to retire him and give him that. I’m almost crying just thinking about how awesome that will be for him, when I tell him it’s okay for him to retire.

    “Don’t worry about the bills and don’t worry about the house. I paid it off.”

    Giving him that gift? Oh man!

    The other thing is my music. Music saved my life. I was headed down a very different path when I was younger.

    I was angry at the world and bitter and didn’t have many friends and I was ALWAYS fighting and getting into trouble.

    6th grade wheel program. Dr. Float. She introduced me to the double bass, and some much needed discipline. I don’t know where I’d be today if it weren’t for her and the orchestra.

    I can sit around all day and just play my double bass by myself and the world can pass me by and I’ll be as happy as a bird whistling on a window sill. Me and my sisters used to play as a quartet too at churches.

    Get this.

    My big sister plays the violin, I play the bass, my younger sister below me played the viola, and my baby sister played the cello. I MISS those days when we played and practiced together.

    I’m DEFINITELY starting a string quartet. And I have published music I’ve composed (classical) that I’ve never heard performed live.

    Looking ahead I can see myself owning a club with a live venue. And I can see that little string quartet I’m funding with my commissions from Empower Network doing shows and concerts for charity too.

    Every year with the orchestra we did 4 or 5 big concerts or holidays or whatever, but the one that really got everyone together? The Teddy Bear’s Concert!

    It was a free concert for the community and it was usually between Thanksgiving and Christmas right? Like November’ish.

    Anyway, people used to bring teddy bears and other gifts for kids, and the whole community used to come together.

    Yeah, I gotta start an orchestra and hold my own Teddy Bear’s Concert every year for the community.

    That’s a must.

    All the other “stuff” just pales in comparison.

    That’s what I wrote.

    I had this really long list of things that I wrote, and it started out with material things like the car I wanted and how much money I wanted to make and everything else.

    All that was great, but when it got right down to it, I still had to answer the question, “why do I want all this ‘stuff’? What do I get when I have it all?”

    Then I threw the list away and started picturing what my perfect day would be, and that’s when I discovered what it is I truly want.

    …

    If you’re still reading all of this I truly appreciate you. I ramble and get long winded so yeah — I appreciate you.

    Listen.

    If you are trying to figure out exactly what it is you want out of life, and more importantly how you’re going to get there, I would suggest that you start by first figuring out your WHY.

    There’s more to life than just going to work and paying bills for 40 years then hoping that you can retire some day.

    But you’ve got to figure out first what you actually want.

    Once you figure that out, then you need to figure out how you’re going to get from where you are right now, to where you want to be.

    That is where I think I can help you.

    You need a vehicle that you can drive to get from point a to point b and the vehicle you choose has to be the right one.

    If I have to travel 1,000 miles I’m not going to use a skateboard or a bicycle. That’s just way too slow. I want a car, and the faster it goes the better.

    Or better yet, I’m gonna fly, right?

    I am building my business from home currently, by blogging.

    I’ve been able to build strategies around syndication, writing on viral topics, and more. I’m earning money passively through AdSense, paid ad placements, as well as promoting affiliate products and earning commissions.

    I am putting together a free guide on how you can do the same.

    Click here to find out more.

  • Three Original Thoughts I’ve Had As An Entrepreneur

    Three Original Thoughts I’ve Had As An Entrepreneur

    Three Original Thoughts I’ve Had In My Walk As An Entrepreneur

    I wanted to share, very quickly, three original thoughts I’ve had in my walk as an entrepreneur. You see, critical thinking is one of those things that I value and practice.

    In fact I keep an idea log.

    I’ll sit with a pen and a notepad, and think of solutions to problems I encounter and write them down.

    First, I write down the obvious stuff, and once that is done, I push myself to come up with something original; something I’ve never thought of before.

    I’ll do this a few times a week, letting my imagination run wild.

    Original Thoughts

    They may not be original to everyone reading this, but we each develop at our own pace – they are to me.

    1. Time only moves one direction. You can save time, buy time, plan time, take time, set aside time and do anything you want with time, but stop it or make it go backwards. This actually came to me in a moment when I was trying to solve the problem of how to get more done with less time.
    2. Do things in the moment you are inspired to do them. Have you ever had an idea, then as quickly as it comes, you get distracted and it goes away?… me too; and for the life of me I couldn’t remember what on Earth I was trying to remember.This was where the idea for an idea log came from.I’d stop whatever I was doing, grab my pen and pad, then write down in as much detail as I can, what my idea was at the time.

      I’d take a few minutes to let it play in my head too.

      At some point in time this became a habit, and I’m grateful for it.

    3. Inspiration often comes at moments when you’re focused on something else. This one I’m pretty sure most people are aware of.You’ll be working hard on something, when something brilliant pops into your head. For me, more times than not, it’s completely unrelated.It happens when I’m reading books and going through training, or when I’m working… even when I’m writing this blog post!Pay attention to those moments. Inspiration is fleeting. (A bonus #4. haha!)

    So those are my three original thoughts.

    What do you think?

    Please like, share and leave a comment.

    Thanks!

  • The Value In Creating Results First

    The Value In Creating Results First

    The Value in Creating Results

    In business, we know that there is value in creating results, but is there more to it than just being able to accumulate “stuff”; money, assets, resources, and so on.

    I think there is, but not for the reasons most people assume.

    In recent months I’ve noticed a trend that is a bit unsettling, and quite frankly gives me pause for concern.

    There seems to be an awful lot of experts running around that haven’t created result themselves.

    I may be a bit old fashioned but I think that is really dishonest.

    Learn. Do. Teach.

    There is a formula for success that I follow. Learn. Do. Teach.

    The idea is that you learn how to do something, then you do it and create results.

    After you create results, then and only then do you turn around and teach others how to do it.

    It is how I maintain an ethical business.

    For example, I didn’t talk about making money online from home until I did it.

    Nor did I talk about creating lists until I started creating them.

    The same goes for talking about creating 5-figure months, having $3,000 weekends, closing client deals for $4,000 and up.

    I had to put in the work and create those results before I could teach them to others.

    Here’s my point.

    The most important part of being a business is authenticity and creating results.

    I believe one should let their results talk for them and not their mouths.

    Repeating the greatest wisdom from leaders is great, but until you DO you won’t achieve your goals.

    With that said…

    Don’t worry about looking smart, or how you sound.

    Heck, don’t even worry about what others think – go out and get results.

    Nobody will care that you are a long haired hippy, if you have crooked teeth, if you wear wife beaters, or if you talk funny, or anything else if you’re putting up results they want to get.

    Learn. Do. Teach.

    Don’t skip the middle part – that is how you create value for others, in creating results.

    Interested in learning how to begin creating results in your business? Click here now >>

  • Mindset: You Are A Business

    Mindset: You Are A Business

    You Are A Business

    You are a business. When I learned this simple concept, that mindset changed the way I viewed myself, and ultimately helped me to make more money.

    What do I mean when I say, you are a business?

    Earlier today I listened to a programmer rant about how he’s worried about clients stealing his code.

    He talked about “sweat equity”, which is essentially a party’s contribution to a project in effort.

    He also talked about IPR or intellectual property rights, as well as “fairness”.

    The topics of “fairness” and also came up.

    Here is my point of view.

    None of that actually matters. Not one bit.

    None of it matters because none of that is where intrinsic value lies.

    Let’s say a client hires me to develop his idea. What is that client paying me for – the code I create, or the time it takes me to get his idea developed?

    Either way, it doesn’t matter, because the value is ultimately the end result.

    The client wants x and I want y – it’s just an exchange, nothing more.

    That’s because I am not a programmer. I am a business, and programming is just a service I offer.

    It is on you to determine what you are worth, and charge accordingly.

    A client might want the actual code for a proprietary product. They have to pay me for code ownership.

    Or, a client might be up against a deadline and want the project done quickly. They have to pay me for that too.

    The ONLY way that works is if you understand that you are a business.

    When you start thinking in those terms, everything changes.

    You find out quickly how to determine your own value, so whether you contribute time or a product you can make sure you get paid according to your value.

    You also learn that you aren’t limited to just what you can immediately offer, like a skill.

    Things like intuition and creativity also comes into play.

    Understanding that you are a business means that you aren’t restricted to one profession or one idea.

    It is actually very freeing to know that you can learn something new and grow and expand and raise your value.

    You don’t need to start a business in order to make money. You are a business.

  • Ultimate Human Resources (Tony Robbins)

    Ultimate Human Resources (Tony Robbins)

    Ultimate Human Resources – Learning Through Failure

    What are the ultimate human resources? To ask a different question: What is the reason behind our failure, whether it’s in business, in relationships or otherwise?

    I’ll tell you. The reason why most people fail is because they failed to leverage the ultimate human resources.

    But what are they?

    Before we get into that, let me ask you this, (and be honest).

    Have you ever failed at something? Have you then asked yourself WHY you failed?

    Most people will say it’s because they lacked something:

    • Some day they didn’t have enough time.
    • Others blame their failure on money
    • What about not having the right contacts?
    • They didn’t have the technology.

    The list goes on and on, but here’s the truth.

    None of those are the reasons why you failed.

    The Real Reason You Failed

    I want you, for the next 23 minutes to watch this video.

    If you aren’t familiar with the National Achievers Congress, it’s an event that aims to educate, equip, and empower professionals from around to globe to better success.

    What are the ultimate human resources? Tony explains.

    The Ultimate Human Resources - Tony Robbins

    If you don’t know who Tony Robbins is, here is a quick bio on who he is and what he does – short version.

    Tony, for over 30 years has developed the principles, systems and tools that make the difference in the quality of people’s lives and their level of success.

    He is a Life coach and one of my mentors.

    I’ve read many books written by Tony Robbins, but, the one I’m reading now is called “MONEY Master The Game“.

    For more information on Tony Robbins, click here >>.

    Please enjoy the video, and leave a comment below.

    It’s rare that Tony has full coaching like this online, so I genuinely want to know what you thought.

    [UPDATE]

    For those that wanted to learn about changing your state, which was the most important thing Tony mentioned, I added this.

    PS: Don’t forget to leave a comment below!