1 Million Dollars in 365 days…

I’ve just returned from a fantastic dinner at my sister-in-law’s house. It really reminded me how important it is to be surrounded by people that you care about, and people that care about you. I truly believe that a lot of “problems” of the world could be solved by a few family meals around the dinner table, complimented with a bunch of healthy laughter and kids running around in circles!

Laughing is certainly infectious,and I think it’s even better when coming from children. I know I always go on about being grateful for what we have, and I make no apologies for it! I think we need to make more noise about the awesome stuff in our lives!

People seem to get too complacent and don’t emphasise all the great things we have going on! Everyone likes drama so they focus on dis-empowering events such as murders, assaults, abuse, poverty…the list goes on. You only have to watch the 6 o’ clock news to see what I’m talking about. (This is why I don’t watch the news anymore).

It appears that it’s more abnormal to focus on empowering events, such as eating a meal with your family around the dinner table. Again, this depends on what is important to you in your life.For the majority of people, once they lose something like “Spending time with their family”, this soon becomes the most important thing in their life and they would usually do anything to get it back. Don’t wait until you lose it. Make the most of it now.

And for all my friends abroad that don’t have their immediate families with them at the moment, or those that have lost loved ones, don’t worry as luckily the world has millions of people of all ages, ethnicity’s and geographic locations, that are looking for love and support.

“Sometimes the best way to receive something, is to give it.”

So if you’re looking for a “family” why not volunteer somewhere, get involved in a community group or visit an old-age home.

I’m sure you’ll be surprised by what you get in return for your time.

People often ask me how I find the time to do everything that I am doing, with relation to my business interests, family, friends, social and sporting activities. Well, the truth is that I have my days when I don’t have time to do everything I want!  I think it boils down to a fundamental - you have to MAKE TIME to do the things you love to do.

Do I make time to do everything I do all the time? Maybe not at first, but I always find a way to be grateful for whatever situation I am doing. Do I like cleaning the toilet? No, not until I realise how lucky I am to have a toilet! Imagine not having a toilet and having to go in the bushes all the time?! Reminds me of being back in Africa… (haha only joking). See how much we can be grateful for!

How to get more time out of your day:

1. PRIORITISE - Write down the things you want to accomplish everyday and then prioritise them. Don’t be afraid to limit yourself. You’ll soon find out what your actually capable of every day.
2. BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. You are more likely to complete things if they mean something to you. As we have previously covered, your time is your most important asset, so be careful what you commit to. You need to view your time as valuable, because if you don’t then neither will other people.
3. GET UP EARLY! No one seems to like step! Well, if you’re not willing to make some changes to your life, then you’re not going to get any different results - it’s that simple. What if you work full time? How will you get time to do those other things that are important? Why not get up 30 minutes earlier each morning to focus on something that’s important to you? Work on your new business idea, pick a hobby, spend time with your kids if they’re awake!
4. DO THE LITTLE THINGS - make sure you put the little things on your list of stuff to do. Not only is a great and encouraging to tick off items on your “to-do-list”, but sometimes the little things can have a big effect on your day.
5. KNOW YOUR GOALS - Like I’ve said before, it’s important to know where you want to go. Write down your goals and put them somewhere where you can see them daily. This way you can put some simple steps on your list, which will get you closer to the achievement of those goals.
6. EXERCISE - If you’re anything like me, you’re thinking - I’m already so busy, how can I fit more into my hectic day? Well, to start with, you’re going to need some more energy! So why not start off your day with a run/swim/yoga/Pilate’s/brisk walk? It’s amazing what even a quick walk can do for your energy levels, creativity and problem solving skills!
7. MAKE TIME FOR YOUR ONE THING - For me this is my family. Everyday I make sure that I fit my family in to my life. Whether it’s helping out with bath time, reading stories, taking them swimming, going for a walk, or even taking them for a drive. It’s awesome to spend time with my kids and wife, and this is something that has the ability to re-charge me and ensure that I am always committed to achieving my goals.
8. HAVE FUN! I know it sounds cliche, and it probably is. The truth is, that like anything in life, if you’re not having fun doing something, there’s little chance of you continuing to do those things. If you’re having fun, while you cram more into your day, then you’re going to keep doing it, which means you’re going to achieve more!

Those are some of the practical things that I do in my days. Please feel free to add some tips in the comments section on what works for you.

Have a most excellent day!

Kind Regards

Ryan Kilfoil

The Kiwi Millionaire

As much as I would like to go on about the current state of affairs in the world, I’m not going to. The thing that matters for me, is the current state of affairs in my head.

Currently I am looking at purchasing another business. Since the liquidation of Paymex, I have had countless businesses ideas, both good and bad. Although I don’t really think any of them are bad ideas, perhaps just not the right time for me to attempt to carry them out.

Then I remembered - “There’s no need to re-invent the wheel”. I began to search for existing business opportunities where I felt that I could use my skills to turn a business into a profitable well-oiled machine. Similarly to what Michael Gerber talks about in the E-myth.

So what do you look for? If someone had a profitable business why would they sell it? Perhaps for health reasons, maybe stress levels are too much? Is this something you should take on then?

I think that there are a lot of opportunities out there at the moment, where ever you are in this world.  More specifically in the business market. I also believe there are vast opportunities in the property market, however that’s a topic for another time.

What to consider when looking to buy a business:

When you do find something that interests you, you need to do a few things first.

• Most importantly, you need to do due diligence. This is basically finding out all you can about the business. Go back as far as you can with the financial records, are there any trends, even as far back as seven years?
• One key factor is that you have to make sure that you understand exactly how the business makes money. If you plan to run a profitable business this is essential!
• Do you have the skills necessary to run the business effectively? Are you going to run the business yourself or are you going to employ someone to do it for you?
• Do the numbers. What is your expected ROI (Return on Investment)? What is your strategic objective for the business?
• What is your gut feeling about it? I believe that this is one of those factors that people often overlook as they don’t believe it holds too much credibility. I firmly believe you should always go with your instinct, or at least listen to it.

So what opportunities can you find in your local business district? Once you find an opportunity that you believe cannot be passed up - do your home work and then make a decision. You should have no problems with finding funding for the existing business, especially when you are buying assets as part of the deal.

Purchasing an existing business (and making it profitable) is a great way to leverage your time and create more passive income streams. You also have the option of selling it later down the track for capital gains. Whatever you decide - remember the main point - to take action! Good luck!