Why Now is the Ideal Time for Personal Transformation and the Achievement of Mega Success

Achieving mega success in life does not come without upheaval. And so the occurrence of major upheaval and multiple crises is an excellent time to transform your life. Many people are feeling overwhelmed by the challenges they are currently facing but as Oprah Winfrey said.

"Challenges are gifts that force us to search for a new centre of gravity. Don't fight them just find a different way to stand."

Here's a very practical example of major disruption for longer term benefits. The streets of London are chaotic at the moment. Mainly because Thames Water is busy replacing 1,300 miles of ancient, crumbling Victorian water mains with modern and more durable plastic pipes. Naturally, the process of digging up the streets disrupts the flow of traffic and replacing the water pipes means that homes and businesses are left without water for periods of time.

Is this inconvenient? Yes. Is this necessary? Absolutely. The old system is no longer adequate to serve the needs of a growing London population. In addition, the old system is inefficient as it's leaking vast volumes of water and old cast-iron pipes are more vulnerable to bursting.

In many ways, the state of this water system is reflecting what is happening globally in terms of the economy, the environment and other major issues. The old system is no longer adequate and must be replaced. The upheaval we're currently experiencing is nothing compared to the potential collapse we could face if a new order is not implemented.

Without a doubt, the world is undergoing a major transformation.

In typical fashion, the media have mainly responded to this by propagating fear. A recent survey of Americans revealed that nearly 75% of Americans were fearful of what is currently happening and of the future. Many think that what is happening is beyond their control.

However, we created the situation we currently face and we also have the power to create a new reality - a world which operates in a more efficient and holistic manner. Instead of being paralysed by fear now, recognise that within you lies enormous power. The global transformation that must take place starts with you.

"Personal transformation can and does have global effects. As we go, so goes the world, for the world is us. The revolution that will save the world is ultimately a personal one."
Marianne Williamson quotes

The transformation that is required of you is demanding. Some have already caved in and surrendered to the pressure for as Business Optimization Strategist Stephen Pierce said:

"Very few understand that now is the time to knuckle down not knuckle under."

The analogy of the replacement of the London water mains can be viewed as macro example of the pattern of chaos, re-structuring and transformation that we are seeing repeated on so many levels. On a micro level there are many parallels of this within nature as well.

For example, consider a caterpillar transforming into a butterfly. When the caterpillar enters the chrysalis stage, on the surface not a lot seems to be happening but within the cocoon itself it's another story. Some cells literally die off (apoptosis) while other cells are transformed so that they can perform new functions.

The entity that emerges from the cocoon, the butterfly, is vastly different from the caterpillar. It's a beautiful and more elegant structure designed for a different type of life.

Similarly, out of the current chaos something beautiful can result as long as you can envisage a better life, hold on to your vision and persist in taking action towards achieving your goals.

There's another lesson to be learnt from the caterpillar-butterfly transformation. The caterpillar eats voraciously before entering the chrysalis stage so that it has enough stored energy for the major changes that take place during the metamorphosis. Likewise, you need to 'fuel' yourself for your personal transformation by building 'reserves' in as many areas of your life as possible.

Remember that this is an unprecedented opportunity for you to transform your life and create something bigger, bolder and finer than you may have hitherto imagined.

"There's nothing in a caterpillar that tells you it's going to be a butterfly."
Richard Buckminster Fuller

Similarly, we have no idea what exactly will come of this global shift but, if you can hold onto your vision of what you would like to see, you can transform your life and achieve mega success.

Visualization: How Stella Got Her Groove Back And You Can Too

"How Stella Got Her Groove Back" is a movie starring Angela Bassett and Taye Diggs. Angela Bassett plays the role of Stella a very successful, highly-driven 40-year-old single parent. She's persuaded by her close friend Deliah (Whoopi Goldberg) to take a well-earned vacation to Jamaica.

While on vacation, Stella meets Winston Shakepeare, 20 years her junior, and they start a romance. Their age difference, the responsibilities of motherhood and a host of other factors make this love affair rather complicated. But none of that is the point of this post.

Stella was at first reluctant to even take a holiday to Jamaica but then she saw a TV advert promoting the beautiful Caribbean island and was instantly transported. Stella wasn't just watching the advert. She became part of the advert. She was the woman frolicking among the waves, running along the beach, and sipping cocktails with handsome male companions.

In those few moments, she relished the beauty of her surroundings. She felt the tropical heat and the coolness of the sea. She could hear the sound of the waves.

In other words, she visualized what it would be like to experience a holiday in Jamaica. And, it wasn't so much the advert but the manner in which she used her senses to experience the advert and imagine what it would be like to be on holiday in Jamaica that convinced her to throw caution to the wind and take a holiday.

Albert Einstein said:

"Imagination is everything. It's the preview of life's coming attractions."

By "imagination", Albert Einstein was referring to what we call visualization. And he was exactly right.

Visualization is very important to the process of goal achievement. The more vividly, intensely and frequently you practice visualizing your goals the faster you'll be able to manifest your goals. As John Assaraf said:

"Visualize and meditate your way to success. Vivid visualizations are fuel for your dreams."

Visualizing is like daydreaming and the chances are that, when you were young, you were very good at daydreaming. But then, as you got older it's likely, that you were often told to snap out of your reverie. You may have lost your ability to easily visualize but improving this skill will greatly enhance the chances of you achieving your goals.

Jack Canfield said that:

"Visualization may be the most underutilized success tool that you possess."

But what makes visualization so powerful? Visualization helps you to tap into and unleash the power of your sub-conscious mind.

You know how sometimes couples joke about who really wears the pants in a relationship? Well, in your life, your sub-conscious mind definitely wears the pants. You may think that you're running things but the reality is that on a day-to-day basis you're actually in control, at best, about 5% of the time. Generally, it's closer to 1%.

I know. I found that hard to believe as well at first. But you basically run on a set of programmes or habits and your sub-conscious mind is running those programmes. So, if you don't have the co-operation of your sub-conscious mind, when it comes to goal achievement, basically you're screwed.

So how do you use effectively use visualization in the goal achievement process. You simply imagine or visualize your goals as already complete. This is why you need a clear picture of your goals and why using imagery such as in a vision board or a mind movie is so effective.

However, it's not just what you see when you've completed your goals. You have to involve all your senses.

And when you practice visualization on a consistent and regular basis you will become magnetized to the people, resources, and opportunities that will help you to achieve your goals. In other words people, resources and opportunities will be attracted to you.

Visualization will also sharpen your powers of perception so that you readily recognize these resources. In many cases, they may have been staring you in the face but you just didn't recognize the resource or opportunity for what it was. Your sub-conscious mind didn't realise it was important to you and simply filtered out the information.

All you then need to do is take action.

And that, in a nutshell is how Stella got her groove back and how you can too - through visualization. So what do you really want? Close your eyes and visualize.

Jack Canfield will be opening the Virtual Abundance Expo which starts tomorrow with a presentation titled "The Power of an Abundant Vision: How to Attract What You Want When You Want It". There are more than 12 speakers including Sir Richard Branson, Bob Proctor and Marci Shimoff for this special virtual event which you can attend for the princely sum of $1. You can check out full details from the link below:

Virtual Abundance Expo

Abundance - What is Abundance

"Not what we have but what we enjoy, constitutes our abundance."
Epicurus

There's a special walk along the beach that I like to do first thing every morning when I'm in Barbados and last night, before I went to sleep. I asked myself what is my favourite part of that walk.

Is it the point where I actually enter the beach with the curiosity of an explorer from ages past, eager to discover what changes have taken place overnight?

Is it one of the spots which have fewer rocks to navigate and that are more suitable for swimming?

Is it the point where I glimpse those individuals who have come to regard me as one of them who wave or shout a greeting to me as I go by.

Is it the stretch of beach where I have to time my crossing so I can sprint across when the waves are not covering the many small rocks that could cause me to lose my footing?

Is it where I meet the crabs I nickname the "Replicators"? If you've seen the sci-fi series Stargate you'll know what I mean. In Stargate, the Replicators are advanced robots capable of reproducing themselves indefinitely and, in so doing they assimilate everything in their path. I assure you that the particular crabs I encounter are not nearly so sinister.

Is it the wooden platform in the sea where I do Pilates (when I'm in the mood) or where I simply watch the waves come crashing in? And where the sunlight from the rising sun hits the waves as they peak revealing the silvery bodies of teems of fishes that are otherwise hidden from view.

Is it where the sea searched its vast treasure trove for a gift just for me - a beautiful conch shell? The shell was so large that the sea gurgled with delight as it receded,

"She'll either see this or stumble over it!"

Perhaps it's the spot I call "The Zone". It's like stepping through an invisible portal. There's a place where you take a step forwards and suddenly everything sounds and even feels different. You step back and it's different. I swear it happens every time but I can't tell you the exact spot - that's my secret!

Or perhaps it's the point where, as I finally turn to leave the beach fish leap out of the water, their bodies glistening in the sunlight. They entreat:

"Don't go yet there's so much more to see. The show has only just begun."

The truth is I could go on and on. For me to choose my favourite part of that walk would be like asking me to choose my favourite grain of sand. For in truth there're an infinite number of moments where I feel at one with the beauty of this place and where I feel truly abundant. For I feel joy, peace, tranquillity, freedom and love and are these not the feelings of abundance?

But there are many ways in which to define abundance and next week is the start of the Virtual Abundance Expo where you can listen to more than 12 globally renowned thought leaders and luminaries such as Sir Richard Branson, Jack Canfield, Bob Proctor and Lisa Nichols discuss abundance in all its different guises. It's just $1 to participate. Get full details from the URL below:

Virtual Abundance Expo

Goal Achievement - Why People Fail and How You Can Succeed

Successful goal achievement can be elusive. People are often good at setting goals but have poor rate of success in actually achieving them. A primary reason for this is that, apart from those who don't take action at all, many people don't finish what they start. They give up on their goals.

Regarding why people give up rather than see things through to completion Bill Bartmann said:

"That's why we pull hamstrings in the marathon of life. It's because it's much easier for us not to finish than it is for us to fail."

However, it only seems easier in the short-term. In the long-term the mental anguish that comes with living an unfulfilled life is very hard to bear. And, make no doubt about it, if you are not working on achieving goals that are worthy of you then you will feel unfulfilled.

Apart from the illusion that abandoning your goals is the easy option. There are many other reasons you give up on your goals including:

~ You were pursuing the wrong goal.
~ You perceive that going after your goal would be too tough.
~ You are not confident that you can achieve your goal.

And the chances are that if not achieving your goals has become a habit then the underlying reason will often be the same each time.

However, there's also another reason why people don't achieve their goals. They are too attached to the outcome.

Paradoxically, the best way for you to achieve your goals is to give up. However, it's not the goal itself that you give up on. The key is to give up any attachment to the outcome of what it is you're striving to achieve.

So when you set a goal you have to believe that:

1. The goal is possible to achieve, and
2. You can achieve the goal.

Once you successfully complete this step you will have your goal on the first plane of existence.

Then let go.

Trust that, if you do your part, the Universe will work with you to help you bring your goal into fruition or the Universe might reward you with something different.

Now whether or not you perceive that thing to be better than what you originally asked for is entirely down to your perception. If you don't succeed in getting what you originally wanted you may think that you have failed. However, the outcome you regard as failure is merely feedback.

Yet, many people go out of their way to avoid 'failure'. And they are successful in doing this but they do so at the expense of their own personal growth because success and failure go hand in hand.

The Universe is forever expanding and we are part of the Universe and so it's our nature to expand or to grow. You do this by setting and striving for challenging goals because this is what stretches you and expands your consciousness or awareness. Achieving your goals is only part of the story it's the personal growth you experience during your goal achievement journey that is more important.

And we're designed to continually expand our awareness. So when you pursue your goals in a lawful manner, i.e. in accordance with the Universal Laws, the Universe conspires with you to help you achieve them.

This is why, when you're not on purpose and when you're not continually working on improving yourself and pursuing your dreams, you feel conflicted. You may give because you fear failing but remember that to the Universe there's no such thing as failure. There's only feedback.

There's a web site called Animoto where you can submit your images; select or upload a music track and then it will sync your images with the music automatically.

Here's the thing. You know what the raw ingredients are but you have no idea what the finished product will look like. Sometimes the end result is great but other times it doesn't quite work out the way you want it to.

In the latter case you simply ask Animoto to remix it again and you can keep doing this until you get a result you're happy with.

Goal achievement works in a similar way.

So there are three (3) key factors to achieving your goals:

1. Let go of any attachment to the outcome,
2. Finish what you set out to do, and
3. Try again if the first time if things don't quite work out the way you want them to.

Master these steps if you want to successfully achieve your goals.

Are Your Habits Empowering or Sabotaging Your Success?

Suze Orman recently related a very moving story about a young African American woman who used to take care of her while her mother was at work. The six year-old Suze struggled to pronounce her real name and so affectionately called her "Kiki".

Kiki smoked Kool cigarettes and would send little Suze to the shop with a note to buy a pack of cigarettes for 25 cents. Now, despite Suze's tender age she was very astute.

You see, Kiki was habitually beaten by her husband. At times, the wounds he inflicted upon his wife were so bad she ended up in hospital. The Ormans would bring Kiki back to their home to recuperate but, when the physical wounds healed, Kiki would simply go back to her abusive husband.

Part of the reason for this was because she didn't have enough money to make it on her own. However, little Suze calculated that if she would quit smoking and saved those 25 cents that she would eventually have sufficient funds to make that all too important break. And she tried to persuade her carer to quit the habit of smoking and save her money so that, in effect she could buy her freedom.

But Kiki had made it a habit of returning 'home' knowing that, at some point, she would be subjected to another violent beating. Bad habits can be hard to break even when you have a powerful motivating factor.

You may be thinking how could she not summon the courage to walk away from her abusive relationship? The answer is simple - fear. For whatever reason, Kiki was probably afraid of being on her own and so she allowed herself to be regularly subjected to violence and suffered the humility of letting others see how badly her husband treated her. It was familiar territory.

Individuals who practice self-abuse and or allow others to abuse them usually suffer from self-esteem issues. It is highly likely that another reason why Kiki stayed in this abusive relationship was because she had low self-esteem. She may have thought that she was not worthy of being treated with dignity and respect. She may not have thought highly enough of herself to believe that she deserved a better life.

To compound matters Kiki was also illiterate. This can be a huge stumbling block for some individuals to overcome and it can have a devastating effect on an individual's self-image and self-esteem. It also makes you dependent on others.

Suze loved Kiki. Her dream was that when she grew up she would earn lots of money so that Kiki could move in with her and she could take care of her for the rest of her life.

Sadly, Kiki died before she reached her 40th birthday. So Suze Orman never had the opportunity to realise her dream.

Now, while that last statement is factual it isn't entirely true. You see Suze Orman spent 7 years being a waitress but the day she took on a new role as a Financial Adviser, she knew she had found her purpose in life. Being a Financial Adviser and helping others to make sound financial decisions resonated with every fibre of her being. She knew that this was what she was meant to do.

Who would argue that Kiki didn't play a key role in helping Suze Orman recognise her purpose in life? Kiki may have been a matyr in many ways but now, instead of Suze Orman helping to liberate just one individual - she's literally impacting the lives of millions of people by showing them the way to financial freedom.

I think Kiki would be filled with pride, don't you?

So are your habits empowering or sabotaging your success in life. If you have disempowering don't be afraid to seek help on whatever level you may need it. You deserve to live an abundant life.

Image Compliments Wikipedia

The Power of Visualization to Achieve Your Goals and Manifest Your Dreams

Tour of John Assaraf's Home

One of the most memorable elements of the movie "The Secret" was John Assaraf talking about the moment he discovered that the home he was living in was actually the home whose picture he had placed on his vision board.

Well, recently John Assaraf created a video where he was giving a guided tour of his home to a few guests. He has been living in his dream home for about 10 years now and, as you watch him give his guests the guided tour, you can see that he's completely at one with his environment.

It's a beautiful home, stylishly decorated and adorned with art - he's quite a collector. It's large and spacious without appearing overwhelming and the views from just about anywhere in this home are stunning. But this post is not about this home. It's about the process by which it was acquired.

John Assaraf saw a picture of a lovely house in a magazine. It was the type of home he knew he wanted to live in some day so he cut out the picture and placed it on his vision board. And he meditated and visualized the goals he wanted to achieve every day.

"Visualize and meditate your way to success. Vivid visualizations are fuel for your dreams.
John Assaraf

He imagined what it would be like to live in this home. He visualized:

~ What he would see as he moved through the house
~ How he would feel living in the house
~ What he would hear in the tranquil setting
~ The delicious meals he would share with family and friends

He worked hard at building his business - multiple businesses in fact. He took inspired action. His success grew and grew. Then an opportunity came up to buy a lovely new house. He made the purchase and then, like most home-owners he spent time renovating the house to transform it into the home he desired.

So, it was a while before he got around to fully unpacking. Then, one day his son came into his office and asked what was in one of the storage boxes. Rather than go through a lengthy explanation, he decided to simply show him. It was then he realised that the picture on of the house on the vision board was his home. It was an overwhelming moment.

You too can achieve what John Assaraf has achieved. Vision boards are just one of a multitude of ways which you can help to achieve your goals and manifest your dreams.



The key is FOCUS. You have to maintain your focus on what your goals and the things you truly desire in life no matter how far they may be out of your current reality. And the creation of a vision board is one way to do this.

Another way is to make your own personalized movie composed of images, pictures and affirmations relevant to your goals. Setting this movie to a powerful and motivating soundtrack will help enhance your emotional response to your movie.

For best results you should practice visualizing and watch your personal movie several times a day. The best times are when you awake and just before you go to sleep when the sub-conscious mind is more receptive.

In "The Secret" Jack Canfield also talks about how he harnessed the power of visualization to achieve a goal that he had set. He wanted to earn $100,000 - a huge goal for a teacher who was on a salary of $8,000 per year. He placed a large thousand dollar note above his bed so that it was the first thing he saw when he woke up and the last thing he saw before going to sleep.

He would focus on this big goal and visualise what it would be like living the lifestyle of someone earning $100,000. By the end of that year Jack Canfield earned over $92,000 from the sale of a book that he'd already written. In other words the means to earn the additional income was there but until he set the target of earning $100,000 he was unaware of the opportunities to do so.

So don't be afraid to set big goals and dreams. It takes no more effort to set a goal for something small that something big and tap into the power of visualisation to achieve your goals and manifest your dreams.

And for a complete system to create your own movie, symbolic of the goals and dreams you want to achieve in life visit:

Create Your Mind Movie

Achieving Success: The Russian Doll Technique to Mastering Your Inner Game

Achieving success in life is dependent upon your ability to master your inner game. Your outer world is simply a reflection of your inner world.

"Mind is the Master-power that molds and makes, and Man is Mind, and ever more he takes the Tool of Thought, and shaping what he wills, brings forth a thousand joys, a thousand ills. He thinks in secret and it comes to pass; Environment is but his looking-glass."
James Allen

The thing is, you were born a pure genius, filled with promise and unlimited potentiality. But the majority of people do not approach anywhere near their full potential. So what happens to us?

Well, basically society boxes you in and surrounds you with numerous boundaries and limitations. Even think about the way in which most people work. Most people work within the confines of a cubicle and then they're expected to think outside of the box.

So essentially, your inner genius becomes trapped. Think of it like a Russian Doll. You lift the doll but instead of lifting the whole doll you lift off just a shell of the doll. And you repeat the process until you reach the last doll. Unlike its predecessors this doll is not hollow. It's dense and it's solid.

The outer shells of a Russian Doll are analogous to the many limiting and negative self-beliefs that confine you and entrap the true essence of you. If you persist in removing these shells you'll finally reach your true genius and enter a state of pure potentiality - a state where you are truly limitless.

The problem is that most people do not persist with the process of breaking through limitations. After removing just a few of their shells they become frustrated and perhaps even bored by the process because progress can appear slow.

For many others it's simply too much hard work. They forget that:

"Striving for success without hard work is like trying to harvest where you haven't planted."
David Bly

They cannot see that the sacrifices they make during this process are a means to liberating them to be able to achieve success and their ideal life.

People want fast results. They want to get to the 'core' quickly. They often refuse to acknowledge that this is indeed a process which some will complete fast and others will take longer to achieve. As Business Success Strategist, Stephen Pierce says:

"Everything has a process and you can't cheat the process. Understanding the process gives you patience."

And while the aim of the game is to be in touch with your authentic self, it's important to celebrate each smaller achievement as well. Also, while at first each subsequent Russian Doll may look familiar, upon closer inspection you'll notice intricate differences.

These differences are symbolic of the differences taking place in you even though you may not at first notice any significant changes. However, so long as you are diligent and use proven techniques to effect the changes, they will take place. In fact, personal growth and development can be likened to the growth of ginseng.

Wild Ginseng takes about 6-8 years to grow to a point where its roots are mature enough to harvest. That's a long time but the results are well worth it.

Ginseng extract is beneficial in treating a wide range of diseases including stress, depression, rheumatism and high blood pressure. It's also beneficial in helping to improve mental alertness, stamina and endurance. Similarly, the more you enhance your personal growth the more benefits you'll achieve.

However, returning to the Russian Doll metaphor, as you progressively remove your limitations your sphere of influence becomes bigger and bigger. Your confidence will grow and you'll be able to achieve success and manifest your goals faster and more effortlessly.

Love 15 - The Importance of Persistence and Self-Belief for Goal Achievement

Roger Federer, with his Wimbledon win yesterday, has now surpassed Pete Sampras' achievement of winning 14 Grand Slam titles. By claiming his sixth Wimblon championship he has also equalled the number of times Pete Sampras won the men's singles title, reclaimed his No 1 World Ranking and is now being hailed as the world's greatest tennis player of all time.

That's no small achievement and it hasn't always been easy. When interviewed after his epic match with Andy Roddick, which lasted 4 hours and 16 minutes and consisted of a total of 77 games, he admitted how painful it was to lose to Rafael Nadal last year. The latter was another epic battle lasting 4 hours and 48 minutes and consisting of 62 games.

Afterwards Federer said:

"The rain didn't make it easier but you have to expect the worst and he's the worst opponent on the best court. It's a pity I couldn't win it but I'll be back next year."

And, while it hasn't been all smooth sailing for Federer this year when he arrived at Wimbledon you could see he was ready for battle. It wasn't just the gold trimmed military-styled apparel. His body was more chiselled and he appeared relaxed and confident. He looked like a man who had re-built himself from the inside out.

The experts will agree that Federer didn't play his best tennis yesterday and Andy Roddick certainly diddn't make it easy for him. The match swayed back and forth but Federer held on. Defeat is never easy but so often our greatest achievements follow our greatest defeats. When Federer lost to Nadal last year the defeat also ended his winning streak on grass - a total of 65 matches.

You have to have the courage to stare defeat in the face and persevere striving towards your dreams and your goals. You have to be prepared to fight long and hard for your what you desire. To be successful in doing this you have to have enormous self-belief and you also have to have a deep-seated passion or love for what you do. It is this passion that will help carry you through the rough times.

Serena Williams, the most successful women's tennis player of her era can certainly attest to this. She defeated her sister Venus Williams 24 hours before Federer to win her third Wimbledon title (7-6 (7-3) 6-2).

Although there have been reports of the sisters moving on to pursue other interests they both insist they have a deep love for the tennis and will not be quitting the sport any time soon.

And John McEnroe made a very interesting and telling observation about Serena Williams and her own epic battle to win the semi-final match against Elena Dementieva. The Russian certainly pushed Serena to her limits and he said that even when on paper it looked as though she was losing the match Serena Williams had an air of confidence about her.

He said she radiated self-belief as though she knew not that she could but that she would bounce back and be victorious. And what was more telling he said it appeared as though the Russian believed it. She finally succumbed 6-7, 7-5, 8-6. Self-belief is powerful.

Serena has the attitude of a champion:

"I've got to fight. If I'm going to go down, I'm going to go down screaming and kicking."

Serena Williams has 22 Grand Slam titles to her name - awesome! The difference however, between her accomplishments and that of Federer - is that Serena Williams Grand Slam title consist of singles and doubles titles (11 singles, 9 doubles and 2 mixed doubles); Federer has won all his Grand Slams as a singles player.

Despite his achievements Roger Federer remains incredibly humble and very gracious and these qualities endear him to fans across the world. However, despite his awesome achievement what shines through is his sheer love for the game and this is essentially why he plays tennis and this is what has enabled him to become great. Love 15.

Image compliments Business Wire

Michael Jackson - Lessons About Money And Wealth

Michael Jackson aka "The King of Pop" was an incredibly gifted pop star and will forever remain an icon in the eyes of his fans who so revere him. However, there's no doubt he was also a rather troubled individual.

He made millions of dollars with his music but it was also clear that he was not adept at money management. In fact, he has been described as "a millionaire who lived like a billionaire".

Jackson may have had lots of riches but he also accumulated massive debts and, as for wealth, there were many areas in his life where he lacked wealth. And, one of the reasons Jackson agreed to the comeback "This Is It" tour was he needed to raise cash.

But Michael Jackson was not healthy. He was frail both mentally and physically and many people, for whatever reason, seemed to ignore the signs that his well-being was in serious decline.

When you hear reports that he was underweight and taking a variety of drugs on a regular basis it makes you question what kind of medical examination could declare him fit period, far less fit for such a strenuous undertaking as this proposed tour.

You need to be in tip-top physical shape to be able to withstand the rigours of the entertainment business. And it was not like he was going to sitting on a stool to serenade his audiences. No this was meant to be a high voltage comeback tour. This level of performing will find your Achilles heel and take you out if you're not properly prepared.

And while Michael Jackson obviously loved to perform, he had no need to ever perform again. He created such a body of work - a wonderful legacy that will live on, thrill, awe and inspire entertainers and other people for generations to come.

So, getting back to the lessons about money and wealth that can be learnt from this saga. Basically, at age 50, Michael Jackson decided to go back to work. Now don't get me wrong, I love entertainment and if artists want to go on performing well into their later years I applaud them but not if they're obviously not cut out for the physical and mental rigours required for this level of performing.

So here's the thing we all need money in order to survive in this world but if you don't learn how to rule money, money will rule you. Money cannot buy you happiness but the lack of money can cause a great deal of pain. As Ayn Rand said:

"Money is only a tool. It will take you wherever you wish, but it will not replace you as the driver."

And it's not even about the amount of money you make - it's the amount of money that you keep that counts. Throughout our lives a great deal of money will pass through our fingers and those of us who learn and practice money management skills and who are disciplined with regards to money will get to keep a larger proportion of that money.

Now while it's important to accept responsibility for the management of your money you don't have to do it all yourself. You can hire individuals to help you manage various aspects of your finances.

So decide the age that you wish to 'retire', set goals for your retirement and work diligently towards achieving your goals. And ensure that when you reach your 'retirement' age you can simply live your life as you choose.

Ideally, you'll already be following your passion and so it's unlikely that you'll just live out the rest of your days chilling out on some beach or whatever else takes your fancy. Instead, as you reach your designated retirement age your life will evolve into a new and even more exciting phase.

For a contemporary example of this just take a look at Bill Gates who is now able to focus his efforts on the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation. And while even donating money has its challenges there's no doubt that Bill Gates is enjoying these new challenges as well as working together with his wife in a new and exciting way.

Michael Jackson also donated generously to many charities but this is not about philanthropy. It's simply about having the financial freedom to live life on your own terms and to be able to dance to the beat of your own music.