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Success Advice

How to Live Like a Millionaire Without Being One

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You don’t have to look far to find people who seem to be living the high life. In both social and traditional media, the affluent lifestyle appears to be more the rule than the exception. While not always truthful, it’s part of the posturing that takes place in our rabidly consumer-driven society.

In fact, nearly two-thirds of Americans find themselves living paycheck to paycheck and don’t have the means to spend money frivolously. If you’re among them, it can be difficult when you’re wishing to experience a prosperous standard of living. When I first started out, I lived from paycheck to paycheck and it was frightening. I know I overspent sometimes, which is why I developed some tips to stop the behavior. 

The good news is that you don’t need to go into debt just to enjoy the pastimes of the affluent, even though, sadly, huge numbers of people give in to the temptation to overspend. They then end up wasting considerable time and hard-earned money trying to dig themselves out of the debt hole. But it is possible to live within your financial means while enjoying the advantages that money can bring. With a bit of creativity and the right attitude, there’s no reason not to enjoy the perks of a millionaire lifestyle. 

Consider how millionaires spend their time — shopping, dining out, traveling, working out with their trainer, and hanging out in high-priced resorts where they can keep an eye out for the glitterati. Guess what? All these pastimes are possible without shelling out the big bucks. 

Here’s how to live like a millionaire even though you aren’t one:

1. Fashion your own form of retail therapy.

Finding that special item that you’ve dreamed of owning, and especially at a great price, feels like hitting the jackpot. What’s more, when you make certain that your purchase fits into your budget, you can enjoy acquiring it guilt-free. With all the online sites for gently used goods, there’s usually no need to pay retail prices. You can get high quality, ever-so-slightly used pieces for much less than you’d normally have to pay for a designer brand. Look for timeless, streamlined pieces that show your individuality. 

2. Discover discount dining.

Most upscale restaurants offer bar seating where it’s not frowned upon to take up a seat for light dining. Order an inexpensive appetizer and settle for a beer on tap or — to really save — a sparkling water with a lime twist. Then, relax and take in the atmosphere. If the restaurant offers a happy hour menu, time your visit to take advantage of the discounted prices. 

3. Take trips that replenish your soul.

A change of scene does wonders for your mental state. But getting away doesn’t have to mean expensive flights or resort-style prices. If a day trip to a tranquil state park or nature trail will do the trick, you may spend no more than a tank of gas and possibly a small park entry fee. Or, if you’re hoping for a longer escape, look for lodging near but not in vacation hot spots where prices will be much reduced. 

4. Stay fit without exhausting your bank account.

True, hiring a trainer can help keep you motivated, but you can work up a sweat and be resourceful at the same time. With no more than the cost of your internet connection and a good pair of workout shoes, you can search for any kind of exercise to get your heart pumping. With no one watching, you can improvise most other equipment, from a can of soup for light hand weights to an ottoman for a bench.

5. Spend time at the stomping grounds of the rich and famous.

You don’t have to play the slots to enjoy the Bellagio Casino in Vegas, or have a room reservation at Aspen’s Jerome Hotel to take in the charm. The public areas of some of the most exclusive spots frequented by the wealthy are open to everyone — although in the time of the pandemic, restrictions may apply. Walk through the casino pit and watch as people place staggeringly risky bets, or sit in an overstuffed chair in a hotel lobby and watch the guests come and go. People watching is vastly entertaining and won’t cost you a cent. 

Emulating the life of a millionaire when, in fact, your paycheck only stretches to next month’s lets you become privy to all the perks of wealth. At the same time, you may just come to realize that money can’t buy everything and that, all in all, your humble financial status doesn’t really deprive you of all that much. 

Vicky Oliver is a leading career development expert and the multi-best-selling author of five books, including Live Like a Millionaire (Without Having to Be One) (Skyhorse, 2015), 301 Smart Answers to Tough Interview Questions (Sourcebooks 2005), named in the top 10 list of "Best Books for HR Interview Prep," and Bad Bosses, Crazy Coworkers, and Other Office Idiots (Sourcebooks 2008). She is a sought-after speaker and seminar presenter and a popular media source, having made over 901 appearances in broadcast, print, and online outlets. For more information, visit vickyoliver.com.

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Success Advice

How to Alter Your Business Approach With Technological Advancements

Keeping up with technological trends has become a challenge for almost every business owner.

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Technology’s evolution has impacted everything, and business is no exception. Keeping up with technological trends has become a challenge for almost every business owner. Entrepreneurs unable to do so are being wiped out of the market.

There is no doubt that AI (Artificial Intelligence) and ML (Machine Learning) have taken over the business world. These technological advancements are impacting decision-making, success percentages, and other entrepreneurial aspects.

Adapting to these developments is integral to business success. Let’s explore how you can accomplish these milestones.

Embed the strength of AI and ML.

AI has modified business operations in major ways. For instance, companies have employed bots for customer support. These bots go through an effective learning process via Machine Learning before being able to answer like humans.  

Bots can also perform detailed data analytics and make business moves with high success percentages.

ML is used more for the analysis of data chunks and generating successful predictions. This simply means that business owners do not have to worry about large-scale financial losses. 

In terms of deployment and usage, a reputed company like Netflix employs machine learning for decision-making.

Blockchain is increasing the count of business opportunities

Tampering of financial transactions is quite common and causes severe monetary damage to customers. With the rise of digital payments, this risk has increased. 

Blockchain is used to elevate your experience for monetary transfers. It combats penetrating events to extract confidential customer information. 

Most business sectors are using block chain but finance and supply chain management sections have a higher count. These two corporate sections have several monetary deposits and withdrawals taking place. 

In terms of percentage, approximately 72% and 5% of finance and supply chain firms have implemented block chain successfully.

Dedicate Yourself to Continuous Learning and Individual Development

You invest in learning some of the very important skills, including digital marketing, financial management, and how to gain customers as an entrepreneur.

You need to set up your knowledge base about doing business on Coursera and Udemy with the basics that are necessary for the business, building further by networking with experts through webinars.

Besides, Agile methodology will introduce elasticity to your company: this review and feedback system with further correction regularly will allow for enhancing efficiency and promptly reacting to the market.

Developing key skills to achieve goals

Running a business successfully is not only about having niche/domain knowledge. Business owners need to have communication / soft skills as well in addition to niche information.

Here are some key technical/domain-related areas that business owners should have a strong grip on.

Data Storage on Cloud: These days, companies do not store their data on physical servers. Therefore business owners should know how data is stored/edited/removed/updated via AWS, Azure, Google Cloud, and other platforms.

Data Analysis/Interpretation Qualities: These days, data is as precious as gold. Business owners with data analysis abilities make correct predictions. As a result, their ventures grow in volume.

Development/Coding Knowledge

Programming knowledge gives business owners an edge whether the application is developed in-house or outsourced. It assists in getting updates deployed and handling application underperformance without getting professional support every time.

Hacking proof framework

There is no benefit of having an advanced automated system if can be penetrated. Successful business owners have above-average knowledge of cyber security and hacking attempts. They are able to choose top-notch anti-hacking software without much of an ambiguity.

Communication Abilities/Soft Skills

Here are some key communication qualities that business owners should have:

Communication/Conversation: Business owners should use to-the-point sentences in both written and oral communication.

Issue Resolution Abilities: Business owners should be able to drill down to problems and solve them. This is done successfully only if an entrepreneur has in-depth business domain knowledge.

Agile Implementations

It is mandatory for business owners to have knowledge of iterative/agile models. With such a competitive environment, it is impossible for business owners to succeed without adopting an agile framework.

Create a productive well-crafted Business Strategy

A productive business venture starts with a clear vision. The first factor making a business successful is the idea behind it. It helps with endless growth and combating competition successfully. Katherine Philips once mentioned that business goals are inevitable if goals are set concretely.

  • Goals should be based on smart achievements instead of complexity. Focus on the value that each one of them adds. 
  • Business objectives should not be vague. Key indicators should be constructed to measure the success/failure of each milestone.
  • Be realistic when setting goals. Do not aim at impossible milestones since they can be demotivating.
  • Milestones/goals need to be time-bound. Set a completion deadline for each one of them. 
  • Business goals should not be alien. Owners can think out of the box but not be obsolete / unrelated.

Create a productive well-crafted Business Strategy

Business owners cannot succeed without having a network. Some tips help in this case. Attend conferences and professional gatherings to connect with other entrepreneurs.
Here are some other related points business owners should pay attention to.

  • Attend meetings and conferences to stay updated with trends and meet business owners who already have well-set ventures. This helps in enhancing the learning curve of new / growing entrepreneurs.
  • Being a part of business communities/groups is very productive. When one shares opinions and discusses decision-making tactics, it helps in preventing errors and enhancing success rate.
  • Even the most experienced business owners have mentors as learning never stops. Take part in mentorship programs so there is an assurance that you are following the correct roadmap.

Conclusion

There is absolutely no doubt that business dimensions have evolved with technological advancements. Successful entrepreneurs have grabbed these changes in due course of time and continue to evolve. On the other hand, people following old paths and conventional steps fade out of competition. In a nutshell, keep an eye on the processes and practices you follow as these factors decide success rate.

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Success Advice

Understanding the Power of Yes and No: How to Create Boundaries For Success

These words have a significant impact on how our success unfolds

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The two smallest yet most powerful words in life, “Yes” and “No,” have a big impact on our growth on both personal and professional levels. In addition to affecting the choices we make every day, these words have a significant impact on how our success unfolds. (more…)

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Motivation

From Couch Potato to Go-Getter: A Step-by-Step Motivation Plan for Everyone

By understanding what motivates you, you can turn your dreams into reality

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How to be motivated
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Are you tired of feeling like a couch potato? Do you want to transform your life and become a go-getter? You’re not alone! Many people struggle with motivation, but the good news is that change is possible. (more…)

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Success Advice

10 Micro Financial Habits for More Wealth and Peace of Mind

The World Economic Forum still reports that half of U.S. adults lack financial literacy

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micro financial habits
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You’ve heard about developing financial habits, but what about micro-financial habits? Micro habits are the tiny things you can do every day with minimal effort that, together, transform your future. (more…)

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