The statistics are appalling, really. So few people ever achieve financial success. By the time we reach 65, the generally accepted ' retirement age', only a very few of us will be financially independent. That wasn't too much of a problem in the past, because most people didn't reach that age! Now, we can expect to live an active life well into our 70s and 80s, even beyond. How can we support ourselves financially for these last 10, 20, 30 years if we want to retire at 65? We work hard - isn’t the free enterprise system supposed to reward hard work?

    The trouble is, to succeed we must take responsibility for our own lives, and most of us don't. It is too easy to blame outside circumstances for our lack of success. We make excuses for ourselves, and blame our failures on others.

    Look around! Some people seem to have a lot, some seem to have little. And there is always someone with more than we have. Have you ever become angry (even a tiny bit) because someone you know is doing better than you? Have you ever asked yourself: “Why couldn't I have been offered that job?” “How come I didn't get that lucky break?” “Why didn't I think of that profitable idea?”

    Your brain is a wonderful organ. Ask it a question, and it will come up with an answer - every time. It might not be the right answer - it can only go on what's in the database. Garbage in, garbage out, they say. But the answer will be relative. Ask a negative question, and you will get a negative answer. Ask “Why did I fail?” and your brain will search for all the possible reasons for your failure. Ask “Why am I such an idiot?” and your brain will try to give you all the indications available that say you are an idiot! (Of course, it is the brain asking the question and the brain answering, but the brain can do that.)

    Such questions get you nowhere. In fact, the answers may make you feel worse. The trick is to turn them around. Turn negative questions into positive ones. Instead of asking “Why did I fail?” ask “How can I succeed?” Your brain will go to work and come up with all the possible ways for you to succeed. Instead of: ”Why can’t I be rich?” try:”How can I become rich?” And watch your brain start to develop ways you can become rich!