THE FIRST MILLION

The number of dollar millionaires globally has shot up 164 per cent since 2000 to 34.8million individuals in 2014 - with 41 per cent of them living in the United States.

The world's population is 7. 3 billion individuals.

So, a percentage of roughly 0,5% of the world's population are millionaires.

Are you going to be one of them?

Do you wish it?

And if you wish it and you are determined to get there, how long it will take?

And the most important question, how do you estimate you will feel on the road to your first million, when you get there & in the aftermath?

There are millions of ways to earn your first million ( I refer, obviously, to legal & honest ways), though the legend says one should not ask the millionaire how he made his first million.

As statistics show, the American Dream is real, as real as it gets: almost 50% of the world's millionaire reside in the USA.

So, in USA, almost 4.5% are millionaires. Does that mean that if you live & work in the USA, your chances of becoming a millionaires increase up to 9 times?

Perhaps.

Money is very important. More money is very important. 1,000,000 dollars is ... exquisite!

It is essential in one's life, though it is often minimized in a hypocrite way, as in:

Money is not important, you should be satisfied with your present financial status, don't ask for more, search stability & comfort instead of chasing dreams, assuming risks & dramatic changes of life & career, or .... ( you can fill in the blank).

What can you do with 1,000,000 dollars?

Well, you can buy your dream home, your dream car, you can travel the world, you can have fun, enjoy your freedom, if you are smart enough & invest your money wisely, you may never have to work again.

And you have worked quite hard to get there, haven't you?

But you can also be calm about it, you can deposit half of the sum into a bank account, you can earn interest, you can invest, you can start a successful business, and earn the second million.

You can invest a percentage of your first or second million in people: financing a brilliant idea, helping intelligent young people without revenues to realize their potential, doing charity work, and so forth.

You can save lives, you can empower your community with education, social & health services, training & guiding for career & business start-up.

You may give it any other use.

Money is very important. It can change lives. For the better. Or for worse. It's a matter of choice.

What is more important, on the other hand, is the place it holds in your priority list.

It should never come first.

First priority should be, in my opinion, feeling good about yourself & lead a life immersed in love, happiness, joy & enthusiasm.

First priority should be, also, to believe in yourself & in your ideals, to follow your purpose, and your purpose should grant value & usefulness to other people.

Of course you should first - if you want to, if you feel like - set the definite & precise goal to earn your first million in order to get there.

My first million is an objective for me also, a means to realizing my major purpose.

Don't forget though to enjoy your journey in the meantime.

I know millionaires who lead a spectacular life in a modest way. I know millionaires who lead an agitated life, their business occupying all their thoughts, worrying 24/7. I know millionaires who can divide efficiently their time between family, leisure & business.

I know people who are happy & content without ever intending to become millionaires.

I know people who would like to become millionaires, but taking into account their behavior & mindset, most likely won't get there.

If you want to become a millionaire & lead at the same time the happy & spectacular life you dreamed of, remember this:

GETTING THERE IS ALL THE FUN!

I CONGRATULATE YOU IN ADVANCE FOR YOUR FIRST MILLION!