#i think my net goal will be full trinkets

[mesmerblossoms]

It's been a journey, but my spellcasters never have to worry about transmutation charges again!

[harringrove-heart]

The Dragon Keeper: Chapter 1

Steve walked along the market stalls, taking in the sights and sounds each one had to offer. One sold dragon claw weapons, another sold tonics and potions that could make one invulnerable to fire. His goal wasn’t to shop for pointless knick-knacks and trinkets, however. 

He was headed for the dragon depot, where almost all trade for the city went out and came in on the backs of all different types of dragons. It was fascinating watching all of the creatures glide in on feathered or leathery wings, some with small cargo strapped to their backs and others with large hanging nets full of different goods. Steve had always found it riveting to watch as a boy. He could see the dragon rider’s in their saddles from his bedroom window, guiding the large creatures where they needed to go. It looked freeing. 

The older Harrington’s didn’t approve of messing around with dragons, thought they were dirty and dangerous, an animal of the vagrants and lowly merchants; thought Steve should spend his time in the horse stable rather than a dragon depot. But Steve wasn’t like his parents, a Lord and Lady of Hawkins. He wanted to get out into the world, see what could be, see what already was, and if that included giant reptilian beasts, then so be it. 

He pulled his navy cloak closer around his body to keep out the autumn chill as he reached the entrance of the trade yard. It was bustling. Dragons of all shapes and sizes everywhere, each with a purpose. Steve stared slack-jawed as a long, brown, four-legged dragon dragged logs across the yard and out, presumably to a construction site. Moving deeper, Steve caught sight of the landing areas for the cargo dragons, watching as a worker fed a large green one a big slab of meat as payment for its work. 

“What’s a pretty boy like you doing in the dragon depot?” A husky voice sounded from next to Steve, startling him out of his amazement.

A man no shorter than the brunette stood lazily, a strand of hay sticking from his mouth. Typical dragon rider, Steve thought. The other man was blond, curly hair sticking out in several directions as a thin, pale green dragon perched along his shoulders, it’s two feet gripping onto the man’s tunic. The little dragon seemed to be chewing a chunk of the man’s hair. 

“Uh...I-I’m sorry?” Steve stuttered, watching distractedly as the blond pet the dragon behind an ear. 

“I said... What’s a pretty boy like you, doing in a place like this?” He asked again, a haughty smirk taking over his features. 

“Just looking, I’m just... looking?” 

“You do know it’s dangerous to be in here. I mean, these dragons don’t take well to newcomers.” Almost as if on cue, the man’s dragon hissed at Steve, before going back to sliming up the guy's hair. 

“Shit!” Steve took a step back. 

“Heh, we’re just fucking with you. Name’s Billy. Dragon rider and caretaker here.” He took Steve’s hand to give it a firm shake. “You look like you haven’t touched dirt in your life.” 

Steve glanced down at his own clothing, which did look suspiciously clean of any filth.

“Yeah, I normally don’t go outside that much. I’m Steve.” His eyes kept flitting nervously to the two-legged demon on Billy’s shoulder. 

“Ah, forgive my manners. This here is Betsy, a Lindworm. She’s not as dangerous as she wants to believe.” 

Betsy cocked her head at Steve, one slightly bulging eye flicking over his face. She chittered softly in Billy’s ear, and he giggled like she told him a secret. 

“So you didn’t answer my question. What brings you down to the slums? Mommy and Daddy let you out?” Billy pointedly looked at the family crest on the flap of Steve’s cloak.  

“Something like that.”

Billy’s blue gaze turned back to Steve’s, seemingly evaluating him. “Well then, who am I to reject nobility? Wanna take a walk with me?” Before Steve could answer, Billy turned and started walking further into the vast trading depot. He turned around briefly to see Steve still standing hesitantly. “Better hurry if you don’t wanna get crushed, pretty boy.” 

Steve hurried after him.

Betsy wound her long body around Billy’s neck loosely, her two clawed feet tangling in Billy’s curls as he walked. She kept looking behind as if to make sure Steve could keep up. 

They walked silently through the throng of merchants and depot workers, Billy smirking at each little gasp of awe that Steve let escape. The crowd thinned as they got further into what looked like a camp, with large tents and campfires all over the place. 

“People live here?” Steve asked, watching a woman with a small child play with a Lindworm with sandy yellow scales. 

“Trading isn’t just a job, it’s a livelihood. Some people live here, like me. Others set up camp for a few days before moving on. Gotta be ready for a sudden change in this profession.” 

Steve looked away from the child and mother, catching sight of more than a few large barns in the distance. “Are those...?” 

“Those are the dragon stables. My job here is to care for this depots dragons when they’re not in the air.” Billy started walking in the direction of the barns. Betsy jumped off of Billy to join in the fun with the other Lindworm.

“How many are in there?” Steve asked. 

“Each barn holds up to six dragons, most of them Europeans.” 

“...Europeans?” Steve had always heard different names for the species of dragons but was never allowed to study them.

“The big four-legged ones with wings?” Billy’s eyebrow raised at Steve, who just looked on in confusion. 

“Gods, you really are a noble boy. Don’t know anything past your own two feet. You’re lucky I found you before a rogue Knucker. They’ve been known to eat stray children, you know.” Billy scoffed.

Steve huffed indignantly but thought Billy’s statement over. 

“You could teach me.” 

Billy smirked. “You think you can keep up, princess?” 

Steve nodded.

Billy bit his lip, thinking. “Alright. First things first, you need clothes that aren’t made of silk.”

“Lead the way.” 

[hommedeseptiles]

IsFly Musings and In-Game Scribbles

Overtime Period One

I open the browser and see a heavy shot total.  Isles lead 44-20. And the thing has gone into overtime.  Leading three-two after leading three-one .. is fine.  So many such series end 4-2.  But.  If you let them back in after 3-1 up, especially in hockey ... it's a concern.  A hot risk.  

Varlamov is in net for Isles.  Thomas Greiss only logged one game this playoff.  Tho the 34 year-old is capable.  And could start forty a season, likely.  [Ed note: He's started 39, 38 and 49 with Isles in varying years; just 28 this year.  Varlamov is a 6M man to Greiss' 3M.  Varlamov started 39 this year and has 13 playoff starts to Greiss' one.]

I struggle with various streams ... I can't be bothered with my box downstairs.  Not now.  Not this season.  Yes, it still works.  However.  It's complicated.  

Six and forty-five.

Isles enter, the Flyers are five in the screen as they steal back and look organized.  

The Isles don't have a slick, untouchable, unrankable forward .. no franchise player.  They've come, perhaps not full circle but some kind of time-mango to the team I enjoyed about six seasons ago.  When Jack whatshisname was the coach [Jack Capuano; seven seasons with a 47-win register in 14-15].  And they were a bunch of No Names.  Buoniconti's Bees.  Or whatever.  Am-I-Rite?  [Ed note: You've confused to Miami Dolphin entities; the Buoniconti-era No Name Defence and the Woodley-era Bees]

Four and fifty.  

The Isles make comfortable ovals around the tight fingers of the cyborg orange.  Flyers are coached by still-likeable Alain Vigneault (yes, THAT Alain Vigneault) but they're still P for putrid.  

Faceoff to Carter Holt's left.  Carter Bailey?  Carter Barter?  These names.  He's good, tho.  And not a bad kid.

The Isles shot lead is now 50-20.  I've missed most of the game so I don't know what kind of 50-20 we're talking about here.  Knowing the Isles, the number probably means early-game verve and then third period Flyer Failings.  The Isles also gear down in the final frame; great goals for-against ratio in the playoff third.

Oh those Fliers.  

I'm a bit busted.  And shelved.  And so forth.  But I've been bookish.  Filmish.  Sipe.  Fouts.  Chuck Knox.  Staubach and Dorsett against Bradshaw and Franco.  

Also Ali.  Jimmy Young.  The Foreman.  Some other odds and ends including an appearance on Donahue by Norton, Holmes, Frazier and Ali.  

Two and thirty.

The Flyers seem to be waiting for Doom.  No.  Not that Doom [Ed note: Legion of Doom].  The 2020 Doom.  

Komarov fires off a drop-pass and it hits wild and high. Vigneault's suit is not as sharp as last game's but still sharper than most other coaches'.  I guess Vigneault made an insensitive remark last week that got flash-featured on RDS' Instagram feed.  Remember RDS?  Ah ha ha.  Of course you do. So do I.

Habs are still in my dawghawse.  Fire MB, bro.

Isles penalty.  Moments later, Cizikis is hauled down on a short-handed thrust... cross-check-shoved from behind by Flyer d-man Sanheim at the circle.  We go to fours.  

And 1:18 left in the period.  

The first OT period of this game (as per my feed).  My, ah, procured feed.  

<shrug>  

I've paid so much.  And what about all the dropped wifi. Fuck Rogers.  

Thirty-eight seconds.  

Leddy low behind his end line.  Back and forth.  Now they emerge.  Pelech.  Up for Pageau.  Drives left to right, crosses the crease but the puck dribbles off.  

And then the siren.

First Intermission (OT) Isles 4, Fliers 4

Do I really need to hear Vegas pronounced "VEGG-USS"?  No, I don't.  It's VAY GUSS.  Ok?

Vancouver is down 3-2 in that "series" and if anyone SHOULD tie up a series after being down 3-1 (which the Canucks WERE) it's Vancouver.  Ok?

I'm going to end each paragraph with "ok?" for now.  Ok?

Ok.  The feed fades to commercial imagery as I face a commercial break.  Ok?

I've also been watching Derek Carr games prior to the Gruden hire.  And just generally catching up on missed NFL footage.  I missed 2004-2018 as you may or may not recall.  Ok?

Hm.  I forgot about ALT-F4 but just instinctively used it to down some unwanted sprung pages from yet another feed. These feeds are reliable, yes.  I haven't decided how I want to view games at home.  Over the past six years (essentially the length of my musings absence; with the odd short exception) I've kept watching .. more each season (minus Montreal) but almost always in public.  And often with a beer involved.  Different from the coffee period.  Tonight is coffee, of course.  But you wouldn't know why it's "of course".  You THINK you know.  But you DON'T KNOW.  And you NEVER WILL.  JK.   Ok? Overtime Second Period Isles 4, Fliers 4

We resume.  A quick shot of Alain.  His usual expression for "situation" situations.  Isles have a brief advantage and they control.  Anders Lee.  Loses it on the hash.  

Fliers' number eighteen escapes [Ed note: Tyler Pitlick RW].  Wrister.  Free, a defender just out of the picture.  Varlamov extends his glove across his left post and nabs it.  Announcer says it was easy.  But I felt some quease.

Prior to the regular season, I went on record (somewhere) to say Isles would win the Cup.  My pool picks were according(ly).  Ok?

Fuck boomers, bro.

And many of my Gen X compatriots. They've forgotten what it was like to get followed around the 7-11.  Or Blockbuster.  Rogers Video.  Etc.  

And now we have Gen Z.  Yes!  As cool as millenials.  But different style.  

The penalty elapsed.  Back to fives.  Regular season OT means four-on-four. But, NHL conservatism (what remains of it) requires fives in the playoffs.  Heaven forbid that skill should settle a contest (over brawn, sistas and bruthas, over brawn).

Flyers swarm.  They close.  Varlamov is a vacuum man, lost papers, lost trinkets ... the tools twinkle and he closes the pad.  Boy does it look like a puck went in on the rear-net replay.  Nope.  That was a stick blade.  Then the helicopter view above the crease shows Varlamov's boot curvetouch the puck out.  And Pelech drops, face to boot and helps elbow the puck into exile. Clutching Varly's pad, a dainty shoeman showman.

No goal.

And that hectic moment is forgotten.  Neutral zone calm. But the Flyers accelerate.  They dare.  It's daring because any uptick from Philly results in Isle commitment.  Isles ARE the better team.  And the Flyers best hope is a languid opponent.  I wish I'd seen the first three periods.  Maybe tomorrow.  (There's a song about that)

Fourteen and fourteen left.

Oh.  And it's Carter Hart.  He's about twenty.  It's his second or so full season.  Image search shows a possibly likeable young fella.  

Shots are 52-28, Isles.

Wrap.  Whoah.  Flyers Are able to ... take advantage of fatigue.  Isles emerge. Eberle, he of Oil fame, winds and fires.  We hear a ting but not a post-ting. Eberle's wild shots are part of his charm.  Right?  

Ok?

Flyers settle in for another five-on-five unwanted visit in Islander ice.  

Nelson carries it out.  Flushed out after a shot.  Isles re-enter.  Uncle Leo.  Yes, he's an Isle now.  

So.  When we're talking about these blue-name no name Island Aislers ... lotta functional no-mistake hockey merchants ... forward names include Anders Lee, Mathew Barzal, Jordan Eberle (that's your tabbed first forward line).  Anthony Beauvillier, Brock Nelson, Josh Bailey, Derrick Brassard, Jean-Gabriel Pageau and Uncle Leo.  I guess <sigh> he's not as annoying as before.  But.

Nine and twenty-five.  

Isles start to press.  Pageeau line.  He's the centre.  Brassard and Leo.  First pairing on the blue; Adam Pelech and Ryan Pulock.

They're pushed back and then emerge quietly.  Sneakily.  Flyers are more concerned with maintaining their starfish five formation then just childishly lunging for the puck.  They're taking away any slot passes and happy to let Isles ping from the outside.  Seems effective.

Ok.  So Hart.  He's 21.  He started thirty last year and 40 this season.  Most teams completed 62 games before the season was postponed.  Yes.  Covid-19. If you're reading this in 2030.

He was 0.917 last year and 0.914 this season.  The bulk of starters will rank between 0.910 and 0.920.  I would suggest that increments of 0.35 are significant.  It's a team stat, too, of course.  And must be superimposed with the usual criteria; shot quality and contestation, opponent formations, opponent quality ... etc, etc, blah blah blah.  Ok?

Your friend Carter is from Sherwood Park, Alberta (just outside Edmonton).  

Six and forty.  

Flyers beat Montreal last round in what was described by some as a tight and tough series ("some" being certain interviewed Flyers).

Their captain is Claude Giroux.  Yes.  He's a captain now.  And that should tell you about the P for putrid.  Putridity varies from spot to spot in the rink, of course.  In the building(s).  But yes.  It's still the Fliers you love.  Ah ha ha.

Brian Elliott, that paragon of goaltending arrogance (not alone in the league) started 27 Flier games.  His save percentage was 0.899.   Yes.  You can laugh out loud.

Fliers score.  The puck ekes through the pads.

There will be a game seven.  

Hm.

Cuthbert cites a Mayfield broken stick as the pumpkin break.  He was shooting from their blue.  Stick broke (these dumb modern sticks .. I mean how many years have they had to get them right).  Typical Flier goal.

Just shooooooot.  Shooooooooot.  We gotta get more rubber on net.  

Some tyrannies counted bullets.  

FINAL Philadelphia Flyers 5 New York Islanders 4 (2 OT)

Series tied 3-3

NBC Stars: Provorov, Barzal, Lindblom HDS Stars: Not enough hockey viewed

[miseensceneofthemind]

Visualise This

How scrapbooking a vision board can jumpstart action in your life.

Life comes at you fast. I've seen this phrase come up a lot lately on Twitter, mostly in a joking manner to illustrate staggering examples of hypocrisy, but taken as a singular statement, it's painfully accurate. Ferris Bueller knew it all too well:

Life moves pretty fast. If you don't stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.

As a classic over-thinker, I often forget things that are obscenely obvious. Smile! Have fun! Stay positive! Affirmations, that help make life a little easier, and dare I say, more enjoyable for the world around you and inside you.

I've admittedly neglected this practice of daily affirmations and goal setting in general over the past year, and decided to put a stop to inaction last night in a flurry of scrapbooking and creative merriment. In the past, I relied on post-it notes spayed in every which way across walls, doors, and even ceilings to remind me of the important things I knew I should be doing. This practice was somewhat effective, but not particularly inspiring to look at every morning. Sure, I personalised them with idiosyncratic lettering and amusing drawings, but that did not change the fact that they were not aesthetically pleasant. I dare you try and make a post-it note look natural when placed next to a poster of La Dolche Vita. I double dare you.

This train of thought led me to research the practice of vision boards, an activity which involves fashioning a visual representation of the things you want in your life, whether that be immediate daily affirmations, or short-term/long-term goals and dreams. After the release of The Secret, vision boards became a sweeping trend that promised life-changing action. While the law of attraction, an idea that is predicated on positive thoughts and energy being reciprocated favourably by the universe, may have an element of truth and perhaps is truly beneficial for some people, there is scientific evidence that challenges the net result of purely fantasising about the final outcome.

This type of result-based visualisation, while great at making one feel great at the time inside of the moment, doesn't necessarily help getting to that point in reality. Research has shown, that those who visualise the steps involved in the process of achieving their desired goals, rather than the mere result, were far more effective in actually accomplishing what they set out to do. My post-it notes of yore neglected this very logical notion – sure, I knew what I wanted and where I wanted to go, but had no guide as to how to get there...

With this in mind, I set out to make a vision board that would actually generate results. Here's how I did it:

(Pro-tip: This works like gangbusters if you have 'Step By Step' by New Kids On The Block playing in the background. THIS IS FACT.)

Now sing it with me...

STEP ONE The search for materials

I don't know about you, but I love buying stationery. I LOVE IT. New pens, paper, books, trinkets – they are my jam. If I was flush with cash, I would have walked into Typo and racked up a devastating bill. Place me in a stationery shop with disposable income, and no doubt about it, I WILL BUY ALL THE THINGS. Unfortunately (or fortunately?), I had a strict budget in mind which all but eliminated Typo as a reasonable option. I also didn't have a lot of time, so I did what all people who don't have much time or money, yet need results fast do – head to Kmart.

You know what? Kmart delivered! In the space of 5 minutes, I had most of the things I needed to scrapbook up a storm. The ability to write was a big factor, which ruled out purchasing cork boards and wired peg boards, as I was feeling more inclined to a scrapbook/collage approach. For just over $13, I managed to buy an A3 Visual Art Diary (120 pages), a pair of scissors, glue (which turned out to be admittedly terrible, but for $1 I can't really complain, and I made it work!), and some fineliner pens (these are really great folks!). Ya done good, Kmart. Now, all I needed was a magazine to mangle.

STEP TWO O magazine, where art thou?

Unfortunately, I had recycled my collection of film, music and guitar magazines months ago, so I had to find some new visual inspiration. Before going to Whitcoulls, I had a vague idea of what I was looking for – nothing with glossy paper, diverse in visual variety, and not too expensive. If you are going to limit yourself, LIMIT HARD. Walking towards the magazine section, I ventured first to the section where Frankie and Smith Journal live. Generally, they have some great content with quirky design elements and images. Ordinarily, they would have ticked the boxes, but I wasn't really feeling it when flipping through the issues. The other option I had in the back of my mind, was picking up a film or music magazine like Empire or Rolling Stone, but these would have compromised the brief of no glossy paper. What was a poor boy to do?

An idea dawned on me – what about comics? Old-school non-glossy paper? Check. Visual variety? Double check. Not too expensive? That's a bingo! Feeling rather irreverent, I picked up a copy of Mad magazine. Oh my word, you know that feeling when you just know the right choice? Alfred E. Neuman and the wacky pages therein were exactly what I was looking for. At the measly price of $8, I now had everything I needed to get started.

STEP THREE Make the damn thing

To be honest, I didn't think scrapbooking a vision board would be that fun. I am so very glad to be wrong on that count. Making it was an absolute blast! Put on some rad tunes, make some tea (or coffee if that's your poison), and collage the ever living hell out of the page. There is something about tapping into the child-like part of one's psyche, that reveals some honest truths in the process – forgotten facets of wonder and creativity, buried beneath the cynicism and dourness that adult life can sometimes obscure. In completing a couple of A3 pages, ambitions and goals that I had previously ignored due to self-exposed excuses began to fight to be seen on the page – the idea of not doing them, now seems not only tragic, but sad. The fun of creativity has imbued these affirmations and goals with a sense of playful swagger, that inspires me to look past my feelings, doubts and insecurities, and just go for it.

Is this activity right for you? Who knows! It might be exactly what you need at this point in your life. Perhaps it is a grievous waste of your time and resources! The point is, don't knock it until you try it. I had so much fun making it, and starting the process has given me enough ideas to create another page or two full of the affirmations and goals I need to be reminded of on a daily basis. If nothing more, it serves as a fantastic way to jumpstart your creativity and get enthused not only about creating again, but living too.

If you are inspired to make a vision board, I'd love to hear from you! Tell me of your vision board successes/tribulations/pro-tips in the comments below.

[m3ixu4n]

What I need

In a free-market economy, anyone can make as much money as they want, emphasises self-made millionaire Steve Siebold, who has also studied over 1,200 of the world's wealthiest people.

And it's never too early to start.

To help you reach the seven-figure mark by 30, we rounded up nine pieces of advice from people who became millionaires at a young age, as well as those who have studied hundreds of self-made millionaires.

We can't guarantee millionaire status, but doing these things won't hurt your odds.

Kathleen Elkins wrote an earlier version of this story.

1. Focus on earning

"In today's economic environment you cannot save your way to millionaire status," writes Grant Cardone, who went from broke and in debt at 21 to self-made millionaire by 30. "The first step is to focus on increasing your income in increments and repeating that.

"My income was $3,000 a month and nine years later it was $20,000 a month. Start following the money, and it will force you to control revenue and see opportunities."

Earning more money is often easier said than done, but most people have options. Read about 50 ways to bring in additional income, some high-paying jobs you can do on the side, how you can earn passive income, and the first step to take before starting any business, from an entrepreneur who earns up to $170,000 a month.

2. Develop multiple streams of income

One way to earn more is to increase your streams of income.

In author Thomas C. Corley's five-year study of self-made millionaires he found that many of them develop multiple streams of income: 65% had three streams, 45% had four streams, and 29% had five or more streams.

These additional streams include real-estate rentals, stock market investments, and part-ownership in a side business.

"Three streams of income seems to be the magic number for the self-made millionaires in my Rich Habits study, but the more income streams you can create in life, the more secure will your financial house be," he writes.

3. Save to invest, don't save to save

Writes Cardone:

"The only reason to save money is to invest it. Put your saved money into secured, sacred (untouchable) accounts. Never use these accounts for anything, not even an emergency. This will force you to continue to follow step one (increase income). To this day, at least twice a year, I am broke because I always invest my surpluses into ventures I cannot access."

Investing is not as complicated or daunting as we make it out to be. The simplest starting point is to contribute to your 401(k) if your employer offers one, and take full advantage of your company's 401(k) match program — which is essentially free money — if it has one.

Next, consider contributing money toward a Roth IRA or traditional IRA, individual retirement accounts with different contribution limits and tax structures — which one you can use depends on your income. If you still have money left over, you can research low-cost index funds, which Warren Buffett recommends, and look into the online-investment platforms known as "robo-advisers."

The key to consistently setting aside money is to make it automatic. That way, you'll never even see the money you're contributing and you'll learn to live without it.

4. Don't show off — show up

"I didn't buy my first luxury watch or car until my businesses and investments were producing multiple secure flows of income," writes Cardone. "I was still driving a Toyota Camry when I had become a millionaire. Be known for your work ethic, not the trinkets that you buy."

Need inspiration to save more and spend less? Read up on tips and strategies from regular people who saved enough of their incomes to retire before 40.

5. Change your mindset about money

"Getting rich begins with the way you think and what you believe about making money," self-made millionaire Steve Siebold explains.

At the end of the day, "The secret has always been the same: thinking," he emphasises. While the masses believe becoming wealthy is out of their control, rich people know that making money is really an inside job."

6. Invest in yourself

"The safest investment I've ever made is in my future," writes Tucker Hughes, who became a millionaire at 22. "Read at least 30 minutes a day, listen to relevant podcasts while driving and seek out mentors vigorously. You don't just need to be a master in your field, you need to be a well-rounded genius capable of talking about any subject whether it is financial, political or sports related. Consume knowledge like air and put your pursuit of learning above all else."

Many modern-day successful and wealthy people are voracious readers. Take Warren Buffett, for example, who estimates that 80% of his working day is dedicated to reading.

7. Set goals and visualise achieving them

If you want to make more money, you have to have a clear goal and then a specific plan for how to achieve that goal. Money won't just appear — you have to work at it.

Rich people choose to commit to attaining wealth. It takes focus, courage, knowledge, and a lot of effort, self-made millionaire T. Harv Eker emphasises, and it's possible if you have precise goals and a clear vision: "The number one reason most people don't get what they want is that they don't know what they want. Rich people are totally clear that they want wealth."

8. Start hanging out with people you admire

Andrew Carnegie, who started with nothing before becoming the richest man in the US, credits all of his riches to one principle: the Master Mind.

The idea is to surround yourself with talented people who share your vision, because the alignment of several smart and creative minds is exponentially more powerful than just one.

Plus, we become like the people we associate with, which is why the rich tend to associate with others who are rich.

"In most cases, your net worth mirrors the level of your closest friends,"explains Siebold. "Exposure to people who are more successful than you are has the potential to expand your thinking and catapult your income. The reality is, millionaires think differently from the middle class about money, and there's much to be gained by being in their presence."

9. Shoot for $10 million, not $1 million

"The single biggest financial mistake I've made was not thinking big enough," writes Cardone. "I encourage you to go for more than a million. There is no shortage of money on this planet, only a shortage of people thinking big enough."