“The doors we open and close each day decide the lives we live” - FLORA WHITTEMORE

Being influenced is when you hear one side of a story and you follow it, disregarding your own side. But if your side of the story is the same as the one you end up following, you have not been influenced, you’ve just been agreed with.  Many people however, allow themselves to be influenced.
That is, they are willing to give up their side of the story to agree with the other side, especially if an “influential” person holds the other side. An influential person is not necessarily the one with the strongest argument on the subject at hand, their influence may be vested in “other resources” that those being influenced may be interested in.
Your boss may be influential not because he holds the strongest argument, but only because he holds your cheque at the end of the month.
One of the things Nelson Mandela used to say as president of South Africa was that he never wanted people to be influenced by his position. He therefore encouraged debate of issues and made sure that only the best idea will win out for the benefit of all.
To ensure this, he would hold out his opinion until the end, when he was sure that the issue has been thrashed in debate, and the answer was “obvious” to all.
He would only bring out issues that he felt were not discussed in the debate.
In the world of personal finance, when you hear the advice of all the experts, you might think there is only one way to deal with your finances.
When your money is not covering all you desire, you are told to distinguish between wants and needs; you are told to cut down your expenses and prioritise; you are told to be “lean and mean”; you are told to live “within” your means.
I think there is another side to that coin. Instead of living “within” your means, why don’t you expand your means? I don’t actually think there is a difference between the so-called needs and wants. I think if you want it, then it’s a need, it’s just a matter of time.
All you have to do is figure out how you can get it. When cellular phones came in, they were classified as “wants” not “needs”, now you can ask anyone who has one and they’ll tell you it’s a need.For us to record progress in life, we need to focus on the growth side of life, not the shrinking side of life.
Don’t focus on cutting down expenses; focus on increasing your income. Instead of depending on the one skill that you are selling to your employer, why not develop your other skills and sell them to those interested?Your profession is not the limit of your capabilities.
If you look only to your academically based profession to support your life, then you have limited yourself. All successful people have multiple streams of income, not just one stream.
Perhaps you should consider that side of the coin. Namasté. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome at 101silverline@gmail.com