Unfortunately, in today's volatile economy it seems there are no guarantees---just ask any retiree how their portfolio is doing.

Unless you've previously inherited millions, conventional financial planners focus on setting you up for your retirement years, making sure that one day you will have enough so you don't have to work any longer.

I have spent years working for myself and have worked all the hours under the sun. Before that I used to work hour after hour for a large international company.

Sure, they did pay me well however I had no time left at the end of the day or even at the end of the week. Wealth building and investing is just a part of lifestyle design but if I were a financial planner my advice would be this: Invest in yourself.

Financial education and personal development is very important as you can never stop learning and improving yourself.

This would include; Books, DVD/CDs, Seminars, Workshops ad so on… In this century, working smarter has everything to do with accessing and consciously utilizing the attributes of the right hemisphere of your brain.

By simply using the teachings of others and listening to their ideas and experiences you can generate your own success. This is key. If you want to be or do something in particular you need to find someone who has done it and done it well.

Ultimately we all need to balance both left and right aspects of our brains, but for now, you may need to focus more on increasing your imagination and creativity.

The Science of Getting Rich stated this in one way:

"All the breaks you need in life wait within your imagination, Imagination is the workshop of your mind, capable of turning mind energy into accomplishment and wealth." -- Napoleon Hill

When is was working for a large international company I had more money than I knew what to do with. Now a days working for myself I make a bit less but I have more time to spend with my family.

Yes others make more money but they have less free time.

That works for them and its their choice.

Either way it is possible. I have seen it happen, it has happened to me and I now happily show people how to do the same.

However the key for both is this, everyone who has ever powerfully taken charge of their life knows how to leverage their inner resources.

They didn't have any special attributes that you don't have.

You Can do it!