New Orleans Saints: Catastrophe to Champion – 3 Quickies to Victory in Personal Finance

Several years ago, Hurricane Katrina left New Orleans in a devastated situation.  New Orleans, LA and surrounding cities in the wake of this natural disaster are still rebuilding their communities, local economy and way of living in the bayou.

But as of last Sunday’s Super Bowl victory over the Indianapolis Colts, the New Orleans Saints won something even more…world-class confidence.

They brought a huge victory to the people of New Orleans, a story of inspiration and courage, that many of us can follow even if we aren’t Saints fans.  What a great American story…to rise up from destruction and become a champion!  Well how does that relate to personal finance?  Simple. Any Wall Street executive, day trader or financial planner can easily tell you that the markets rise and fall on one major factor…consumer confidence.

As logical, mathematical and linear personal finance may seem, don’t get caught up in the graphs, charts and indices you may find in the Money/Business section of your newspaper.

The CBOE Volatility Index has been often referred to as the “fear index”, which measures concerns about future performance of the Standard & Poor’s 500 index.  Yes, emotions can and DO affect our financial situation.

When I first heard about the rebuilding plan for New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, I was wondering why so much money, time and attention was being given to solely fix back up the Louisiana Super Dome.  “Don’t they need to build back up the homes so people have a place to live?”, I asked.

Then a friend of mine, a certified financial planner, said, “Matthew Sapaula! I thought you were smarter than that!”  I answered, “What do you mean?”

He replies, “The first thing New Orleans needs to do is rebuild an economic base.  That way businesses can open their doors again, keep the jobs in New Orleans and people start feeling good about themselves again as they can now feed their families.”

Super Bowl MVP Drew Brees enjoying a priceless moment with his son

Duh! I got it.  That’s what friends are for!

You see, confidence is what get us to lift our heads back up and give things another chance.  Self-confidence says, “No matter what I am going through, I am better than this!”  It also says, “My self-worth is not my net-worth!”

What the New Orleans Saints displayed throughout the 2009-2010 NFL season, is an unwavering belief in themselves that they were better than their current circumstances.  Week in and week out over the last few years, I’ve watched Drew Brees’s interviews on ESPN and the NFL Network.

He is an under-sized quarterback, by NFL standards, who graduated from Purdue who was never thought of as a franchise quarterback.  Drew Brees’s time in San Diego was coming to an end as they drafted Philip Rivers in the 1st round draft to replace him.

Never once did I see him hunker down and feel sorry for himself.  What I watched was a man who was able to humble himself as a professional athlete, while getting paid millions of dollars a year and set a high example of leadership and work ethic that inspired a team…a league…a nation.

You see where I’m going with this?

Not by size, current circumstance or pedigree was Drew Brees or the New Orleans Saints considered a Super Bowl contender, much less a champion by NFL reports, insiders or analysts at the beginning of the season.

Let me translate this all as it relates to personal finance…

1) Begin with Your Thinking – the New Orleans Saints, from ownership to ball boy believed in restoring their city by removing all doubts that they were going to win a championship.  Think about how difficult it was for them to think this way when everything around them was in disaster?   It doesn’t matter where you are, it matters where you are going.  It doesn’t matter than you’re going through a divorce, a bankruptcy, a foreclosure or just been through one…you’re broke, so what.  Being broke is just a temporary situation, not a permanent state of mind.  If you can change your thoughts, you can change your life.  As the Saints organization did from ownership, management, coaches to the players…their minds were no longer on the devastation of Katrina but rather bringing hope to New Orleans.

2) Believe with Absolute Certainty – you can’t get moving unless you are 100% clear about where you want to go.  Are you sick and tired of being sick and tired?  I hope so.  If you live in the United States, you live in one of the wealthiest countries in the World. In fact, if you make more than $25,000 per year (my average yearly salary as a ten-year Sergeant in the United States Marine Corps), you are in the top 10% richest people in the world!   Are you ready to believe that much more in yourself?  I hope so.  This will allow you to take the next steps towards creating certainty in an uncertain world.  You will ask better quality questions, seek quality answers and associate with quality people in this process.  Although the Saints lost their shot at a perfect undefeated season, they did not waver from their ultimate goal, winning a Super Bowl championship!

3) Get to Work – NFL athletes must keep in shape all-year round.  The best-of-the-best continue to study game film in the off-season, hold to a personal workout routine outside of their mandatory practices and dive into their playbook when nobody is watching.  Their preparation allows them to play on the field extremely fast, utilizing their natural God-given ability.  Instead of thinking football, they just play football…and love it!  Start opening the mail and start dealing with tough issues and each bill, one at a time.  It may seem like a mountain but after a while you will look back and say, “It wasn’t that hard after all!”

Consider these action steps to get you closer to your financial dreams as we journey together towards financial freedom and independence.

I’d love to hear your thoughts, suggestions and tips in what you are doing to build wealth, living in the place where you belong, with people you love, doing the things you want to do.

Here are my two-cents for action steps:

1. Get around books, CDs, podcasts, workshops and PEOPLE  that have you think differently about money.  Have you ever asked yourself, “Why do I believe what I believe about money?”.  We’ve asked our clients and students, “If you thought you were doing something right, then later found out it was wrong, when would you want to know?  If you did know, WHEN would you do something about it?”  Be prepared to listen to constructive criticism, for you will be home with the wise. (Proverbs 15:31) Write this down and review this answer with your financial coach or financial planner.

2.  Get moving! No one is going to hand out YOUR opportunity.  Even though financial planners, stockbrokers, traders, insurance agents, real estate investors and economists will argue where to put your money, the one thing that they won’t argue about is when.  The answer? NOW.  Think about it. Even after four years of high school or college education, did you know everything you needed to know about your job or business?  No! Of course not.  You learned by DOING.  If you are afraid of making mistakes, start off small with things that you are familiar with.  Build confidence along the way by stepping out in faith, as you start creating positive results with small victories.

3. Turn off the TV and tune out all sitcoms, tabloids and even music that doesn’t encourage you to build up a positive and uplifting spirit.  Getting caught up in gossip and finding out who is sleeping around with you, wastes valuable time and distracts you from your own dreams and goals.  After all, who are you trying to help get rich…Adam Lambert as he sticks his tongue down another man’s throat…or you? Do this for the next 21 days and stick your nose in a book or self-development course that will help transform the way you think so that you can attract the lifestyle you have always dreamed.

As a final thought on belief and confidence, is a Proverb from the richest man who ever lived, saying, “As a man thinketh in his heart, so is he.” (Prov 23:7)

P.S. Did you miss these SuperBowl ads? I always get a few laughs with these.  Companies paid over $3M per 30 sec commercial…I hope it was worth it!  http://superbowlads.fanhouse.com//

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