Secrets of Prosperity
By Randy Gage
What would you say if I said that you are very likely sabotaging your own achievements? Doing things that derail your business, keep you sick, unhappy, unhealthy, or broke? (Or all of the above.) You can think you want to be successful, but actually be doing things to stop it from happening to you.
All I know is that it took me losing my business, selling the furniture, sleeping on the floor, and eating macaroni and cheese three times a day for months to discover a very fascinating thing... What I discovered about success and prosperity was that it had almost nothing to do with opportunities, chance, luck, or even training, education, or skill. It had everything to do with consciousness, beliefs, and even subconscious programming that you aren't aware of.
For the last few weeks, I've been having a dialogue via e-mail with my friend Stuart Goldsmith in London. He originally wrote me about his desire to create a work at home type of plan to help people get off government assistance and become independent. (He thought perhaps an envelope stuffing, assembly, or similar type of plan might work. One done honestly, not the many rip-off schemes that currently prey on these people.)
I want to share some of what I wrote him back on the subject of prosperity consciousness, because I think it's the most important element in your success.
Some of what I write may strike you as uncaring, jaded, cynical, or heartless. In actuality, once you understand the principles involved, you'll understand that my comments only come from wanting the highest good for others. And you may find them very appropriate, and very uncomfortable, for your own life.
Try as I might to embrace Stuart's idea for a home work program for welfare recipients, it still reeks to me as rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. Creating homework jobs for most of these people is casting pearls before swine or whatever appropriate cliché you'd like to substitute. (See how cynical and uncaring I sound already!)
I still believe that what I said is true though, based on my own experience, and that of the "circle of losers," I associated with for the first 30 years of my life. You could have given any of us a homework program designed to make us a millionaire and we would have snatched defeat from the jaws of victory. Why? Because we did not have the consciousness to be wealthy, or healthy, or happy. We were professional "victims."
When I started a business, the county started construction on the highway, the next time I had a crooked partner, and another time the economy went bad. Finally the last time, the IRS seized my restaurant for non-payment of taxes, and auctioned it off on the courthouse steps. Which left me with no car, no house, no money, no job, and $55,000 in debt... Which ultimately was the best thing that happened to me. By losing everything, I finally stopped looking at all the outside factors (crooked partner, IRS, economy, etc.), and started looking at the inside ones. Or more specifically, ask the question, "Was there ONE person who was always at the scene of the crime?"
Of course I didn't like the answer I came up with, but it was the true one. All those outside factors were being manifested by me because I:
* Had a subconscious fear of success;
* Lacked Self-esteem; and,
* Didn't believe I was worthy of success.
It's very easy to cry victim and get your share of love, sympathy, etc. I was certainly the poster boy. And of course I surrounded myself with other victim friends who would commiserate with me. We would gather at every opportunity and share our tragedies with each other. I would explain how those rectums at the power company shut off my lights, because I was one lousy day late; my friend Mike would top that with how he was getting evicted by his rich, heartless landlord; I would come back with how my license plate was impounded for unpaid parking tickets, and the battle would wage on. And of course there is nothing worse than when your friends have a worse tragedy than you do! You have to immediately manifest a tumor, meteorite landing on your car, or some other calamitous event to ensure that you get your proper share of sympathy. And before you disregard this as mystical fluff, I am talking about rational, scientific events here. Ex: you are attracted to another dysfunctional alcoholic spouse, choose another dishonest partner, open a business without doing the due diligence, spend your money on cigarettes and beer, but have none left to pay the rent, or a million and one other possibilities.
Yes it's true other people aren't getting thrown out on the street, but that's because they pay their mortgage. Yes it's true that other people don't have their tire blow out on their way to the interview for that good job, but that's because they deferred getting cable TV and bought new tires when they needed them. To paraphrase Eric Butterworth, poverty is not an absence of money and things, it is a state of mind. Prosperity is not an abundance of money and things, it is also a state of mind.
The state-run lottery here is the perfect example. People with money never buy tickets. They know it's stupid, with odds of winning of one in 22 million. Or they buy one ticket a week, as playful entertainment. Who buys the vast majority of lottery tickets? Very poor people. Who gamble away the money they need for good nutrition, work clothes, bus fare to a job interview, etc., etc., because they "need" to win. And you know that when they do win $20 million, it will destroy their life. And they will be broke again in ten years. Why? Because they don't have prosperity consciousness. They see themselves as poor victims who "need" some of the money, "luck" and "chances" that rich people have. And just like if you give them a lottery pay-off, the home work opportunity will have the same result, although less dramatic.
In their subconscious mind, they see themselves as poor, so they always manifest results that keep them poor. Without even knowing it, they hate rich people and resent what they have. So when they start to get to a certain level of success (as I did), a silent alarm goes off in their subconscious mind that says, "Hey you better be careful. If you keep doing what you're doing, you're going to end up like one of those evil, mean and nasty rich people! You'll change, and then your friends won't like you anymore." So they will find ways (like I did) to sabotage their success. Which in the work at home program would manifest as theft, fraud, shoddy standards (getting their 3 year old to do it), begging for extra work, early payment, more payment because they "really need it," lots of problems regarding missing work packets and missing payments, and lots of work never returned or heard from again.
How do we change this state of affairs? Well first we must acknowledge the "data-sphere", the Internet, TV, telephone, radio, magazines, radio, friends, family, newspapers, e-mail, governments, organized religion, and other "agenda setters." And we must recognize that this data-sphere is continually programming people 24/7, and that almost 95% of it is lack and limitation programming.
In America, the microcosm for the mass culture can always be found in the entertainment industry. Watch the movies, study the Nielson ratings and check out the New York Times bestseller list. When is the last time you saw a billionaire or multi-millionaire portrayed in a positive light in the media? Think of the coverage provided on Bill Gates, Larry Ellison, Ross Perot, Howard Hughes, or Ted Turner, on down to the millionaire on "Gilligan's Island."
I actually read a serious Op-Ed piece by Ralph Nader, chastising Bill Gates and other billionaires for not redistributing their money to the poor people of the world! I used to think Nader was a good guy. Obviously, he has lost his mind. And Gates, like a moron, actually released a statement defending himself. Like the fact that he doesn't give away all the money he worked so hard to earn, needs to be defended.
You will see that intelligent people like Jim Carey, Howard Stern, and David Letterman are making fortunes, exploiting the appetites of a growing audience of functional idiots. And make no mistake; people like Stern and these others are brilliant. Usually genius. And they have learned that the lower they lower the common denominator, the better it sells.
Make a movie like "The Insider" and you'll garner lots of critical acclaim, but you won't sell much popcorn. Create "Dumb and Dumber," "The Waterboy" or "Deuce Bigalow" and you will take in hundreds of millions of dollars. It's like shooting fish in a barrel. It's the ultimate volleyball set up. Just spike it over the net and watch it drop for the point.
Aaron Spelling has become one of the most prolific and successful producers of all time, creating cheesy T&A shows. Over the last couple of decades, to keep up with the mass market tastes, the shows have had to get more cheesy, show more and bigger breasts, extra liposculptured asses, and they have deteriorated to the intelligence level of a cucumber. So now our "pesky poor people" are watching FIVE HOURS A DAY of TV. And what are the hottest shows? "Survivor," "Temptation Island," and "The Weakest Link." All shows that pander to their basest instinct. Sex. Consumption. Victimhood. Gossip. Lack and limitation.
These shows, and of course the commercial messages, show them how they can have all their desires now - instant gratification, and worry about paying for them later. Get a car lease with no money down. Furniture with no payments for a year. They extend them credit till they are spending 145% of what they earn. They market them Cheetos, Fritos, Doritos . . . chocolate brownies with mocha-crunch ice cream, slathered in caramel, drizzled with chocolate and covered with marshmallow and whipped cream . . . Pizza Hut meat lovers pan pizza with extra cheese, stuffed crust. Then they sell 'em diet Pepsi, herbal wraps, ephedrine supplements, buns-of-steel videos, liposuction, and magic "dream away the pounds" potions. It's so easy it's almost comical. If it wasn't so tragic.
Another perfect example is the movie "Titanic." That movie is programming people on AT LEAST 150 different levels that:
* Money is bad;
* Rich people are evil; and,
* It's spiritual to be poor.
And the more you like this movie, the more lack programming you have in your subconscious mind. So what's the result? It's the #1 grossing movie since the earth's crust cooled. And James Cameron makes $200 million, teaching you it's spiritual to be poor!
The only way I know how to change all this is with education, raising people's consciousness. Not only do you have to teach people to fish, you have to teach them why they must WANT TO FISH FOR THEMSELVES, instead of looking for the Friday night all-you-can-eat fish fry. Although I see prosperity in a spiritual context, the laws of prosperity are actually very scientific and quite tangible. The only free cheese is in the mousetrap. Until someone identifies their underlying lack programming, and gives up their ownership of being a victim, I'm afraid all the work at home/office/anywhere programs are simply a band-aid over a cancerous tumor.
Living the Abundant Life You Were Promised . . .
As crazy as this may sound to you, I believe you were born to be rich. In fact, I even think that being poor is a sin. (More about that in a moment.) But first, let's look at what true prosperity really is.
It is healthy, happy relationships, fulfilling work, contributing to a greater good, beautiful sunsets, morning rain, abundant health, rainbows and nature. AND it is sleek cars, beautiful homes, exotic locales and stunning clothes. I say that because there is a lot of lack programming and very erroneous information going around on the subject. Some people will tell you that prosperity has nothing to do with money. That's just plain silly. Yes, I know money doesn't buy happiness. I agree. But I also know that poverty breeds unhappiness, hopelessness, and despair.
There are people who teach prosperity courses that are broke. They say things like, "Well I haven't manifested a lot of material things, but I am so blessed with health and relationships, blah, blah." They have to say that, because otherwise you might doubt them when they climb into their '73 Pinto hatchback. Well I got news for you. That dog don't hunt. You can't be a "little bit pregnant" and real prosperity means in all sense of the word, which includes money, cars, homes, and the luxuries of life.
Now maybe you aren't into cars, but you like boats. Or helicopters and Armani suits are your thing. You get the idea though. Prosperity means living without fear of paying bills, scrimping by, or depriving yourself of the things that bring joy and meaning to your life. In my case that means a condo on the ocean, fast sports cars, season memberships to the Marlins, Opera and film festival, trips all over the world, playing on three softball teams, working when I want, wonderful people in my life and the time to spend with them, and a spiritual sanctuary that fulfills my needs.
Let me tell you a story . . .
I woke with the sun slowly washing across my face. As I do each morning, I began the day with the affirmation, "Thank-you God." This morning had even more meaning than usual, because I was in a bungalow nestled over the Pacific Ocean, at a resort on the island of Moorea, Tahiti. I climbed out of bed, picked up some bread I had left on the table the night before, and began dropping it through a window in my floor, to the ocean below. Instantly, fish of all colors and sizes darted into view and began to eat the scraps. There were blue, green, red and yellow fish. There were purple fish with orange stripes, blue fish with yellow polka dots, green fish with orange markings, and every conceivable color scheme imaginable. In a week there, I saw at least 25 new kinds of fish every day. I bet if you stayed a year, you would still discover at least one new type of fish everyday. I was there with my "10K Club," conducting a Mastermind Retreat. Since the Masterminds are so powerful, we like to hold them in exotic, tropical or picturesque locales.
Now a fascinating thing I noted . . .
There were only about 10 or 12 bungalows over the water, while there were about 40 or 50 along the shore. There were a few vacancies in the over-water bungalows, but the landlocked ones were full. Why? Because the water ones were about $550 a night, and the others were about $300. Most people wouldn't spring for the extra cash. Which is a trend I notice a lot of places. Watch people check into a hotel. They are offered an ocean view room for $225, and a "garden view" one for $189, and they usually choose the garden view. Or "mountain view," or "city view," or "pool view", which in my experience, usually means the dumpster, parking lot, or loading dock view.
You see it in condos too. My last place was on Biscayne Bay in South Beach. I had a beautiful apartment, overlooking the Marina, so I woke up each morning to see the sailboats bobbing in the bay. The real estate agents called the other side of the building the "ocean view" side. Which was quite amusing to me, since the immediate view was a supermarket, a tow truck company (so you could hear lifts and car alarms going off all night), and a veterinary hospital (who boarded pets, so you could hear 25 dogs barking all weekend). Now it is true that the ocean was in the background, if you had binoculars, and a chorus of buildings in the mile in between did not block the view. People save $20,000 on their unit when they buy it, and cheat themselves out of a lifetime of enjoyment, beauty, and prosperity.
Nowhere was this more apparent than on the Air France jet to and from Tahiti. It was something like a nine-hour flight, and I was horrified to discover, that most people were seated in Coach! Can you believe it? Now it turns out that the seat I was in costs about $5,000, and a seat in the back could be had for about $800. Or translated to a couple, an airfare of $10,000, versus $1,500 in coach, or a difference of $8,500.
Now I know what you're thinking . . .
You're probably wondering, with a difference of $8,500, how do they get anyone to ride in Coach? That's exactly what I was thinking too! I mean, if it was a lot of money or something . . . but since it was just a lousy eight grand . . . I mean, just a sec, you mean that's NOT what you were thinking? Wait a minute. OK, so I joke a little. But please consider one possibility. If you WERE thinking, "$8,500 extra, that's a little steep . . . " , consider that you may have "lack" programming that is holding you back. Consider that you may be going through life with a Coach mentality, and missing all the service, better meals and leg room up in First Class. If I could impart one critical philosophy to you it would be this:
You have a Creator who wants you to ride in First Class. Now, if you're like most people (meaning you suffer from lack programming), you're thinking, "But wait, do you realize what I could do with that extra money I would spend for a First Class ticket (or oceanfront room, water view condo, a nice car instead of a broke-mobile, etc.)? I could feed the homeless, give it to my church, cure cancer, blah, blah, blah . . . "
There's only one problem with that argument . . .
It is built on the belief that there is only one $8,500. That you could spend it to fly First Class to Tahiti, OR do good work, but not both. It is based on the supposition that money (or love, resources, substance, etc.) are FINITE. Nothing could be further from the truth. Because you can spend $8,500 to fly to Tahiti AND send $8,500 to the orphanage. Money, like love, substance and other resources, is INFINITE. All these resources can be infinitely replenished, simply by you manifesting more.
Now we're using money as the metaphor here, but the principles we are discussing apply to all areas of prosperity. How many people are in abusive relationships and justify staying in them? ("Well he beats me when he's drunk, but he seems so sorry afterward, and he's so good to me the rest of the time.") Do you think you're serving the world by being in a negative relationship? Do you think it's Spiritual to be poor? Do you think you're doing God's work because you're driving that '83 Camry with 8-track player in it? Let me share with you a secret:
POVERTY SUCKS!
Charles Fillmore shocked the religious community of his day when he declared that poverty is a sin. People today are still taken aback when I repeat it. But if you research the true meaning of sin, it means "to miss the mark." And when you are not experiencing prosperity in all areas of your life - you are missing the mark your Creator has for you.
Poverty causes disease, disharmony, and death. It causes people to lie, cheat and steal. There is absolutely NOTHING spiritual about poverty. Now you could be thinking, "That's easy for Randy and those other rich people to say! What about me? I have a crappy job and I only make $20,000 a year. My boss is so cheap I haven't had a raise in two years." To which I would respond, "So what are you doing about it?"
Now don't get me wrong. I'm not suggesting that you charge an extra $8,500 on your credit card and fly to Tahiti when you're making $23,000 a year. But I am suggesting that if you're making $23,000 a year, it is because you chose to do so.
You are the one who manifested your crappy job, your cheap boss, and your dysfunctional relationships. And only you can manifest better ones. In my faith we say, "God gives you the light, but you still have to turn on the light switch." The Quakers say, "As you pray, move your feet."
In his landmark book "Prosperity," Fillmore gets a basic premise across, right in the introduction. He tells us that we have a wise and competent Creator, who provided for all our needs. Two key points in this.
1) Our Creator provided for us with a spiritual substance, which is around us everywhere. And,
2) This substance responds to the mind of man. It is your thoughts that manifest the substance into day-to-day reality.
As long as you were manifesting a job, why didn't you manifest one that paid $230,000 or $2,300,000 instead of $23,000? Since you were manifesting a relationship anyway, why not manifest one with your true soul mate who would enrich your life in immeasurable ways? Since you manifested waking up today, why not do it with optimum health?
Here's what I know to be true...
When you call the airline, they ask if you want to book in First Class or Coach. And they'll give you whatever seat you're willing to pay for. And that, my friend, is the way life is. The only thing separating the Coach cabin from the First Class one is a curtain! All you have to do is pull it back and walk through. Everyday, you get a dozen chances to choose First Class or Coach.
Which one are you choosing?
Are you living the lifestyle of your dreams? Do you wake up each morning when you finish sleeping? (Not from an alarm clock.) Do you enjoy the work you do, love the people you're around, and enjoy a strong spiritual connection with your maker (the universe, or whatever your faith is)? Are you living in your dream house, driving your dream cars, and traveling to the places you want to see? Do you have quality time with the people that bring quality to your life? If you can't answer yes to all these questions, you bought a Coach ticket.
