Project Life Mastery

10 Secrets To Mastering Anything In Your Life

Stefan James — Mon, 13 Dec 2021 16:00:31 +0000

If you're ready to live an incredible life, these 10 secrets will allow you to master anything.

Since I was 17 years old I have been committed to self-mastery.

To be the master of yourself is to fully understand who you are and take responsibility for your own life.

Unfortunately, I see a lot of people invest way too much time and energy into mastering the wrong things. As a result, they are left feeling lost and unfulfilled.

From my experience, I have found that are only 10 areas of life that you must master if you want to achieve happiness and success.

If you're ready to take control of your destiny instead of hoping for the best, read this!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Every aspect of your life works together.

Life is not structured. Rather, it is a dynamic process that is constantly changing. I believe that happiness is a journey that is rooted in the mastery of many different facets of life.

I've identified six areas of life that I believe are important to master. By bringing awareness to these areas, you can determine where you are falling short so that you can work to improve them over time.

1. Physical Body

Your body is your temple. You experience everything in life through your body. If you don't master your body, you're going to have a compromised experience of life. Everything that you want in life is going to require an abundance of energy.

2. Mental and Emotional Well Being

The quality of your life is determined by the quality of your emotions. You can have everything on the outside, but if you don't feel fulfilled and happy, you'll be missing out on life. Emotions are habitual. We all have an emotional home.

You need to condition the emotions that you want to experience. I like to differentiate mental well being from emotional well being. Oftentimes, people struggle to experience emotions because they are too busy living in their heads.

One of my favorite sayings is, “Live in your head, you're dead.” When you overthink things, it inhibits your ability to appreciate all that life has to offer. Your head is great for making rational decisions, but your heart is where love, gratitude, joy, and happiness are found.

3. Relationships

The purpose of relationships is to amplify our experience of life. You don't want to go through life alone. You can achieve all the success in the world but if you don't have someone you can share your life with, you'll always feel like something is missing.

Who you decide to spend your life with is one of the most important decisions you'll make in life. Also, you need to learn how to attract the right people into your life, otherwise known as an empowering ecosystem. Once you attract these people, you've got to learn how to communicate with them effectively.

4. Career/Business

Your work needs to give you a sense of purpose in your life. I don't look at what I do as a job. Rather, it's my mission. When I use that kind of language, it amplifies my experience of it.

You'll spend one-third of your life working so you may as well make sure that you're doing something that you love.

5. Financial Abundance

You must master your finances. A lot of people don't have a healthy relationship with money. They're intimidated by money, so much so that they don't know what to do with it. You want your money to work for you.

Money is a tool. It can give you more time, help you build lasting wealth, or be a vehicle to make a difference in the world. When you know how to use money, you'll have a better experience of life.

6. Spiritual Well Being

This is the most important area of my life. My connection to God transcends everything else. I believe that I've been put on Earth for a reason. My spiritual connection with God gives me a deeper sense of meaning.

It helps me to think beyond myself and live with honesty, integrity, and ethics. Nobody has any evidence when it comes to spirituality, but we all have faith. If you wait for physical evidence you'll be limiting your experience of life.

Each of these 6 areas of life is important. The question is… how do you master these areas?

These are the 10 secrets to mastering anything in life. Let's dive in!

1. Make It A Study

Whatever it is that you want to master in life, you have to make it a study. Unfortunately, our school system doesn't help us master the important areas of life. Instead, they place value on learning school subjects, like Science, Math, and English.

Unless you want to be an Engineer, Scientist, or Mathmetician, it won't benefit you to master these subjects. Don't get me wrong… there is great utility in learning how to read and write.

However, we are taught a lot of things in school that have zero application to the real world. I wish the school system prepared us to master core life skills, but that's not the case. You can't depend on the education system to teach you these things. Schools teach knowledge, but life requires wisdom.

Find people who have already mastered whatever it is that you want and learn from them. If you want to have an amazing relationship, find people who have an amazing relationship and be around them. Make them your role models. If they have a book or a course, consume their knowledge.

Similarly, if you want to be successful, make success a study. If you want to build a great business, study entrepreneurship and learn the principles of business from successful people. It's all about compressing time.

One of the best ways to master anything is to put yourself in proximity with someone who has the results you desire. Over time, you'll take on their beliefs, values, and mindset.

I make it a mission to attract and connect with successful people. When I do, I make it a priority to ensure that they feel appreciated. In effect, I do things to show that I care. In turn, that same care is reciprocated by them and the relationship is built.

2. Go Deep

If you want to master anything you have to eliminate all distractions and go deep. Most people stay at the surface. They do something for a while but don't stick with it long enough to master it.

It's similar to swimming in the ocean. A lot of people want to swim on the surface. When you're on the surface, you can enjoy the sun and there is less pressure. However, you're not getting the full experience of being in the ocean.

Other people want to scuba dive. By going deep into the ocean, they experience an entirely different world. Yes, there is more pressure and risk by going deeper. However, trust me when I say that the rewards far outweigh the risks of doing so.

Keep in mind that any time that you learn something new, at first you'll feel incompetent. Naturally, this may make you feel insecure. It takes time to get competent at something before you start achieving the results you desire.

There are 4 levels of learning. The first level is unconscious incompetence. This is when you suck at something, but you're not even aware that you suck at it.

The second level is conscious incompetence when you're aware of your incompetence. By knowing where your weaknesses lie, you know what you need to work on.

The third level is conscious competence. This is when you understand and know how to master something.

The fourth level is unconscious competence. This is the definition of mastery. You're doing something without even thinking about it.

3. Repetition

If you want to master something, you can't do something once or twice. Rather, you have to repeat something, again and again. In the words of Bruce Lee, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks once, but I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times.”

Mastery can feel boring, but you have to embrace it. There's a great book that I suggest you read called, The Talent Code (this link will direct you to the Amazon website). In his book, Daniel Coyle talks about the neuroscience of repetition and why mastery involves deep practice. When I read a book, most of the time I'm learning about something that I already know.

However, this is a good thing! The more that you learn something, again and again, the more that you strengthen that knowledge within yourself. Every time that you use repetition to focus on something, your neurons are firing together and wiring together. This is how habits are formed.

4. Embrace Discomfort

Discomfort is a core part of the learning process. You want to intentionally make it harder on yourself so that you can grow faster. You've got to push beyond what you are comfortable with.

For example, when I was single and trying to master my social skills I would go to nightclubs by myself. When you're with your friends, it's a lot easier to approach women.

By putting myself in a loud environment, I had to learn how to project my voice and communicate with women using my body language. By intentionally stretching my comfort zone, I built up my confidence faster.

5. Fully Immerse Yourself In Your Learning

Immersion is one of the fastest ways to master anything. When you just do something once in a while, it takes forever for you to master it. Conversely, if you fully immerse yourself in learning for a specific period, your growth will skyrocket.

An event or a retreat is a great way to practice immersion. It's like learning a new language. If you want to learn Spanish, you can take a class once per week. Conversely, you can go to Spain or Mexico and immerse yourself in the culture. You'll learn so much faster taking this route.

6. Measure Your Progress

When you measure something, you're consistently putting your attention on it. If you're focusing on something consistently and you encounter a setback, you can easily do something that day to change it.

People fall short on their goals because they are measuring them less frequently. In the words of Peter Drucker, “You can't manage something if you don't measure it.” Whatever you're trying to pursue, the more that you measure your progress, the more you'll notice it.

7. Reward Yourself

Whatever gets rewarded, gets repeated. You have to celebrate your progress. Most people don't see their progress because they're not measuring it. You have to look at what you're getting from the actions that you're taking.

Whenever someone says that they've failed at something, I know that they are only focusing on one part of the story. They aren't looking at what they've learned and gained. If you focus on the skills, wisdom, and work ethic that you've acquired in the pursuit of something, you merely fail forward.

8. Break Past Plateaus

Whatever it is that you want to master, there will be a point when you hit a plateau. Plateaus are a part of the journey. Therefore, you must anticipate plateaus. When they show up, you can't be caught off guard and let it derail you.

You've got to take a step back and analyze what it is that you're doing. Look at things from a different perspective. The level of thinking that got you to where you are, is not the same level of thinking that will get you to where you want to go. You can't be so attached to a specific way of thinking and being. Rather, you have to stay open to everything.

9. Be Patient

Mastery takes time. It doesn't happen overnight. Patience is a virtue, especially in a world where we are conditioned to get everything in an instant. People have such a short attention span because they have overstimulated their brains with dopamine.

Thus, they can't stick with something long enough to master it. In his book, Outliers (this link will direct you to the Amazon website), Malcolm Gladwell expressed that it takes 10,000 hours to master something. That's roughly 10 years.

I've been a YouTuber and an entrepreneur for over a decade now. Mastery is a commitment to never-ending improvement. I've put in my 10,000 hours, but I'm not going to stop. I know that I can always get better at what I do.

10. Pay It Forward and Teach Others

If you want to master something, teach it. Share what you're learning with others. It will force you to learn it at a deeper level and live what you teach. Early on I decided that these 10 areas were so important to me that I wanted to make them a part of my business.

As a result, I have been forced to learn more about how to improve every part of my life. I pay forward everything that l learn and master. I am constantly raising my standards so that I can be a role model for others. That is why I started Project Life Mastery.

These are 10 secrets to mastering anything in life.

If you can master these 10 keys, you can do anything. Mastery is a journey, not a destination. There is always something to learn and unlearn along the way.

Keep showing up and keep growing into the person you desire to become.

What is one area of your life that you're committed to going deeper with? Follow these 10 secrets and you'll get there!

Are you ready to raise your standards, succeed faster and master every area of your life? CLICK HERE to join my Life Mastery Accelerator program!

The post 10 Secrets To Mastering Anything In Your Life appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

42 Life-Changing Books For Mastering Every Area Of Your Life

Stefan James — Tue, 23 Nov 2021 16:00:36 +0000

These 42 life changing books will improve every aspect of your life.

These books have shaped my beliefs and values. They have shifted my perspective, in terms of how I see myself, others, and the world.

In this blog, I break down my book recommendations into 10 different areas of life.

I would not be who I am today if it was not for these incredible books.

If you are committed to expanding your mind and mastering every area of your life, read this!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

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Are you ready to build a business that gives you the freedom to design life on your terms? CLICK HERE to take my FREE quiz to find out which business model is best for you!

Books open your mind to what is possible.

The mission of Project Life Mastery is to be a positive example of the unlimited possibilities that life offers for those that are truly committed to mastery. I have been obsessed with learning and growing in all areas of my life since I was 17 years old.

Unfortunately, as Jim Rohn says, “Most people in life major in minor things.” A lot of people know more about celebrity gossip than they do about their mind, body, and spirit. You want to make sure that you are majoring in things that matter.

There are only so many areas of life that truly matter. If you end up neglecting these areas, negative consequences will ensue. Thus, it's worthwhile to feed your mind and invest your time and energy into learning about different aspects of your life.

Did you know that reading strengthens your brain? Using MRI scans, researchers have confirmed that reading involves a complex network of circuits and signals in the brain. As your reading ability matures, those networks also get stronger.

On top of giving your brain a workout, reading is also one of the most effective ways to find solutions to problems. Whatever adversity that you're currently facing in life, there is someone who has been through the same adversity and they've been able to overcome it.

Not only that, but they've shared their wisdom and experience in a book that you can buy for $10-20. You get to benefit from their lifetime of knowledge. How incredible is that? Your behaviors follow your beliefs. If you implement what you learn, your life will change.

It's that simple.

Whenever someone asks me what books they should read I often respond with, “What area of your life are you focused on right now?” The books you read should always be relevant to what you want to move towards or away from. That's why I've broken down 10 categories of life and my best 4-5 recommendations in each category.

Let's dive into 42 life changing books for mastering every area of your life!

NOTE: These links are Amazon links and will direct you to the Amazon.com website when you click on them.

GENERAL SELF-HELP

1. Awaken The Giant Within: How to Take Immediate Control of Your Mental, Emotional, Physical and Financial Destiny, Tony Robbins

I first read this book when I was 21 years old. Tony Robbins has been one of the biggest influences in my life. A lot of what I believe in and who I am is based on his teachings.

The concept of my brand, Project Life Mastery, was inspired by Tony. He coined the term life mastery. That idea resonated with me and I decided to go ahead and build a business around it.

Another book of Tony's that I recommend you read is called Unlimited Power. This book is based on the concept of neuro-linguistic programming (NLP) which is a methodology for producing change within yourself.

2. Think And Grow Rich, Napoleon Hill

Some people discredit Napoleon Hill based on certain stories that have emerged about him. Nonetheless, this book is a classic which focuses on the psychology of success. Napoleon draws on stories of millionaires of his generation to illustrate his principles.

There is even a chapter inside of the book that is focused on sexual transmutation, which teaches you how to channel your sexual energy to create success. Desire for success is the strongest of all human desires. Learning how to channel that energy into whatever it is that you want to accomplish is a valuable thing.

3. The 7 Habits Of Highly Effective People, Stephen Covey

Inside his book, Stephen presents a framework for personal effectiveness and success. He argues that change starts from within. Thus, if you want to cultivate success in life you first have to develop your character. He draws upon the 7 habits of highly effective people, which include the following

Be Proactive
Begin with the End in Mind
Put First Things First
Think Win-Win
Seek First to Understand, Then to Be Understood
Synergize
Sharpen the Saw

One of my favorite habits is to “seek first to understand, then to be understood.” People are too quick to project their rigid opinions and beliefs onto others. Even if I don't agree, I always strive to always listen and understand others' perspectives.

4. 12 Rules For Life: An Antidote To Chaos, Dr. Jordan Peterson

Dr. Peterson is a well-known Canadian clinical psychologist and University professor. This book is more challenging to read than other self-help books. I suggest that you watch his debates and lectures on social media first.

Doing so will help you understand his position on certain topics before diving into the book. He explains things in such interesting ways that it's difficult to disagree with his viewpoints. His principles are rooted in helping people think differently.

One powerful piece of wisdom that I've learned from him is that you want to reflect upon a belief from multiple viewpoints. The goal is to have an open mind and be flexible to determine the highest form of truth.

MINDSET

1. Grit: The Power of Passion And Perseverance, Angela Duckworth

Inside her book, Angela highlights something called the Hard Thing Rule. She talks about the importance of doing one hard thing every day which helps to build grit. You don't grow and become more by staying comfortable.

You get stronger by stepping outside of your comfort zone every day and doing things that make you uncomfortable. When you wake up every morning ask yourself, “What can I do today to challenge myself?”

My one thing is taking a cold shower every day. Your's can be whatever you want, as long as it is uncomfortable for you.

2. Relentless: From Good To Great To Unstoppable, Tim Grover

Tim was the trainer for famous athletes like Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant, and Dwayne Wade.

In this book, he talks about the mindsets of athletes and how they differ from the average person. On top of that, he reveals what it takes to achieve the kind of relentless discipline and success that famous athletes have.

3. Can't Hurt Me: Master Your Mind And Defy The Odds, David Goggins

David is a retired U.S. Navy SEAL, cyclist triathlete, and runner. Anything extreme, he's done it. This book is the story of his life. Although he came from a dysfunctional beginning, he still went on to achieve great things in life.

It's inspirational to read how he was able to turn his life around. If you are someone who struggles with procrastination or laziness, this book will show you how you can master your mind and do the impossible.

4. Mindset: The New Psychology Of Success, Carol Dweck

Inside her book, Carol breaks down the difference between the fixed mindset and the growth mindset.

People with a fixed mindset don't believe that it's possible to change. Conversely, people with a growth mindset believe that abilities can be developed through hard work. She talks about how people can put a growth mindset into action to accomplish great things in life.

HEALTH

1. How Not to Die: Discover the Foods Scientifically Proven to Prevent and Reverse Disease, Michael Gregor

This book is promoting a vegetarian diet. What I love about this book is that every chapter is focused on a specific disease.

More importantly, the knowledge is backed by science.

A lot of diseases are preventable if you change your lifestyle and eating habits. I've considered buying this book as a gift to people because the information is so valuable.

2. Fats That Heal, Fats That Kill: The Complete Guide to Fats, Oils, Cholesterol, and Human Health, Dr. Udo Erasmus

Many years ago I interviewed Dr. Udo Erasmus on my YouTube channel. Dr. Udo is the world's expert in essential fatty acids. He is the creator of Udos Oils and the co-founder of the Udo's Choice supplement brand.

In this book, he talks about the science of fatty acids and sheds light on the manufacturing processes that turn healing fats into toxic fats.

3. The Reboot with Joe Juice Diet: Lose Weight, Get Healthy and Feel Amazing, Joe Cross

I came across this book after watching Joe Cross's documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead. In his documentary, he talks about how he did a 90-day juice cleanse, transformed his body, and healed the symptoms of his autoimmune disorder.

Not only that, but he inspired many others to do the same. This book is a practical guide on how to do a juice fast and reboot your body. I was so inspired after reading it that I ended up doing a 14-day green juice fast.

4. Your Body's Many Cries for Water, Dr. F. Batmanghelidj

This book shares clinical and scientific research that highlights the importance of water. At one point in his life, Dr. Batmanghelidj worked in an Iranian prison. While there, he was able to treat and cure the ailments of prisoners through water therapy.

In the book, Dr. Batmanghelidj talks about how many diseases are caused by dehydration. Thus, it's so important that you keep hydrated, especially if you feel fatigued or struggle with brain fog.

MENTAL HEALTH/ADDICTION

1. Man's Search For Meaning, Dr. Victor Frankl

Victor Frankl was an Austrian psychiatrist and Holocaust survivor who lived in Auschwitz. In his book, he talks about being an inmate of a concentration camp and how his experiences shaped his understanding of meaning.

While he was in Auschwitz, he became fascinated with studying how people were able to find empowering meanings from horrific circumstances. In particular, why some people make it through suffering while others do not.

He went on to popularize the theory of Logotherapy, which is designed to help people find meaning in their lives. In the words of Victor Frankl, “Everything can be taken from a man but one thing: the last of the human freedoms — to choose one’s attitude in any given set of circumstances, to choose one’s way.”

2. Dopamine Nation: Finding Balance in the Age of Indulgence, Dr. Anna Lembke

Dr. Lembke was recently a guest speaker on the Joe Rogan podcast where she talked about mental health and addiction. After listening to the episode I was inspired to read her book. Her book sheds light on the power of dopamine.

For those of you who don't know, dopamine is a neurotransmitter in your brain. When you overstimulate dopamine, you experience a dopamine crash. In her book, she talks about how our lifestyles contribute to a lot of mental health issues and advocates that people do a dopamine detox.

3. The Molecule of More: How a Single Chemical in Your Brain Drives Love, Sex, and Creativity – And Will Determine the Fate of the Human Race, Daniel Z. Lieberman & Michael Long

This book changed my life.

At the time, I was addicted to achieving more, which is caused by dopamine. The authors describe how our society has grown from a desire for more dopamine. They also talk about how dopamine deficiencies can lead to mental health issues and addictions.

This book shifted my values in life. Over the last few years, I've been spending less time focused on achievement and more time focusing on the here and now. As a result, I've been able to rebalance the molecules in my brain and feel happier and more fulfilled.

4. Recovery: Freedom from Our Addictions, Russell Brand

For those of you who don't know, Russell Brand is a famous comedian and actor. He has publically expressed his struggles with addictions to drugs, alcohol, sex, and pornography. In his book, he shares his story of addiction and introduces the 12 steps that are used in Alcoholic Anonymous.

More importantly, he offers advice and wisdom from his experiences as an addict. Through his writing, he encourages people to identify the pain that their addictions are masking.

5. Your Brain on Porn: Internet Pornography and the Emerging Science of Addiction, Gary Wilson

When I was a teenager I was addicted to pornography. I never thought there was anything wrong with it. Unfortunately, I wasn't aware of how it was affecting my brain.

This book shed light on that. It talks about how pornography overstimulates dopamine, objectifies the opposite sex, and inevitably ruins relationships.

RELATIONSHIPS

1. The Five Love Languages: The Secret to Love That Lasts, Dr. Gary Chapman

In his book, Gary Chapman shares that there are 5 Love Languages or 5 ways that we can communicate love to someone – words of affirmation, quality time, receiving gifts, acts of service, physical touch.

If you want to get your needs met in a relationship you must know what your love language is and communicate it to your partner. Equally so, you must know what your partner's love language is.

A lot of people make the mistake of assuming that their partner has the same love language as them. Thus, many of the challenges that couples face stem from not acknowledging one another's needs.

This book has a quiz that helps you determine what your love language is and provides some great advice on how you can show up for your partner's love language.

2. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work: A Practical Guide from the Country’s Foremost Relationship Expert, John Gottman

Dr. John Gottman is a professor of psychology at the University of Washington. He specializes in studying the habits of married couples. In this book, he shares the behaviors and skills that help couples create healthy and long-lasting relationships.

You don't have to be married to receive value from this book. It's a great guidebook for anyone who wants to embody the qualities that help make a relationship successful.

3. Cupid's Poisoned Arrow: From Habit to Harmony in Sexual Relationships, Marnia Robinson

This book shares a different approach to love-making with your partner. When you have an orgasm, you experience a dopamine crash. It takes two weeks for your brain to normalize and achieve a state of equilibrium.

Having orgasms consistently can negatively impact your relationship. It can make you feel more irritable and less connected to your partner. This book touches on tantric sex and teaches you how to create more passion and intimacy in your relationship.

4. The Way of the Superior Man, David Deida

This book is designed for men, but women can read it as well if they want to understand men on a deeper level. In his book, David Deida touches on a lot of important issues that men face.

This work has helped build the men's group movement. Each chapter of this book is filled with so many pieces of wisdom that offer practical tips on how men can live more authentically.

FINANCES

1. Rich Dad Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!, Robert Kiyosaki

In this book, Robert Kiyosaki shares a story about his Rich Dad and his Poor Dad. His Poor Dad, who was his biological father, had a belief system that was similar to the rest of society – go to school, get a good education, work until you're 65 years old, and then retire.

Conversely, his Rich Dad instilled within him the belief that he should start a business of his own as a way to create financial abundance. In the book, Robert talks about the difference between an asset and a liability and explores how you can use money as a tool for creating wealth, among other things.

2. Money: Master the Game: 7 Simple Steps to Financial Freedom, Tony Robbins

This book is based on Tony's extensive research and 1-on-1 interviews with 50 of the world's greatest financial experts, some of which include Ray Dalio, Carl Icahn, Warren Buffett, and Sir John Tempelton.

This book influenced my investing mindset and strategy. If you don't want to read the whole book, Tony has a shorter version called Unshakeable.

3. The Millionaire Fastlane: Crack the Code to Wealth and Live Rich for a Lifetime, MJ DeMarco

In this book, MJ criticizes the get rich slow mentality for creating wealth which preaches the importance of going to school, getting a good job, and saving for retirement. Instead, he teaches an alternative road to create wealth that will help you become a millionaire, faster.

I attribute a lot of the success that I've had in my business to the teachings I've learned inside of this book.

4. Secrets of the Millionaire Mind: Mastering the Inner Game of Wealth, T. Harv Eker

This book talks about the inner game of wealth and helps you understand what your money blueprint is. Harv believes that each of us possesses an internal money script that determines how we relate to money.

Your blueprint is based on the people with whom you surround yourself and the experiences that you have in life. In his book, Harv outlines 17 ways that the money mindset of rich people differs from that of poor people.

BUSINESS

1. The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It, Michael Gerber

A lot of people decide to become entrepreneurs because they like doing something and want to make money from it. However, just because you like something doesn't mean you'll succeed in the business world.

This book talks about the value of working ON your business instead of IN your business. Michael shares some of the most common challenges that business owners face, and his strategies for how to create a successful business.

2. The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere and Join the New Rich, Tim Ferriss

This book shifted my entire perspective on work and business. Tim Ferriss' book taught me that it is possible to escape the rat race and create life on my terms. I learned that I didn't have to work 40 hours a week and postpone living until I retired at the age of 65.

Instead, I could systematize, automate, and outsource my business so that I could live large NOW and create financial freedom. This book taught me that I have the power to create the life of my wildest dreams, which is what I have gone on to accomplish.

3. Principles: Life and Work, Ray Dalio

Ray is a billionaire investor who founded one of the world's largest hedge fund companies.

In this book, he shares the guiding principles that have contributed to his massive success. He walks you through a 5-step process for achieving your goals and dreams in life.

4. Sam Walton: Made in America, Sam Walton

This is the autobiography of Sam Walton, who is considered to be one of the greatest entrepreneurs in the retail industry.

Sam came from humble beginnings. He went on to build the empire, Walmart, which is now one of the largest retail stores in the world. In this book, he shares his rags to riches story and his principles for running a successful business.

MARKETING

1. Influence: Science and Practice, Robert Cialdini

This book talks about what influences us as human beings. In particular, Robert talks about the factors that lead someone to say “yes.” This is extremely important when we talk about the world of marketing.

Robert talks about the psychological principles that guide human behavior, which include social proof, scarcity, liking, authority, and reciprocation. If you're interested in marketing, mastering these principles will contribute to your success.

2. Getting Everything You Can Out of All You've Got, Jay Abraham

Jay Abraham is one of the best marketers in the world. He works with some of the largest companies in the U.S.

Using examples from his own experience, Jay talks about a lot of amazing marketing principles in this book. He explains how to you can find and create new business opportunities using his success principles. If you have an online business, this is a must-read book.

3. Traffic Secrets: The Underground Playbook for Filling Your Websites and Funnels with Your Dream Customers, Russell Brunson

Russell is a digital marketing expert and the co-founder of ClickFunnels. In the world of business, attention is the most important thing that you can have online. If you don't have people's attention, you can't sell your products.

In this book, Russell shares 20 of his best-kept secrets about how to market and get traffic to your product.

4. Building a StoryBrand: Clarify Your Message So Customers Will Listen, Donald Miller

This book will help you identify the story of your brand and why people need to connect with your story.

Donald gives strategies for how to communicate your story effectively so that you can attract people and build a raving fan culture.

SPIRITUALITY

1. A New Earth: Awakening Your Life's Purpose, Eckhart Tolle

This is one of the most life-changing books I've ever read.

In this book, Eckhart talks about the importance of living in the present moment. He guides you through a process of how you can awaken to a new state of consciousness, one that will bring you lasting fulfillment and happiness.

2. The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself, Michael Singer

Michael Singer was a very successful entrepreneur, multi-millionaire, and CEO of a billion-dollar public company. After experiencing a spiritual awakening, he stepped away from all of his success to pursue a spiritual practice.

In his book, he teaches people how to surrender and let go so that they can remove the negative blocks that reside inside of them. He has a great course that I recommend called Living From A Place of Surrender.

3. Power vs. Force: The Hidden Determinants of Human Behavior, David R. Hawkins

In his book, David Hawkins talks about the connection between consciousness and human behavior. He introduces what he calls “the map of consciousness.” Every human being can measure their consciousness on a scale from 1 to 1,000.

Anything between 700-1,000 is considered to be enlightenment. Less than 200 is considered to be “force” which is equated with suffering. When you raise your consciousness beyond 200, you set yourself on the path to experiencing fulfillment in life. I've noticed that my consciousness has expanded just from reading this book, before putting anything into practice.

4. Letting Go: The Pathway of Surrender, David R. Hawkins

In this book, David talks about how to free yourself from negativity and let go of the inner blocks that are preventing you from experiencing happiness, joy, success, and ultimately, enlightenment.

5. Way of the Peaceful Warrior: A Book That Changes Lives, Dan Millman

This book is about a boy who goes to college with the hopes of becoming an Olympic athlete. He has everything going for him, but something is still missing. In effect, he is struggling with his mortality.

He meets a man named Socrates who challenges him and teaches him how to become a peaceful warrior – to live in the present moment. This book will make you question your beliefs about success and happiness.

More importantly, it will help you connect to the peaceful warrior inside of you, reminding you that everything in life is unfolding exactly as it should.

CHRISTIANITY

1. The Bible

Being a Christian is a huge part of my identity and my life. My relationship with God is the most important relationship that I have. It is the foundation for everything that I do and experience in life.

There is so much wisdom in the Bible. If you're a Christian, it's the ultimate source of authority that is worth prioritizing. I do a Bible study ritual a few days a week which helps me stay connected to my faith.

2. The Purpose Driven Life: What on Earth Am I Here For? Rick Warren

This book helps you identify your purpose in life and how you can start living with a sense of purpose. Once you know God's plan for you, you can start focusing your energy on what matters most for you.

3. The Case for Christ: A Journalist's Personal Investigation of the Evidence for Jesus, Lee Strobel

I originally watched the movie The Case for Christ, which poses a compelling case for the historicity of Jesus’ resurrection. If you want to go deeper with this topic, I recommend reading Lee Strobel's book.

Lee was a former Atheist whose wife decided to convert to Christianity. As a journalist, he was concerned so he sought to prove why God did not exist. Through his research, the evidence provided otherwise. Inevitably, this knowledge led him to convert to Christianity as well.

4. Jesus Calling: Enjoying Peace in His Presence, Sarah Young

This is a book that you read daily. Each chapter is a passage and a prayer that helps you connect to the words of God.

If you're a Christian and you have the desire to strengthen your faith, this book is a must-read.

These are 42 life changing books for mastering every area of your life.

Over the last 17 years, these are the best books that I've read. They have shaped my thinking and changed my interpretation of the meaning of life.

If personal growth is one of your goals right now, I highly recommend that you dive into one of these books that resonate most with your current stage of life. Happy reading!

Are you ready to build a business that gives you the freedom to design life on your terms? CLICK HERE to take my FREE quiz to find out which business model is best for you!

The post 42 Life-Changing Books For Mastering Every Area Of Your Life appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

Investing In Cryptocurrency For Beginners

Stefan James — Thu, 18 Nov 2021 16:00:21 +0000

This is your beginner's guide to investing in cryptocurrency.

In this blog, I break down how cryptocurrencies work. I share with you some of the best exchanges for buying, holding, and selling cryptocurrency.

I also talk about some of the most popular cryptocurrency coins that you can buy and invest in over the long term.

If you want my proven strategies for making money with cryptocurrency, keep reading!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/8a2f4dee-3a7e-40c9-93f1-df727eddc88a/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Do you want to know how I'm making passive income every day with Crypto Bots? CLICK HERE to learn my secrets!

Investing in cryptocurrency can be risky.

Hence why you must have the right mindset before you start investing in it. Cryptocurrency is a new asset class, which means that there is a lot of volatility. It will go up and down.

There are a lot of people who have made a lot of money from the growth and appreciation of cryptocurrency. At the same time, there are also a lot of people who have lost a lot of money from investing in cryptocurrency.

At the moment, we are seeing a huge cryptocurrency boom. Some investors are speculating that Bitcoin could hit $100,000 per coin by the end of 2021. I think that's going to happen.

I've been investing in cryptocurrencies since 2017. I've made a lot of money from it. The more that I learn about crypto, the more that I love it, and the more that I want to hold more of it.

However, I want to mention that I am not a financial advisor. I am not here to give you investment advice. You have to do your research and be responsible for your own investment decisions.

Why I Love Cryptocurrency

I believe that cryptocurrency is the future. It's already a huge part of our lives. It reminds me of the introduction of the Internet in the '90s. At the time, there were a lot of people who were reluctant to embrace big Internet companies.

Nobody knew how to value these companies. Eventually, in 2000 the dot-com bubble burst. Since then, the Internet has changed how we live our lives. If I could go back to the early 2000s, I would invest in companies like Google, Microsoft, Apple, and Amazon. I'm sure that most people would agree with me.

A lot of people believe that cryptocurrency is the greatest invention since the advent of the Internet. Back in 2017, cryptocurrency went mainstream. However, it was followed by a crash. For a few years, nobody was talking about cryptocurrency until it exploded again in 2021.

Is Cryptocurrency The Future of Money?

Today, a lot of institutional investors are pouring money into cryptocurrency. Also, we've seen big companies, like Tesla, buy and hold billions of dollars worth of Bitcoin. We've also seen countries, like El Salvador, adopt Bitcoin as one of their national currencies.

Everyone is in agreement that cryptocurrency is here to stay. There is enough demand and interest for it that it won't go away. That being said, there is still uncertainty in terms of how crypto is regulated in certain countries.

I believe that everybody should have some exposure to cryptocurrency. In fact, I don't see any logical argument why you wouldn't. Keep in mind that there have been a lot of people who have been skeptical of innovations since the beginning of history.

Guess what? A lot of them were proven wrong. I'm not saying that you should invest all of your money into cryptocurrency. Rather, I'm saying holding some crypto has its place in every diversified investment portfolio.

At this stage, nobody can deny that cryptocurrency is not a valuable asset class. It has trillions of dollars invested into it and has outperformed every other asset class in existence.

Why Your Investing Mindset Matters

If you get too emotionally invested in the volatility of the market, you'll panic and make bad investment decisions. You must understand that cryptocurrency goes through seasons. You only lose money if you decide to sell. This goes for any investment that you make.

However, when you adopt a long-term mindset to investing in cryptocurrency you won't be phased by the fluctuations. When there's a dip in the market, you'll get excited. This is a great opportunity to buy more at a cheaper price.

Warren Buffett once said that it is smart for investors to be “fearful when others are greedy, and greedy when others are fearful.”

A common acronym in the crypto investing world is known as “HODL”, which stands for Hold On For Dear Life. This means that you should buy and hold some cryptocurrency for at least one year or more.

I plan on holding cryptocurrency for 5, 10, or even 20 years. I'm not concerned with what is happening in the short term and neither should you.

Also, it's important to only invest what you can afford to lose. The volatility of the market means crypto could crash one day. If you only invest what you can afford to lose you won't suffer a life-changing loss. The same is true with any investment.

I believe in diversification instead of investing all of your money into one asset class. The amount of money that you decide to invest in cryptocurrency will be based on your threshold for risk.

How To Get Started Investing In Cryptocurrency

The most popular cryptocurrency is Bitcoin. It has over 1 trillion dollars of market cap. Etherium is the second most valuable cryptocurrency. If you're a beginner, these are the two coins that you want to start investing in and holding, long-term.

To get started buying Bitcoin and Ehterium you need an exchange. This is similar to an online bank account. It allows you to transfer your money, based on your currency, from your bank account to your cryptocurrency of choice.

There are many exchanges available. However, one of the most popular ones for beginners is Coinbase. Because Coinbase is a publically traded company, it is more regulated, which makes it safer.

Coinbase has a promotion happening right now where they will give you $12 in free Bitcoin when you buy or sell $125 or more in cryptocurrency. Take advantage of it!

Some other exchanges that I like are Nexo, Binance, Kraken, KuCoin, and Crypto.com. For security purposes, I don't like to hold all of my cryptocurrency in one exchange.

A great measure for protecting your cryptocurrency involves using two-factor authentication. You also want to make sure that you've got a great password that has numbers and characters in it that nobody can guess. If you take the necessary precautions you never have to worry about someone stealing your cryptocurrency.

When Is The Best Time To Invest In Cryptocurrency?

You don't want to wait too long to invest in cryptocurrency because you may miss out on all the growth that you could have. We don't know when cryptocurrency will crash, if at all! However, at the same time, you don't want to put all of your money into cryptocurrency today. The solution to this is called dollar-cost averaging.

Instead of investing in a particular asset one time, with dollar-cost averaging you divide up the amount of money you’d like to invest and buy small quantities of the asset over time at regular intervals. This is what I've done with my cryptocurrency. As a result, I've been able to make a lot of money.

When Is The Best Time To Sell Cryptocurrency?

A lot of people wait and hold their cryptocurrency until it becomes worth a lot more than what they originally invested in. In effect, they sell what their original investment was. If they lose that money, it's not a big concern because they already got their investment out.

This is how to invest in cryptocurrency for beginners.

There's a lot to learn about the world of cryptocurrency. I encourage you to do your research so that you understand how it works and how you can invest in it.

I hope you're able to benefit from my experience and what I've learned in the cryptocurrency space. The benefits and potential returns that you can receive from investing in cryptocurrency far outweigh the risk.

Here's to your investing success!

Do you want to know how I'm making passive income every day with Crypto Bots? CLICK HERE to learn my secrets!

The post Investing In Cryptocurrency For Beginners appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

Meditation For Beginners: The Benefits & How To Meditate

Stefan James — Tue, 16 Nov 2021 16:00:21 +0000

Meditation has become one of the most important habits in my life.

It has helped to reduce my stress and anxiety and live more in the present moment.

I've never felt more connected to myself than I do when I'm meditating. Simply put, meditation has changed my life.

If you knew how to meditate, how would your life change for the better? If you're ready to live more mindfully and feel the benefits of meditation, take a deep breath and read this.

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/7209e9ee-0750-4a24-8a1f-ec4c516ec5e3/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Are you ready to connect to your mind, body, and spirit on a deeper level? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE 21 Morning Rituals Cheatsheet!

Why should you meditate?

The global pandemic caused by COVID-19 has changed our lives forever. Isolation, job insecurity, and fear of the future have impacted people's mental health. During these uncertain times, meditation is a powerful mindfulness-based practice for finding calm amidst the chaos.

On a daily basis, the majority of your thoughts are focused on the past or the future. In this emotional state, it's easy to become a victim of your mind. Meditation shifts your focus away from these places and brings you back to the present moment.

If you've never meditated before, figuring out how to start can be overwhelming. For many years I was resistant to meditating.

Why?

I didn't understand how the process of meditation worked.

Intellectually I knew that meditating was good for me, but I couldn't connect with it. I decided to change my perspective. Instead of getting frustrated, I decided to get curious about meditation. I forced myself to meditate every day over an extended period.

Not surprisingly, I started noticing the profound benefits that meditation was having on my mental and emotional health. At that point, there was no turning back. I was hooked.

Some of the mental health benefits of meditation include better focus, improved self-esteem, and lower levels of stress and anxiety.

As an entrepreneur and overachiever, my mind is constantly moving.

I have a lot of responsibilities in my business, which can create anxiety. Meditation has helped me relax my mind, while still being productive. It's also given me more clarity and less brain fog while doing things like reading, learning, listening, and speaking to someone.

Why Is It Hard To Meditate?

The reason why a lot of people resist meditation is that they are addicted to thinking. Your brain doesn't know how to slow itself down. Did you know that from the moment you are born, you process anywhere between 60,000 to 80,000 thoughts a day?

If ruminative thinking is familiar to you, calming your mind and sitting in silence will be incredibly challenging. When you're first starting to meditate it's natural to experience boredom.

Meditation challenges you to practice being in the here and now instead of trying to escape or avoid it. I've struggled with a variety of different addictions throughout my life, everything from video games to pornography to binge eating.

The root cause of addiction is an inability to be comfortable with being. Meditation has helped me shift from doing mode into being mode. In being mode, my mind is forced to slow down because it has nowhere to go.

In this state, I have learned how to be fully present, which has given me a heightened sense of awareness. If I have thoughts, feelings, or sensations that arise in my body, I don't feel the need to change or resist them.

Instead, I observe them in a non-judgmental way.

Meditation teaches you to watch your thoughts and feelings come and go instead of getting attached to them.

If you are new to the world of meditation, I suggest you read Meditation For Beginners by Jack Kornfield. Inside his book, he has some great guided meditations. Having someone direct and guide you through the meditation process is extremely helpful when you're first learning to meditate.

When I first started meditating, I used Headspace and Calm. These apps helped motivate me to meditate and stay on track until I had the willpower to meditate on my own.

Meditation Technologies

Muse Meditation Headband

With the Muse headband, you listen to a guided meditation while the headband scans your brainwaves. It will identify when your mind is overly active versus when it's calm. When your mind is active during your meditation, you'll hear birds chirping.

Conversely, when your mind is calm, the birds will stop chirping. At the end of your meditation session, you can identify what your meditation experience was like and track your progress.

The Brain Tap

The Brain Tap uses frequencies of light and sound for brain wave entrainment. You wear a headset over your closed eyes and headphones in your ears while experiencing these frequencies.

Essentially, it's a guided visualization and meditation that helps your brain to experience higher levels of alpha brain waves. The visualization puts you into an incredibly relaxed state of mind.

HeartMath Inner Balance

This is a heart rate sensor that attaches to your ear. It is accompanied by an app that teaches you how to shift your emotional state and create synchronicity between your mind, body, and heart. Not only does this device help reduce your stress, but it also helps bring awareness to your breathing and heart rate throughout the day.

How To Meditate

You want to make sure that you're in a comfortable seated position, whether that's in a chair or sitting cross-legged on the floor. If you choose to sit in a chair, I recommend sitting upright so that your back is fully supported.

There are many different ways that you can meditate, but one of the most common ways is with your eyes closed. Take a deep breath and allow your body to fully relax. Do a scan and bring attention to every part of your body.

I go through this process in the video above!

If you notice any tension, focus on melting into the tension. Doing this body scan will bring you into the present moment. Once you have done this, bring attention to your breath. Don't try to control your breath. Merely watch and observe it.

Through this practice, you'll notice that your mind will start to get busy.

This is your monkey mind in action.

When this happens, it's important that you don't get frustrated and react. Your only goal is to observe your thoughts. As soon as you become aware of what your thought loops are, simply return to your breath.

While you may enjoy 5 seconds to 1 minute of pure awareness, shortly thereafter, more thoughts will arise. Again, you want to observe your thoughts and be with them. When you're meditating, certain emotions will arise as well.

I like to identify where in my body I'm feeling emotions and get curious about them. At times, the feelings will be so strong that I'll have an urge to stop my meditation altogether. However, if I sit with the emotions long enough, eventually they fade away. The same thing happens with physical sensations that arise.

This is how to meditate for beginners.

Meditation teaches you so much about yourself. It brings awareness to how you think, feel, and move throughout your life. If you're a beginner, I recommend meditating for 10 minutes per day.

Research has shown that a lot of the long-term benefits of meditation occur once you're meditating for 20 minutes per day. If you can work your way up to that, fantastic.

A daily meditation practice transformed my life and it can do the same for you. Connect to your breath and go inward. The answers you seek are found in the stillness.

Are you ready to connect to your mind, body, and spirit on a deeper level? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE 21 Morning Rituals Cheatsheet!

The post Meditation For Beginners: The Benefits & How To Meditate appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

The “Money Mindset” Of A Millionaire (MOTIVATION)

Stefan James — Thu, 11 Nov 2021 16:00:16 +0000

Are you ready to master your money mindset and take back control of your finances?

Let's face it, no one likes being in debt. However, it is a reality for many. Student loans, mortgages, and credit cards all serve to set you back financially.

If you want to get out of debt, you have to change your money mindset. Your success is determined, in large part, by your ability to effectively manage your money.

The key to getting ahead financially is getting started. If you're ready to change your financial situation, keep reading!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/384f53f2-b196-4192-9b1b-2e00805fcc63/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Are you ready to build a million-dollar online business? CLICK HERE to take my FREE quiz to discover which online business model is best for you!

Financial stress can impact your mental health.

According to Forbes, individuals with high financial stress are twice as likely to report poor health overall and are four times more likely to complain of ailments. Despite this reality, people still fall into the trap of overspending on things that they don't need.

In short, they have bad spending habits. As a result, they end up falling into debt. It can be very challenging to get out of debt due to high-interest payments, which is why you want to avoid debt at all costs.

Credit cards and other unsecured loan debt tend to have interest rates higher. The average personal loan interest rate is 9.63%, while the average credit card has a 14.52% interest rate.

Money management has been the key to my success in life. However, I didn't always have good money habits. When I was in my early 20s, I was in a lot of debt. In fact, I racked up $15,000 in credit card debt.

I was living above my means and I had no idea where my money was going every month. It wasn't until I got real with myself and stopped avoiding the reality of my situation that I was able to take back control of my finances.

You can't be blind to your finances. Rather, you have to be hyperaware of your income and expenses. Track everything that you spend. Create a monthly budget and start reducing or eliminating any expenses that may cause you to overspend.

It's not the amount of money that you budget that matters.

Rather, it's the habit of budgeting that makes all the difference. There is no point in making more money if you cannot manage the money that you already have. By building the habit of money management now, you will be able to manage higher amounts of money in your future.

When it comes to budgeting, you can expect to have to make some sacrifices. I had to give up a lot of things that brought enjoyment to my life to get out of debt. I'm not going to say that it was easy, but the payoff was well worth it. I swapped short-term gratification for long-term wealth.

When I started my online business my first goal was to make $1 online. John Hayes was the first Internet marketer to make $1 million online in one day. He believed if you can make $1 online, you are 95% away from making $100,000 online.

The moment that you make $1, you get instant validation that whatever you're doing is working. This is what gives you the confidence to keep going and find ways to scale up. This is exactly what I did in my online business.

I've gone from being broke to becoming a multi-millionaire.

Another great way to get ahead financially is to invest in yourself. You never lose by investing in your future self. In the words of Warren Buffett, “The more you learn, the more you will earn.” Attend seminars and events, read books, or find a mentor.

When you invest in your personal growth and development you learn skills that increase your value and potential to make more money. Over the years I have invested hundreds of thousands of dollars into myself. As a result, I've been able to build a 7-figure business doing what I love.

This is the money mindset of a millionaire.

No matter how bad your financial situation is right now, you have the power to take back control of your finances. When you change the relationship that you have with money, you start attracting more wealth into your life.

Financial success doesn't happen overnight. However, if you're committed to reaching your financial goals, there is no limit to what you can achieve. Are you ready to master your money mindset and build long-term wealth?

Are you ready to build a million-dollar online business? CLICK HERE to take my FREE quiz to discover which online business model is best for you!

The post The “Money Mindset” Of A Millionaire (MOTIVATION) appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

21 Habits For Health, Wealth & Happiness

Stefan James — Thu, 04 Nov 2021 15:00:22 +0000

These 21 habits will help you become the person that you've always desired to be.

We are creatures of habit. Most of our life is governed by unconscious patterns of thinking, feeling, and behaving.

According to research conducted at Stanford University, a human being has approximately 60,000 thoughts per day. Here's the shocking part… 90% of these thoughts are repetitive. If your repetitive thoughts are negative, you'll have a rough day.

I want to help you overcome disempowering habits and take back control of your life.

Are you ready to create the habits of the most successful people in this world? Read this!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/99253a91-146a-4315-80d5-c71b0312d47c/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Want to be coached by me? CLICK HERE to join my monthly LIVE Life Mastery Accelerator coaching program!

How are habits formed?

Neuroscientists have traced our habit-making behaviors to a part of the brain called the basal ganglia, which plays a key role in the development of emotions, memories, and pattern recognition. Everyone's brain circuitry is different.

When you repeat a habit or behavior, neural pathways are formed in your brain. The more that you do something, the more that those neural pathways get reinforced and habits become automatic. Most of us are living our lives on autopilot.

If you had to focus on and be aware of everything in your life, you would be overwhelmed. I'm going to guess that you don't focus on the fact that your heart beats one hundred thousand times per day? Or that blood is constantly rushing into your ears?

Your brain filters out distracting thoughts so that you are not overloaded with too much information. Think of your brain as if it were a computer that has an operating system. Inside of that operating system are software and apps, and some of which may be outdated or disempowering.

Here's the great news… YOU have the power to cultivate empowering ways of thinking and behaving. Once you start practicing these new habits, eventually they will become automatic.

How Long Does It Take To Build New Habits?

Your prefrontal cortex is the part of your brain that contributes to your discipline and willpower. For some people, it's easier to develop a new habit (less than two weeks), while for others it takes longer (30-90 days).

The same thing is true with breaking bad habits and addictions. Think about it… if you have an addiction to something and it's a behavior that you've engaged in for many years, neural pathways inside of your brain will be very strong.

When you try to stop destructive behaviors and cultivate more empowering behaviors, the neural wiring is still present. It's been set up in such a way that when you engage in a behavioral pattern, you receive a source of pleasure.

Kind of like a ‘familiar' friend who has always been there. However, deep down inside you know that he or she is not good for your life in the long term. The less that you indulge in destructive habits, the weaker those neural pathways will be in your brain.

Over time, you'll become less impulsive, have more self-control, and your cravings will go away.

Keep in mind that it will probably take 30-90 days for you to develop empowering habits.

You need to train your brain to create a new neural pathway.

On that note, I want to share 21 habits for your health, wealth, & happiness. These habits have personally enriched and empowered my life. Let's dive in!

1. Wake Up At The Same Time Every Morning

It's important for your mind/body to have consistency. When you disrupt your sleeping patterns, it can take a toll on your cognitive and mental health. If you want to test your sleep I highly recommend getting the Oura Ring.

It measures your sleep, activity, heart rate variability, and body temperature. It will even give you indicators on how you will perform for the day based on the measurements that it does for your body.

When you wake up is very important for your circadian rhythm. Pick a time when you want to wake up every day and stick with it. Typically, I like to wake up when the sun rises. Usually, around 6 am. I use a device called the Human Charger that emits blue light through ear pods. It helps with energy production and helps reset your circadian rhythm.

2. Practice Gratitude

If you're not already grateful for what you have, what is the point in attracting more? I always start my day with a grateful heart. I take out a journal and write down 10 things that I'm grateful for. More importantly, I reflect upon what those things mean to my life.

The more that you focus on gratitude, the more rich that your life will be. When I used to do one-on-one coaching a lot of my clients had programmed the habit of focusing on what was not working well in their life. I would ask them to email me 3 things that they were grateful for each morning and evening.

We must learn how to appreciate the small things in life. In the end, the small things become the big things. The happiest people find joy in the simplest of pleasures. Make it a priority to lose yourself in the magnificence of life. There is so much to be grateful for.

3. Cultivate Self-Awareness and Reflection

Self-awareness is the most important life skill. You can't change anything that you're not aware of. I am hyper-aware of anything that prevents me from being my best. I like to think and analyze why I behave and feel the way that I do.

Every morning I journal my thoughts. Through that process, I get altitude on my life. Also, I like to talk to myself. It's a way for me to collect my thoughts and release what no longer serves me.

In the words of Jim Rohn, “A life worth living is worth recording.” The more awareness that you can bring to different aspects of your life, the more likely you will be able to identify stuck points that need changing.

4. Be Positive and Optimistic

If you follow me you know that I'm a positive person. A lot of tragedies will take place in your lifetime. It's a reality that everyone has to face. People you love will die. You will die. Life is fleeting which is why we need to enjoy every moment while we are here.

Unfortunately, we are inundated with a lot of negativity on social media and the news. The news is not designed to inform you. Rather, it's designed to startle you. They are a business so they want to get your views.

They do this by inducing fear inside of you. People pay attention to fear to ensure their survival.

At the same time, there's a lot of joy and beauty in the world. People are achieving great things, babies are being born, people are falling in love and getting married. The list goes on and on!

What you feel is going to be based on what you focus on. If you focus on the positive, you'll attract more good things into your life. I believe that you can find the good in every situation, even the direst circumstances.

In his book Learned Optimism, Martin Seligman demonstrates how optimism enhances the quality of life. He talks about the difference between pessimists and optimists.

Pessimistic people tend to be more accurate about things, but they're also unhappy and less successful in life. On the other hand, optimists tend to be less accurate in how they see things but they are happier and more successful. It's important to be accurate obviously, but also see the good side of life!

5. Plan Your Day/Week/Life

A lot of happiness and joy comes from living in the present moment. However, if you only live in the present moment, you won't plan for your future. It's a balancing act. Thinking ahead allows you to get ahead.

Getting clear on your goals and the vision that you have for your life will give you a sense of direction. If you don't have a plan, you'll fall into someone else's plan. You don't just want to make a living. Rather, you want to design your life. Part of how you do that is through planning.

I like to plan out my week in advance and schedule things inside of my calendar. Every morning I get clear on 3 high-leverage activities that I want to accomplish. I do the best that I can to stick to that plan. However, a plan is not a prison. You can modify and adjust accordingly.

6. Commit to Never-ending Improvement

The most successful people in the world are obsessed with learning and growing. They believe that change is possible, which fuels their desire to become more.

In today's world, you must counteract the negative information that you consume on the news with positive information, which you can find in courses, books, or podcasts to name a few things.

We all learn differently. Find something that inspires you, go deep with it, and commit to learning something new every day. You can overcome any challenge in life with knowledge. However, it's up to you to get resourceful and take action.

7. Exercise

Moving your body is extremely important for your physical, mental, and emotional well-being. A lot of studies have shown that exercise has more benefits than antidepressants. Many of us live a very sedentary lifestyle.

We are meant to be active throughout the day. As an entrepreneur, I sit a lot. Once I purchased a LifeSpan Treadmill Desk the game changed. When I'm not traveling, I use my desk daily. It has radically shifted my energy levels, improved my mood, and my overall level of productivity.

8. Meditate

In this crazy world where we are overstimulated daily, learning how to calm our minds is a superpower. The more that you are in your head, the more suffering you will experience. Meditation is the antidote to stress and anxiety.

It allows you to develop your pre-frontal cortex which gives you more control over your thoughts. I like to meditate with the Muse headband which tracks the activity in your brain and measures your meditation session. Alternatively, I also like to meditate with the Calm or Headspace apps.

9. Review Your Goals and Vision

Your vision gives your life direction. You always need something to move towards. If you don't have a compelling future, you'll get lazy. Whenever you're experiencing challenges in life, review your goals and vision.

Doing so allows you to redirect your focus so that you don't lose touch with your why. Maybe this looks like reciting your goals out loud or looking at your vision board. The more you are aware of how you are showing up, the more that you will move in the direction of your dreams.

10. Recite Affirmations

Every day you want to speak out loud about who and what you want to become. Whatever you attach the words, “I AM”, to is what you become. The words you speak have power behind them.

I like to write out the beliefs that I want to cultivate on flashcards and then I express those beliefs using incantations. This means that I use my voice and body to embody the meaning behind the words.

When you do this enough times, you'll start to believe what you're saying and start adopting a more positive outlook. Over time, you will start to embody the person you've always desired to become.

11. Be Disciplined and A Person of Integrity

Being a person of integrity is doing what you say you're going to do. You want to make sure that you always honor your commitments to the best of your ability. When you don't do what you say you're going to do, you lose confidence and trust in yourself.

You may not feel like doing something, but I promise that you'll be proud of yourself for taking action. Start small. Whatever goal you set, make it attainable. Don't make a commitment that you can't keep.

As you get mentally stronger, you will do more because you will have made it a priority to flex your discipline muscle.

12. Do Health Testing

I'm a big fan of being proactive with my health. A lot of diseases and sicknesses can be prevented if people do their research and get health testing. Every year I get my blood work checked.

Also, I do the following tests – gut microbiome, stool, micronutrients, bone density, heavy metal, and hormones. The sooner that I know what I am deficient in, the sooner that I can supplement or change my lifestyle to ensure that I am in optimal health.

Yes, there are some expenses to doing testing, but that comes with the upkeep of having a body. Your health is your wealth. Don't take it for granted and do make it a habit of getting tested.

13. Detox and Cleanse

I like to give my body a rest from the lifestyle choices that I make. All of us are under a lot of stress. Your body is working non-stop. Every time that you eat a meal your body has to digest it. This requires a tremendous amount of energy.

Your body is constantly trying to detoxify and eliminate through your bowels and urinary tract. A lot of times your body can't cleanse itself because you're putting in more toxicity than your body can eliminate. A juice fast or a water fast is a great way to give your digestive system a break.

14. Get A High-Quality Sleep

A lot of people don't get enough sleep. In today's stress-induced world, sleep isn't a necessity. Rather, it's a priority. Sleep research suggests that 7-8 hours is what we need to wake up feeling refreshed. I'm a big proponent of having an evening ritual.

I have a few devices that help me fall asleep, one of which is a chili pad. This is a pad that regulates the temperate of your mattress so that you will never be too hot or too cold, thereby allowing you to have a deeper sleep.

I also like to wear Swannies blue-blocking glasses before I go to bed. These glasses help to block out blue light and help my brain to release melatonin which ensures I get high-quality sleep.

Lastly, I lay on a PEMF mat that produces pulsed electromagnetic fields around my body. This mat programs my body towards deep sleep.

15. Rest and Recover

If you don't take time to rest and recover, you will burn out. Stress is the worst thing for your health and well-being. Have a rest day every week or every month. Or maybe find a time where you can take one to two weeks off with a vacation.

Disconnect from everything. It allows you to get perspective on your life. As an overachiever, I'm always on the go. It's my nature. It is hard for me to take days off. However, over the years I've learned how important it is.

I'm OK with making less money for a specific period if it means that I can get refocused and re-energized. If I don't take care of myself, everyone suffers – myself, my team, my followers, and my business. Rest now leads to more success in the long term.

16. Develop Your Traits or Skills

You want to cultivate the habit of working on some aspect of yourself that can benefit your career or business.

Each of us has a money-making skill. What is yours? Discover what that is and master it. By cultivating this skill, over time it will help you develop your competence which will give you more confidence.

17. Manage Your Finances

All successful people are good with their money because they focus on it consistently. It's best to start cultivating this habit when you don't have a lot of money because it will benefit you down the road when you have more money.

Also, make sure that you get into the habit of saving money. Put 10% of what you make into a savings account for emergency or use that money to invest in your future or yourself. If you can save more than 10%, amazing.

18. Invest

You need to learn how to be an owner, not just a consumer. Most people only consume products. These are liabilities rather than assets. Conversely, an investor invests in assets that appreciate and grow in value over time.

Make it a priority to invest in yourself, your business, or the stock market every single month. Be proactive about your future and create a financial plan. Make sure that your finances are always growing so that you can comfortably retire.

19. Socialize and Network

We are social creatures. Socializing does amazing things for our mental and emotional well-being. As humans, we can't survive without it. Lack of connection can lead to things like isolation, depression, and anxiety.

Socializing allows you to sharpen your communication skills. Networking is a very important success skill. It allows you to build rapport with like-minded people who are doing great things in this world.

Having an empowering ecosystem will do wonders for your life. Make it a priority to meet new people you are in alignment with. Also, put yourself in proximity with successful people and learn from them. You are the 5 people you spend the most time with — make your 5 people the best group possible!

20. Give and Contribute

You want to strive to be a go-giver, not a go-getter. The act of giving to others does amazing things for you. Contribution makes you feel more connected to humanity. Moreover, it makes you more compassionate to others' experiences.

When you give selflessly you are training your brain to be abundant. You are caring about someone else, with no expectation of receiving anything in return. The fulfillment that comes from that is indescribable.

In the words of my mentor, Tony Robbins, “It is not what we get. But who we become, what we contribute… that gives meaning to our lives.”

21. Practice Your Faith

This means different things to different people. Whatever you're fearful of is just your imagination that is undirected. Conversely, faith is your imagination directed. To live a great life requires faith and believing that things will get better.

That is what allows you to get through the hardest of times. I believe that there is a purpose for everything. Whatever you believe in, practice it daily.

There's a lot of things in life that are out of your control. However, if you surrender and trust that the Universe has a bigger plan for you, you'll experience so much more peace in your life.

These are 21 habits for health, wealth & happiness.

Please don't feel that you have to implement all of these habits into your daily routine. Of the 21 habits that I talked about, what is one habit that you feel can enrich your life?

How often are you going to practice this habit? Daily, weekly or monthly? Focus on cultivating one habit and mastering it. You can build more over time. I challenge you to take action and do a 30-day challenge!

When you change your habits, you change your life. When you change your life, anything is possible.

Want to be coached by me? CLICK HERE to join my monthly LIVE Life Mastery Accelerator coaching program!

The post 21 Habits For Health, Wealth & Happiness appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

How Much YouTube Paid Me For 1,000,000+ Views

Stefan James — Tue, 02 Nov 2021 15:00:17 +0000

You won't believe what YouTube paid me for some of my videos.

I've been a YouTuber for almost ten years now.

What started as a desire to share my goals and habits with others has transformed into a platform comprised of 1,200,000 subscribers.

It's an incredible feeling to know that my content has impacted so many peoples' lives.

In this blog, I talk about how much YouTube paid me for 1,000,000+ views on my videos.

If you want to build a YouTube channel that makes you passive income while adding massive value, read this!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

Are you ready to build your dream business? CLICK HERE to take this 60-second quiz to find out which online business model is the best for you!

YouTube has been a great stream of income for me.

To be honest, I wasn't aware of how much YouTube was paying me for views until recently. I don't like to get caught up in the analytics of my channel because it takes away from my purpose, which is making an impact on people's lives.

If I get too wrapped up in making money for my YouTube videos, it shifts my intention. I end up feeling disconnected from my passion. Nonetheless, I am grateful for the money I've made on YouTube.

I first started on YouTube before YouTube even had an advertising feature on its platform. Over the years I've been witness to how YouTube has grown. Advertisers spend a lot of money to advertise on channels like mine and others.

On average, a YouTube channel can receive $18 per 1,000 ad views. This equates to $3 – $5 per 1,000 video views. A lot of YouTubers have taken advantage of this opportunity and turned it into a viable business.

Some YouTubers make millions of dollars per year just from the ad revenue of their videos. Jimmy Donaldson, the digital celebrity known as Mr. Beast, and other highest-paid YouTubers secured an estimated $211 million in total earnings from June 1, 2019, to June 1, 2020.

I thought it would be interesting for me to share some of the revenue that I've made from my videos. Also, for those of you who want to become YouTubers, I want to give you some tips on how to build a money-making YouTube channel.

Watch the video above where I share my computer screen and show you the top two videos that have made me the most money on YouTube!

Overall, I've made over $1 million in ad revenue from my entire YouTube channel. However, YouTube is not my primary source of revenue. I have many other business models that I'm involved in, but YouTube makes me a lot of money.

People who enjoy my content on YouTube tend to check out the other offerings that I have. Here are my top 2 highest revenue-producing videos on YouTube.

Highest Revenue-Producing Video #1 – She Makes $40,000 Per Month on Amazon at 23 Years Old

In this video, I interviewed my now wife, Tatiana, about her success on Amazon. After filming the video we thought that it may get 10-20,000 views. We've been blown away to see that it now has almost 6 million views!

This video has encouraged so many people to build an Amazon business. Even better, a lot of people have made a lot of money from this one video. There is nothing more rewarding than knowing that your content has changed people's lives.

The estimated revenue that I've made from this video has been $87,000 US dollars. This video didn't even have mid-roll ads, meaning that it probably could've made a lot more money. Keep in mind that if you're a beginner YouTuber, it's difficult to achieve this kind of money.

You can't predict which of your videos is going to go viral. Thus, a video like this is difficult to replicate. If you have a video that has over 6 million views, how much you make from it may be based on the topic and the niche of that video.

With a video like this one, more advertisers may be interested in the topic of selling on Amazon. Thus, they are willing to spend more money to advertise in front of it. The target market of these advertisers may be business owners or people who sell on Amazon.

I also publish a lot of self-development videos. I'm not publishing these videos to make money from. Rather, it's because I want to share impactful content that has the power to change people's lives. As a YouTuber, I share things that are relevant to my life and the lives of others. If I can make money at the same time, that's a bonus.

Highest Revenue-Producing Video #2 – How To Sell On Amazon For Beginners

In this video, I walk people through a step-by-step tutorial on how to build a profitable online business using Amazon FBA for beginners. I am a firm believer that Amazon FBA is one of the most life-changing opportunities available today.

This video has 2.1 million views and the estimated revenue that I've made from it has been $81,000 US dollars. Interestingly enough, this video performed better per view than the first video, since it has half of the number of views and only made $6,000 less.

But there's a danger in obsessing about the number of views you get on YouTube.

This proves that there are more opportunities for advertisers to advertise in front of videos like this one. I have a few other videos in the 5-figure to 1 million view range which is awesome. Keep in mind that certain topics will make you more money on YouTube than others.

Some of these video topics include business, marketing, selling on Amazon, investing, and/or real estate. Typically, a lot of advertisers will advertise in front of any videos that are in the financial sector.

However, if you are a YouTuber, make sure that you're not making videos solely for the money. I understand that making money is great. I could have made way more money if I had made that my intention, but it's not.

Ultimately, you want to create content on YouTube because it's something that can make an impact on someone else's life. It's something that is your passion. At times, I've gotten off track and chased opportunities for purpose of making money.

There's nothing wrong with doing this now and then. However, if you get too obsessed with making money from videos, you fall into a danger zone. This is the trend on YouTube – getting people's attention by resorting to anything that will get their attention.

Unfortunately, taking this path can compromise your values. Balance is key. Yes, see what's doing well so that you can further support people.

However, make sure you stay true to yourself. More importantly, always put other people's needs above your own. If you can do that, I trust you will be successful in your YouTube endeavors.

This is how much YouTube paid me for 1,000,000+ views on my videos.

Building a YouTube channel is hard work. However, the payoff is well worth it once you realize how many lives you've impacted through your content.

When I first started my channel, I would have never imagined that 1,000,000 people would be following me, but here I am.

Anything is possible if you stay consistent and add massive value over the long term. May your endeavors on YouTube be successful. You've got this!

Are you ready to build your dream business? CLICK HERE to take this 60-second quiz to find out which online business model is the best for you!

The post How Much YouTube Paid Me For 1,000,000+ Views appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

How I’m Investing In Blockchain (NFT & Crypto Infrastructure)

Stefan James — Tue, 26 Oct 2021 15:00:38 +0000

Do you have a desire to learn more about blockchain technology?

For those of you who don't know, blockchain is the underlying technology of cryptocurrency and NFTs.

In this blog, I talk about how I'm investing in the infrastructure of crypto, NFTs, and blockchain.

Please keep in mind that I am not suggesting that you should invest in these companies. I merely want to share what I'm investing in. If it benefits you, fantastic.

On that note, let's dive into the world of blockchain technology!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/1123da51-5f94-4263-b30b-80edb0c40e00/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Are you ready to start managing your money so you have more to invest? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE financial tracking video and spreadsheet!

I've made A LOT of money from cryptocurrency.

I buy and hold Bitcoin, Ethereum, and a variety of altcoins, long-term. I like cryptocurrency as an asset class, especially during this time of inflation. A lot of people are saying that Bitcoin and Ethereum are digital gold and silver. Moreover, it's the one asset class that has out-performed the S&P 500 and any other investment over the last ten years.

Currently, there are trillions of dollars invested in crypto. Whenever you can invest in the infrastructure of something, in this case, crypto, you know you're sitting on a great opportunity. Whenever I've benefitted from the growth of crypto, I've also looked at how I can get exposure to the infrastructure of crypto, like non-fungible tokens (NFTs).

Trying to explain what NFTs are can be confusing. I highly recommend that you watch this funny SNL skit where they attempt to explain them. I believe that NFTs will be a huge part of our future which is why I'm starting to invest my money in blockchain technology.

NFTs will allow you to authenticate and own the rights to a lot of digital and physical assets. Here are two ways that I've been getting exposure to the infrastructure of crypto, NFTs, and blockchain.

1. Coinbase Global Inc (COIN)

When Coinbase went public on the U.S. market I invested in it. Coinbase is the biggest exchange for buying, trading, and selling crypto.

When a company does an IPO and they go public it's usually overvalued at a much higher value than what they are worth. When this happens, I buy and hold a position in it. Coinbase has dropped down recently. I saw this as an opportunity to buy more stocks.

2. Immutable Holdings Inc. (HOLD.NE)

I learned about this Canadian company from Kevin O'Leary who is a well-known investor and a personality in the financial space. I've always liked to listen to what he has to say. He's a smart investor. If you watch Shark Tank you probably know him.

I came across a YouTube video where Kevin interviews the CEO of Immutable Holdings, Inc., Jordan Fried. Immutable Holdings, Inc. just went public in Canada on the NEO exchange. They invest in the infrastructure of crypto and NFTs. It owns NFT.com.

That's a really valuable asset. Essentially, this company is going to be building a platform where everybody buys and sells NFTs. In the video, there were a few things that Kevin O'Leary shared that resonated with me, which inevitably led me to invest in this company.

Watch the video above where I share my brokerage account and show you how much money I've made with these investments!

As I expressed above, Immutable Holdings, Inc. is currently only available on the NEO exchange in Canada. Most brokerage accounts, depending on where you live, allow you to get permission to buy on other exchanges. If you live in the U.S., you can buy in the Canadian exchanges.

There can be a hoop to jump through to buy an investment like this one. Thus far, I've invested $10,000 Canadian into this company. My total returns in the last few days have been 129%. Thus, I've made $13,000 so far.

This money is unrealized, meaning that I don't make it until I sell. However, I don't plan on selling. Rather, I plan to hold, long-term. I see this as a great long-term investment for me.

This is how I'm investing in some of the infrastructures of blockchain, crypto, and NFTs.

I believe that blockchain technology is the future. Nevertheless, when it comes to investing, you must do your research, understand your tolerance for risk and make investment decisions that best serve you. On that note, happy investing!

Are you ready to start managing your money so you have more to invest? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE financial tracking video and spreadsheet!

The post How I’m Investing In Blockchain (NFT & Crypto Infrastructure) appeared first on Project Life Mastery.

Beginner Stock Investing Portfolio (Best Stocks For Beginners)

Stefan James — Thu, 21 Oct 2021 15:00:14 +0000

Do you want to build a stock investing portfolio, but don't know how to start?

I've built a multi-million dollar investment portfolio. In this blog, I break down the best investments and stocks that I invest in.

Furthermore, I share exactly what I would invest in if I was starting my investment journey over again.

At the end of the day, you have to decide where you are going to invest your money.

However, I am confident what I'm going to share with you will yield you great returns for many decades.

If you're ready to invest your way towards financial freedom, read this!

Watch the video below:

(Click here to watch on YouTube)

[smart_track_player url=”https://stream.redcircle.com/episodes/bf9a5d95-e28b-401a-9478-ef004e059793/stream.mp3″ background=”default” ]

Are you ready to start managing your money so you have more to invest? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE financial tracking video and spreadsheet!

This is the stock investing portfolio that I would start with.

It's fairly conservative, but it does have a certain level of risk. This portfolio is primarily made up of index funds, individual stocks, and companies.

Before I dive into this blog, you must know that I'm not a financial advisor. I am not here to give you investment advice. Whatever I buy or trade is based on my opinion and experience as an investor. You have to do your research and due diligence and understand the risks involved when it comes to investing in the stock market.

I'm sharing a long-term investment portfolio with you. Why? Well, the stock market is volatile. During the pandemic, there was a big stock market crash. Those who panicked and sold their stocks lost a lot of money. Conversely, those who waited it out recovered. Typically, there is a correction every year in the market.

This is when the market drops up to 10%. If you're a long-term investor, you won't be worried because you will know that things will recover. You may even be excited because it's an opportunity for you to buy more of the positions that you have at a cheaper price.

I understand that each of you is in a different financial position.

The earlier that you start investing, the more money you will make, long-term. If you're older, you may not be able to afford to take on as much risk. Where you are, age-wise and financially, will help you determine where to invest your money.

Watch the video above where I share my computer screen and walk you through the best stocks for beginners!

Index Funds

Vanguard S&P 500 ETF (VOO)

This is a stock that tracks the S&P 500, which is the top 500 companies in the U.S. This stock trades on the U.S. stock exchange in U.S. currency. The U.S. is the world's largest economy. It yields the greatest returns of any country or economy, and it consists of the biggest companies in the world.

The greatest investor of all time, Warren Buffett, has said that investing in the S&P 500 index is the best investment that a beginner investor can make. When he passes away, he plans to invest 90% of his fortune into the S&P 500 index.

The S&P 500 gives you diversification across all of the biggest large-cap companies in the U.S. Historically, the S&P 500 returns about 10% per year. That's a great return. It does pay a dividend as well.

Currently, this stock is trading at $409. The net assets are 753 billion dollars, with a dividend yield of 1.34% and an expense ratio of 0.03%.

This is a great investment to get started with. It's a staple of my portfolio. I am always adding more to it whenever there is a correction or a crash.

Vanguard Total World Stock Index Fund (VT)

This index fund gives you exposure to the U.S. and the biggest companies in the world, like China, Europe, South America, and Taiwan. The one downside of the S&P 500 index ETF is that it's more weighted in the U.S. economy.

The U.S. economy will give you the greatest returns of any other economy in the world, but it's also smart to be diversified outside of the U.S.

Currently, this stock is trading at $105. The net assets are 30 billion dollars, with a dividend yield of 1.65% and an expense ratio of 0.08%.

Vanguard Real Estate Index Fund (VNQ)

If you want dividends, the first place that I would look is in real estate. This index fund invests in real estate investment trusts (REITs). These are companies that hold real estate. I think we can all agree that real estate is a great long-term investment.

Real estate performs differently from a stock market. Currently, this stock is trading at $106. The net asset is 77 billion dollars, with a dividend yield of 2.34% and an expense ratio of .12%.

When it comes to dividends, you've got to weigh growth over income. When you have more time on your side, you want growth.

Usually, companies that are paying out high dividends are paying out a lot of their profits. However, they aren't reinvesting that money to grow the company. This index fund holds a lot of REITs that pay high dividends, but are also growing as real estate grows.

Vanguard High Dividend Yield Index Fund (VYM)

This index fund is holding a lot of dividend-paying stocks and stocks that are growing. In fact, a lot of the companies that are in this index fund are dividend aristocrats. These are large-cap companies on the S&P 500.

Currently, this stock is trading at $107. The net asset is 48 billion dollars, with a dividend yield of 2.79% and an expense ratio of 0.06%.

Individual Companies

At this point in your investment portfolio, you may decide that you want to add some individual companies to your portfolio. You have to understand that there is a higher risk associated with doing this. You're not just buying a sector.

Rather, you're choosing individual companies out of some of the companies in these indexes. If something happens to a company, you are at risk to lose money. At the same time, you can get greater growth than 10% per year.

When it comes to investing in individual companies, I would recommend investing in large-cap or mega large-cap companies. These are the biggest companies in the world.

If you want growth, invest in tech companies.

Some of my favorite diversified tech companies that I've made the most money from are the following:

Yes, these companies are overvalued and overpriced, but there is so much upside to them. You've got to do your research to determine which tech company you want to invest in and hold long-term. However, I don't think you can go wrong with any of them.

If you don't feel comfortable with the risk of investing in individual companies you can look for indexes that invest in that sector. For example, one of them would be Vanguard Information Technology Index Fund (VGT).

You could also consider adding more dividends to your portfolio. Dividends are great if you want income. My favorite way to get dividends is in the financial sector.

I like bank stocks.

I'm very familiar with the Canadian banking system since I used to live in Canada. We have some awesome Canadian banks. They all pay incredible dividends, some of them up to 5%. If you live in the U.S., you can buy these companies on the New York Stock Exchange:

Alternatively, if you would prefer to stick to the U.S., there are some great banks in the U.S. like Bank of America Corporation (BAC) or JPMorgan Chase & Co. (JPM).

If you want to take greater risks, decide on a certain percentage of your portfolio that you're going to allocate to that.

I think that a good allocation would be 50-75% in index funds, 25-50% in individual companies, and 20% in higher-risk investments.

For the average person, index funds are the way to go. Set it, forget it, and hold it over the long term.

However, as an investor, it's also important to continue adding to your portfolio over the long term. Decide on a certain amount of your money that you're prepared to invest to get started and have some positions.

These are the BEST stocks for beginners.

If you're ready to start investing, you'll want to open a stock brokerage account, like WeBull. This will allow you to buy and sell different types of investments.

Lastly, if you're going to be an investor, you must learn how to manage your existing money.

Doing so will ensure that you have disposable income available to build your investment portfolio. This is how you'll be able to grow your portfolio over the long term.

Investing in your future is one of the best investments that you'll ever make. The earlier that you start investing, the sooner you will be able to create financial freedom. On that note, happy investing!

Are you ready to start managing your money so you have more to invest? CLICK HERE to get instant access to my FREE financial tracking video and spreadsheet!

The post Beginner Stock Investing Portfolio (Best Stocks For Beginners) appeared first on Project Life Mastery.