Steve Pavlina: Lessons from 1/5 of a Millionaire

"People who say they want to become a millionaire but are unwilling to back it up with hard work are only fooling themselves.  It’s not going to happen by itself.  If hard work is a dirty word to you, don’t bother.

"However, the great thing about this goal is that it’s achievable.  People in far worse positions than you have already done it.  It’s hard but definitely not impossible.  If you accept this, it becomes something of a game.  You don’t have to fear failure because you’re expected to fail, and that makes success all the more exciting."
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"After some serious soul searching, I gave up on the idea of becoming a millionaire for myself.  I just didn’t want it badly enough.  If I did I’d have done it years ago with my computer games business, which I believe was entirely capable of getting there.  I felt like a dolt for dropping this goal, but I also felt a sense of relief about the whole thing.  It freed me up to focus on more important priorities like service and contribution.

"Ironically it was the decision to put contribution ahead of wealth that led me full circle.  Eventually I realized that becoming a millionaire could dramatically enhance my ability to help others."

via: 5 Wealth Lessons from 20 Percent of a Millionaire