How would you like to own the world? What if I told you that owning the world doesn’t mean you are the king of the world, or even that you have conquered every single country on the planet; but rather it’s about something much more achievable and far more powerful than that.
The way I see it, there are 10 ways to own the world; in fact, I would go as far as saying that it’s impossible to truly be successful until these ideas are fully understood and adopted into your daily life. Let’s take a look at these ways now...
1) Own your identity
If you own your own identity and are not using a business name that someone else owns, you can eliminate a lot of potential problems later.
For example, if people are signing up for email lists but aren’t following instructions for unsubscribing (which is required by law), it will be easier to get rid of them if they weren’t confused about whether or not they were actually signing up for your service.
If you take ownership of your own name and identity in everything you do, customers won’t get confused as easily because they know exactly where information is coming from.
You also won’t have bad eggs who were misrepresenting their status or affiliation when they signed up.
2) Own your health
If you don’t take care of your health now, you won’t be able to own much else. Think about it: if you’re not in good shape and healthy, how can you succeed in life?
It's almost impossible. Make sure you eat a balanced diet and stay fit—your body is your biggest asset.
3) Own your financial future
Own your financial future can seem like an intimidating phrase, but it doesn't have to be. Start by building up a retirement fund and then start working on other things like increasing your income or investing in a business.
All of these things will help you build long-term wealth.
And don't forget about taxes; if you're not getting tax advice from a professional, you could be missing out on deductions that could save you thousands of dollars over time. Being smart with your money is one of many ways to own your financial future!
4) Own your time
Time is perhaps your most precious resource. If you’re not managing it, someone else will—and, likely, they’ll manage it very poorly.
Make sure you do everything you can to own your time and decide what you want to spend it doing. Your days are limited; don’t waste them being distracted by unimportant tasks or meaningless decisions.
Have a clear understanding of what your priorities are and have a clear action plan in place for achieving them.
As Bucky Fuller said: You never change things by fighting existing reality. To change something, build a new model that makes the existing model obsolete.
5) Own your level of happiness
The first thing you need to do is own your level of happiness. Everyone has a different level of happiness, and there is no sense comparing your own experience with that of anyone else.
Be proud of your current level, and don’t be in a rush to change it—even if everyone around you seems better off than you.
Owning your own happiness doesn’t mean you won’t work toward an increase in future; it just means that any perceived lack of progress will have little bearing on how you feel about yourself today.
6) Own your home
Owning your home is a solid start, especially in terms of building wealth. Housing prices can appreciate, so buying a house will increase your net worth.
You’ll also build equity as you pay down your mortgage and gain rental income (if you rent out an apartment or room in your home).
Plus, real estate taxes are generally lower than rent payments. To own a home without getting yourself into trouble, take stock of all your housing-related expenses and make sure they’re at or below 30% of your gross income.
You should be okay if they are—and even better if they’re well below that number.
7) Own it all!
Okay, so you can’t own everything. But you can own pretty much anything you want. But first, a warning: Don’t go buying things just because they’re shiny and new; don’t make purchases that aren’t really necessary, because owning something doesn’t mean it will make you happy.
True happiness comes from experiences with loved ones, doing things you love and being who you are without regret.
The bottom line is: If it makes your life easier, happier or more convenient (or all three), then buy it! Just take care not to spend beyond your means—no one likes debt collectors at their door or having their credit score affected for years by decisions made in a moment of excitement or lack of judgment.
8) What will you own?
The first step in owning something is defining it. What do you want to own? A certain corner of your industry? The title of best in class within a given field? Something else entirely? Making clear what you're aiming for will help you refine your plan and make sure you don't set unrealistic goals that leave you feeling stuck and frustrated.
Whatever it is, write it down, so that every time someone asks what are you trying to accomplish, you can answer with clarity. And remember: just because there's only one thing on your list doesn't mean it should be easy; goals don't get achieved by accident; they require deliberate effort.
9) What can I do right now?
What can you do right now that will help you achieve your goal? Start there. Make a list of concrete actions and figure out how to take them. If your goal is to own the world, one step might be Spend 20 minutes writing down what it would look like if I owned the world.
Then, once you have that picture in mind, ask yourself: What would I need in order to accomplish that?
This is where it's helpful to make a list of potential obstacles and possible solutions or resources you'll need in order to succeed. After considering those things, try making some phone calls.
10) Don’t stop until you own it all!
Set your sights high. There’s no point in reaching for an inch if you want a mile, so don’t be afraid to dream big. Don’t worry about what you can’t achieve today—focus on how far you can get tomorrow.
Sometimes getting somewhere means starting somewhere; that something is your first step toward greatness. So go forth and conquer! Once you own one place, move on until you own everything.