It’s an age-old debate: Does money buy happiness? While it’s sometimes the case that money can make people with “challenging” behaviours even more so, generally speaking, having enough money for the basic necessities of life as well as your wants and needs usually means a happier life. Now I’m not saying that money will solve…
If you own an investment property and rent it out, you can write off a number of costs on your annual tax return. This includes claiming a deduction for any borrowing expenses incurred and any cost incurred for arranging finance to purchase it. Tax time is a big bonus for many Aussies with rental properties,…
Spare a thought for the word ‘no’. It gets a bit of a bad rap. It’s seen as a negative word to use, a slap-down, a refusal. And many people are uncomfortable with using it. They tend to stick to ‘maybes’ or they delay making decisions. Sometimes they will simply ignore an issue, hoping it…
As the year progresses and autumn turns into winter, at least here in Australia, it’s easy to lose sight of your goals. The New Year’s resolutions to eat less and go to the gym more may seem like a distant memory. The plan you had to boost your career by networking more may also have…
Sometimes it can seem as though other people were born lucky. Rich parents, inspiring mentors, opportunities handed to them on a platter… it’s hard to believe the average Aussie can compete with this kind of advantage. But the truth is, most self-made successful people share a number of characteristics that have helped propel them towards…
Young Australians who would have once been locked out of homeownership are increasingly relying on the so-called Bank of Mum and Dad to get a deposit or to guarantee a bank loan. The Bank of Mum and Dad has become so large as a home loan enabler that the Productivity Commission says if it was…
Since 2004, I’ve devoted a significant amount of my time to researching habits. One of the questions I get asked by the media often is: Are there differences between the habits of men and women? The answer is always Yes. From my research, I’ve identified certain habits that separate men and women. Here’s a sampling…
I’m going to get a little philosophical here. Bear with me. There’s an important point I’m trying to make. There are two opposing schools of thought that divide mankind. School of Thought #1: Self-Determination Drives Life Circumstances School of Thought #2: Predetermination Drives Life Circumstances Those who subscribe to School of Thought #1 believe we…
What do wealthy people do to become wealthy?” The answer is – “They create their own good luck”. But how can you create good luck? Before I answer that question we need to understand luck. There are four types of luck: Random Good Luck Random Bad Luck Opportunity Good Luck and Detrimental Bad Luck Random…
We only have so many hours in the day so why do some people spend it on tasks that won’t enhance their happiness or lead to success? Baffling, isn’t it? Lots of people work hard. They burn the midnight oil, put in long hours on group projects, or evenings catch up on email. They’ll often…
