In ensuring one stays engaged; i. e. able to notice and understand things that are not obvious, one can eliminate situations arising that cause us valuable time and effort. In part one of this two-part post, I provided examples of how being perspicacious can ensure one’s time and efforts are not wasted. In harnessing perspicacity, […]
Rules of Engagement Part Two: Get Out, Not “Out There” Read More »
Not so recently, I had three close-but-non-interactions, with others, all to their detriment. On the first occasion, I was making my usual weekly trek home from grocery shopping. On these routine runs, required for the weekend’s food production for the following week, I am heavily-laden with all sorts of meat and produce, etc., evenly weighted
Rules of Engagement Part One: Payin’ Attention Pays Off Read More »
When I turned forty, one of the things I realized upon reaching the mid-way point of my life, was that I didn’t want the second half of it to be like the first. Saying things were not going well was an understatement, as all looked bleak financially, mentally and physically. In fact, things had gotten
“Ikigaivity” Experienced Read More »
In my last post; No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem!, I wrote about Mark de Fraine and his Turks and Caicos Islands water sports charter business Wake to Wake Watersports, and how he and his partner created it. Related to this, in my blog posts, I give each a category that they fall under and
“Ikigaivity” Explained Read More »
The relief that Hurricane Fiona, having been downgraded to a Category 3 tropical storm did not cause the devastation that she might have, must have been considerable for Mark, having established himself as one of the top water sports tour operators in the industry. Between a World of GoPro October 2019 Million Dollar Challenge Q&A
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem Part Two Read More »
I met Mark, the 33-or-so-year-old subject of this Make More Monie profile in the fall of 2022, when I recognized him as a new – and very enthusiastic – user of the gym we were both sweating in, pushing and pulling ourselves through our paces. Sporting a rugby jersey on this occasion, I figured that
No Shirt, No Shoes, No Problem Part One Read More »
With a local market in the small village nearby, barely further away than the distance covered by the estates’ long meandering driveway, trips for fresh bread, meat and produce and the like would be a pleasure and, from her perspective, seemingly the stuff of dreams. The chateau itself, with its beige stone façade and twin
The French Connection Part Two Read More »
This profile of another First Worlder who has “made more monie” is of a successful CFA and businesswoman extraordinaire. According to an August 2021 Toronto Life article by Cheryl Bozynki (as told to Katie Underwood), Cheryl is another who parlayed great education choices along with working hard and smart. This synergistic combination was key in
The French Connection Part One Read More »
If one can’t be honest, whether in business, sports, games or life, one should at least know how to act it, especially when business is concerned, and even more especially so when it is combined with the gentlemen’s game of golf. I participated as an invited guest in a tournament some years ago, and was
“Well, Well, Well…” Read More »
I knew that in order for me to ensure a good amount of content was going to be presented on the Make More Monie website, I was going to have to become a functional, if not great – or even good – typist. To put it another way, there was no possible way I would
Two Birds; One Stone Read More »
In my last post, I addressed the issue of immaturity and how it can have a tremendous impact on how one’s life may turn out. I referenced a couple of former good friends of mine, whose smart choices – especially those made early on – made an incredible difference in the quality of life that
A Tale of Two Others Read More »
One of the first indications that I had no idea of what I was doing in my youth with respect to a career was the fact that I didn’t even consider acquiring an educational degree – in anything. To make matters worse, I didn’t even have a good reason, such as being the son of
A Tale of Two Dougs Read More »
How to Win Friends and Influence People, by Dale Carnegie, is so famous we hear references to the book’s title and author all the time. Many say that this book and the man himself have helped them with personal interactions by bolstering their confidence. To me, this is ironic, as I see this Carnegie –
Counting Carnegies Read More »
Avoid getting into the weeds with anyone – especially those snakes in the grass – even and also those close to you that very well may be well-meaning. We never want to wrestle with that proverbial pig, as we’ll surely get covered in mud, and, as we all know, the pig likes it. Keeping the
Talking Traps Part Two: Conversational Welfare Read More »
In and over my time, I’ve come across some pretty despicable people. These individuals are all around us, but it is only when we engage with them – as many of us have to do in our personal lives, jobs or careers, etc. – that we are able to see them revealed. I’ve come to
Talking Traps Part One: Conversational Warfare Read More »
I saw a social media image posting some time ago of a spare room that had been converted into a home gym by the poster. It came on the heels of an earlier photo posted by this individual, which was of a very long flight of outdoor stairs. Accompanying the makeshift gym photo was a
I suppose it’s not uncommon to be told by our mothers that we are special, but apparently, many of us have been told this, over and over again, and actually, seemingly, believe it. One of the new meanings for a common word to make its entry into the 2016 Collins English dictionary was attributed to
Snowflakes are Unique. We Aren’t Read More »
After the movie Glengarry Glen Ross came out, the catchphrase “coffee’s for closers” became hugely popular, especially with those in the business world, and none more so than with those in sales. The meaning of it seems to vary, depending upon whom is asked, but I think it is meant and taken in its most
Coffee’s for Closers Read More »
If you’ve been with me this year, following me on Make More Monie, I hope that some of what I’ve been writing has helped. Something I want to share in this post is how I came to deal with the age-old question everyone asks of each other, “How are you doing?” and the equally-aged response,
Every day, in every city, there are numerous events, where the masses congregate to hear the word being spread from on high, in anticipation of being given the keys to the kingdom. Now I’m not talking about church, but I couldn’t blame you for thinking I am, and really, there’s not much difference between these
The Motivational-Industrial Complex Read More »
Apparently, psychologists have determined that at the most basic level, all decisions we make are to either gain pleasure or avoid pain. They have determined that, in its simplest form, any act can be broken down this way and this concept is linked to what’s known as an evolutionary survival response, which can be triggered
On Motivation Part Two: Pleasure ‘n’ Pain Read More »
From what I understand – and know from personal experience – motivation seems to require cultivation. I used to think that I had to work on Make More Monie even when I was not motivated to do so. Kind of like the way I thought that I had to work out daily in order to
On Motivation Part One: Respect the Lulls Read More »
Many people preach the gospel of not being afraid to fail. They casually say to a fledgling entrepreneur who may be about to risk it all that they need to “go big or go home” or, “no retreat, no surrender”. This is all well and good for others to say, but Make More Monie espouses
Tales of Twos Part Two: A Tale of Two Authors Read More »
I cannot think of better lessons on how to “make more monie” than those demonstrated in two of Aesop’s fables; The Ant and the Grasshopper and The Tortoise and the Hare. At about 2,500 years old, the stories have certainly stood the test of time and the simple lessons in each are just as applicable
Tales of Twos Part One: A Tale of Two Fables Read More »
Many of us know what active and passive income are, but for those that don’t, the former includes money earned from your job or career via an hourly wage or an annual salary. The latter is income earned from investments or other business ventures, via interest, dividends or profits, or, from selling ’em at a
Passive vs. Active Income Read More »
Don’t believe the hype you see and hear about almost anything. The world is full of deception, usually in the form of hyperbole designed to ultimately separate you from your money. It’s wise to recognize that buying into the hype that surrounds other people or the products they are pitching will almost certainly not result
Don’t Believe the Hype Read More »
To me, the most astounding thing about Stephen Covey realizing a multi-generational family fortune by the publishing of his trite concepts providing nothing more for his marks than illusions of problem solving, isn’t that they bought into ‘em, but that many of the world’s largest companies did too. A quick search indicates that less than
Who Fails Their Own Business Course? Read More »
The seventh and last habit is about “sharpening the saw”, which, after struggling to successfully remain conscious through this tedious time waster, I found that it simply means strengthening and supplementing the greatest asset one has – themselves. I also find that no one with any amount of common sense needs to read this tome
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Seven Read More »
In this part of Make More Monie’s seven takes on The Seven Habits, I review habit six, which is to synergize with others. Covey states that synergy is, in fact, the highest activity in all life. Wait, what? Wasn’t it communication? He then sermonizes about how synergy will realize a brave new world; one that
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Six Read More »
Habit five is to seek first to understand, then to be understood. I suppose this sounds good and all in theory, but in reality, studies apparently show that although most people claim to be self-aware – and therefore would have the capacity to seek first to understand – they actually aren’t, and therefore don’t. So
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Five Read More »
The next three habits are about how we relate to and work with others. The first of them is to seek positive outcomes for all in all our daily interactivities, and the concept is to see life as cooperative, not competitive. My take on this is that in today’s “everyone-for-themselves” First World, this frame of
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Four Read More »
To review, habit one in Steven Covey’s book The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People – which purports to give us insight into those habits of the successful – details the principle of being proactive with one’s choices. It further suggests, reasonably so, that each of us in the First World are in charge of
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Three Read More »
Part two of Make More Monie’s take on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, focuses on habit two; to “begin with the end in mind”. It’s based on the ability to envision in your mind what you cannot at present see with your eyes, or, in simple terms, it’s based on your imagination. It
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part Two Read More »
This is my take on The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, a pretty boring read. Before commenting on these habits though, let me say that the book’s certainly full of all of the unnecessarily complex ways and words to describe simple concepts that one would expect from those pretentious “grandiloquents” and pompous “sesquipedalians” that
Seven Takes on The Seven Habits Part One Read More »
Aleksandra understands that life – and any worthwhile career – is a marathon. As such, she is not concerned that her current position doesn’t pay a salary commensurate with her efforts or the responsibilities she shoulders in it. She is using the job just as surely as the Corporation she is employed by is using
The Horse Whisperer Part Two Read More »
This profile of someone that has “made more monie” is about a single mom who came to Canada from Poland. I met her while I was managing a large condominium corporation in downtown Toronto, along with a smaller site. I was responsible for a shared facilities component as well, made up of several entities, including
The Horse Whisperer Part One Read More »
In my previous post, Sorry, But Not Impressed, I took aim at a quote that, like many, initially sounded deep and profound, but when examined below the surface, turned out to be just so many words. It struck me that if these so-called words of wisdom were replaced with actual advice that represented years of
I’ve come to realize that many quotes that purport to feature words of wisdom – those sometimes sage but sometimes not – sapient sayings that so many people love to like, post, tweet and retweet, etc., are fine and all, being relatively harmless. When it comes right down to it though, they are simply just
Sorry, But Not Impressed Read More »
Regarding my previous post’s comment about my parents and sister, I’m not stating that family members have to look out for each other’s interests. I’ll keep my full opinion on that close to the vest, as it seems in today’s First World, what I think should be second nature is just a relic of yesteryear,
Pro-Ed Op-Ed (Responsibility) Read More »
For only the second time in my life, I filed my income tax paperwork myself. For years, I’d been using my guy, Dave, who’d never increased the $100 plus HST fee he charged me over all of the time he’s been doin’ ‘em. We used to use this time to catch up with each other,
Combustion is the basic chemical process of releasing energy from a fuel and air mixture. In an internal combustion engine, the ignition and combustion of the fuel occurs within the engine itself. This process has been harnessed and used quite successfully by humankind to “make more monie”. Just as we have gotten ahead by exploiting
Internal – Not External – Combustion Read More »
Despite those that believe in Ms. Byrne and her “secrets”, there aren’t any laws of attraction whereby you simply think your way into “making more monie”, unless it is part of efforts to actually do what’s required. Yes, from now on, you can take a hard pass on any of the modern sessions or seminars
Psst… Wanna Know a Secret? There Isn’t One! Read More »
In my previous post, I wrote in general terms what I do for fitness and touched on why, indicating that I need to stay as fit as possible for as long as possible as in this life of mine, I have many miles to go, so to speak. Achieving a ‘fun’ancially successful existence in the
Fighting Shape: Bodyweight Rules! Read More »
As I have much to achieve in life, and knowing it is a “survival of the fittest” challenge, I need to ensure I keep myself as physically fit and strong as I can for as long as I can. Luckily for me, I have a fighter’s mentality, which helps me embrace the very hard work
Fighting Shape: Pullin’ – and Pushin’ – My Own Weight! Read More »
In this, the last of this multi-part, shallow dive into investing and my own investments in the stock market, I highlight those industries in the following two sectors: Technologies – This sector, which I understand makes up a significant ~25% of the market, is seemingly not only the most valuable, but apparently one of the
Vested Interests Part Eight Read More »
In this multi-part, shallow dive into investing and my own investments in the stock market, I highlight those industries in the following two sectors: Real Estate – This sector, which, I understand, like Energies, Materials and Utilities, also makes up ~3% of the market, consists of businesses that develop, own, operate and/or otherwise manage real
Vested Interests Part Seven Read More »
In this multi-part, shallow dive into investing and my own investments in the stock market, I highlight those industries in the following two sectors: Industrials – This sector, I understand, like Communications, Discretionaries and Financials, makes up ~10% of the market. It consists of businesses that keep everyone and everything safe, sound and moving around,
Vested Interests Part Six Read More »
In this multi-part, shallow dive into investing and my own investments in the stock market, I highlight those industries in the following two sectors: Financials – This sector, which I understand, like Communications, Discretionaries and Industrials, also makes up ~10% of the market, encompasses those businesses that keep track of the debits and credits of
Vested Interests Part Five Read More »
In this multi-part, shallow dive into investing and my own investments into sectors of the stock market, I look into those industries in the following two sectors: Discretionaries – This sector, I understand, also makes up ~10% of the market. It consists of businesses that are considered non-essential, which cater to consumer preferences, and, as
Vested Interests Part Four Read More »
Not having any kind of schooling or credentials in investing or in any other aspect of the financial markets or financial planning, I’ve relied on my own observations of it all, as well as the musings of Berkshire Hathaway’s Warren Buffet and the late Charlie Munger. In addition, since they often tout their wisdom gained
Vested Interests Part Three Read More »
Those like me, ones that never had any guidance early on in life to utilize in developing a plan for it, have always had to react to the conditions in which we found ourselves. Over the decades I spent trying to figure this all out, I was never able to take advantage of compounding. For
Vested Interests Part Two Read More »
Except for my home contents and life insurance policies, and mandatory spending on all things life, work and Make More Monie related, all my financial activity takes place within four different accounts. One’s an all-inclusive checking account, which, provided I keep a minimum balance in it, the monthly fee is waived. It also features unlimited
Vested Interests Part One Read More »
I created Make More Monie because I believe that there are many who cannot see their own futures clearly. I think that this is due to their being too distracted by the disruptive and destructive drama within their everyday lives and social circles. In addition, there is the chaotic high drama which is being naturally
Early on, I went through occasional periods of doubt as to whether or not Make More Monie was a worthy endeavor. In response, I reminded myself that I was doing it for all who never get to see real examples of those that are “making more monie”, and/or in so many different ways. Now that
The third and last grifter I’d like to introduce is psychology PhD, and international best-selling author Jordan B (for Blowhard?) Peterson, who has rightly or wrongly been titled “King of the Incels” and – again, rightly or wrongly – renowned for being the stupid man’s intellectual and oxymoronic religious agnostic. Embraced – yet again, rightfully
Be a Top Gun, Not a Top Grifter Part Two Read More »
The US Navy Fighter Weapons School in Fallon, Nevada, offers TOPGUN, the 13-week Strike Fighter Tactics Instructor Course (STFI), which trains the top percentile of US Navy pilots. Over 13 weeks, they face 12-hour days, over 3 months. Totaling over 1,000 hours, this is on top of the similar hours it takes just to be
Be a Top Gun, Not a Top Grifter Part One Read More »
Or, like Elon, you can believe so much in yourself and your goals that you invest your share of the PayPal fortune into Tesla, then SpaceX, both of which you have no actual education or experience in, then have the brightest minds in both realms – including your heroes – reject your requests to join
“All Wrong, All Wrong, All Wrong!” Part Five Read More »
I wanted to compare Matthew McConaughey’s so-called secrets to success with those espoused by others that have given a more relatable pathway to it in less time using plain English. With life being short, I feel it’s best to be succinct. As such, after carrying out deep dives into the paths taken by some of
“All Wrong, All Wrong, All Wrong!” Part Four Read More »
Stripping down to nothing, ridding himself of all “window dressing and packaging”, including his “lucky and faithful American cat”, that had puzzlingly appeared in his story. Hmm. The bongos must’ve remained at home. Anyway, he removes all “talismans from adventures past”, including his late father’s gold ring, melted down from his parents’ class rings and
“All Wrong, All Wrong, All Wrong!” Part Three Read More »
Returning to success again, Matthew urges us to “dissect our successes and the reciprocity of gratitude”, rather than focusing and obsessing on our failures, as by doing so will cause us to become intoxicated with them to the point of disillusion, which will lead to more failure. He suggests that the easiest way to dissect
“All Wrong, All Wrong, All Wrong!” Part Two Read More »
On January 7, 2016, Matthew McConaughey gave a speech at the University of Houston, and I’ve read that it is considered one of the best motivational speeches of all time. I thought I’d do a deep dive into it and provide my feedback as, although it features some good moments, I don’t share that opinion.
“All Wrong, All Wrong, All Wrong!” Part One Read More »
Studies seem to indicate that at our core, we have a negativity bias. We were apparently able to evolve because of it, as it is seemingly more costly to miss signs of danger, such as a voracious predator, unsafe conditions or extreme exposure than to miss those of food and water, safe passage, or warm,
Most of us love the thought of being a famous actor, musician or singer, far more than we love participating in acting class, music lessons or vocal drills. And of those who do pursue these career paths, many give up; not necessarily upon the first sign of adversity, but eventually because of the overwhelming odds
Delusions of Grandeur Read More »
When you say “yes” to something you don’t want to do, you almost always wind up hating what you are doing, sometimes even resenting the person who asked you, and spending valuable time and energy getting it done, just so you can get back to what you really should be – and want to be
Just say “No”, and Just do It! Read More »
Back in Canada, at age twenty-two, his father offered to sell his Vancouver-based company to him, but having seen the struggle of keeping it afloat first-hand years earlier, Nathan declined, staying on as an employee after it was sold to another. Two years later saw the company fold and, out of work, Nathan moved to
Means to an End Part Two Read More »
This post features Nathan, who was interviewed by Make More Monie as he has demonstrated, like others I’ve had the privilege to interview, tenacity in attaining his goal. This goal initially was to be a part of his family’s tradition of high-rise window cleaning, which goes back almost fifty years and serves the never-ending need
Means to an End Part One Read More »
By 2007, Susana had grown tired of the cloudy, rainy, dull and dreary Vancouver weather. Although she missed her family and friends, she also missed the varied and seasonal climate of Buenos Aires, and especially the sun. So much so that it convinced her that even the weather of Toronto, with its biting cold in
The Boundary Pusher Part Two Read More »
My inaugural Make More Monie interviewee is none other than my life partner and best friend, Susana, and her story is one of those that demonstrates tenacity at its finest. Born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, she was a precocious one, that challenged – and was challenged – by her parents. From the moment she realized
The Boundary Pusher Part One Read More »
With further respect to the ridiculousness of wasting bandwidth on whether our lives have meaning, consider that there are at least four different camps that ponder this, each with their own position; that life has objective meaning, subjective meaning, supernatural/unexplainable meaning or no meaning at all. Once you’ve determined which group you’re in, you’d need
A Space Odyssey Part Two: Size Matters Read More »
Many of us spend what to me seems, an awful lot of bandwidth in the form of time – and perhaps other valuable resources – thinking that we must have some kind of purpose. Before commenting further, I’d like to juxtapose this with the concept that evolution and natural selection have hard-wired us to recognize
A Space Odyssey Part One: It’s About Time Read More »
Part one of this post was about the incredible success of world-renowned author, J.K. Rowling, through obvious talent, but also tenacity. In overcoming personal and professional adversity, she found a way to achieve her goal of becoming a writer. As mentioned in that post, in July 1995, as poor as one can possibly be in
The Writer and the Fighter Part Two Read More »
In “making more monie”, it cannot be stressed enough the importance of marshaling resources, then tenaciously applying them to a goal. In this post – and in part two of it – these tactics are demonstrated by a very well-known writer and an almost equally-famous fighter. In her mid-twenties, in the summer of 1990 during
The Writer and the Fighter Part One Read More »
When one has built up a net worth of at least $1B, they are classed as a billionaire. At this magnitude of wealth, ownership of almost anything is attainable in both quantity and quality. Giving back to the world through philanthropy are ways that many new billionaires begin to allocate some of their wealth. The
The “One Percenters” Part Two Read More »
The top 10% have a minimum net worth of $1M and the good news is that almost anyone, and I mean anyone, in the First Word that works hard and smart throughout their life can attain this “entry-level” level of wealth. Those perspicacious enough to do what’s necessary to reach this level are then further
The “One Percenters” Part One Read More »
Although for years I had some vague notion of Make More Monie, it became much clearer in a 2018 conversation with the owner of a brand-new Dodge Demon, an 850 hp, unhinged, ultra-powerful muscle car that was pretty much, more or less, a Hellcat on steroids. He approached as I was admiring it in the
I enjoy learning about the origins of famous company logos. For example, did you know that in Amazon’s logo – when they featured the word “Amazon” in it, that is – the “smiley arrow” was deliberately placed? It was strategically located to show that the company is so big – Amazon does mean “massive”, after
Our image is one that encompasses the spirit of Make More Monie as well as any picture ever could. It was taken on an August 2018 summer holiday, spent in a small cottage just off the beach, just north of Grand Bend. These southwestern Ontario shores of Lake Huron are where I spent my summers
When developing our website, I wanted to ensure that upon landing at Make More Monie, the visitor would feel welcome, not overwhelmed, and find that it was created with user-centricity – and our own credibility – in mind. To that end, one won’t find any bells ‘n’ whistles featured there. No gimmicks nor gadgets, no
