This is a guest post by M. Tohami
Who is rich?
That’s a very interesting question, isn’t it?
What is even more interesting is that it has no right or wrong answer.
So, let me give you my answer and I am eager to read your answer in the comments section below.
I believe that the rich is the person who could have the most fun and rejoice with what he/she has.
Based on that definition, here are 5 simple ways to become rich:
1. Don’t Rely On Money To Be Happy
As Jerry Gillies, author of Moneylove, says, “Prosperity is living easily and happily in the real world, whether you have money or not.”
It’s true that money gives you more flexibility in doing what you want to do whenever you want to do it. However, it never guarantees happiness.
It has been said that happiness is a state of mind. And I totally agree with that.
2. Simplify Your Life
“The ability to simplify means to eliminate the unnecessary so that the necessary may speak.” – Hans Hofmann
After you eliminate the unnecessary from your life, you will only be left with the little things that you like and enjoy the most.
When you master the art of simple living and practice enjoying more with less things, you will increase your financial independence. Thus you will enjoy doing the things that you really want to do, not the things you have to do for the sake of earning more money
3. Be Creative
“But out of limitations comes creativity.” – Debbie Allen
Put your creative muscles into action to come up with ideas to turn what you already have into a lot of fun.
Creative thinking is very important to create a passionate lifestyle in which money does not have that much power over you.
Creativity is also very helpful when it comes to starting a business around what you are passionate about. Most startups lack enough capital. So, the only tool you will have in hand is your creative ideas!
Small business experts Paul Hawken and Seth Godin usually point out that good ideas trump heavy capitalization. That’s very true.
4. Discover Your True Value
It’s been said that, “The real measure of your wealth is how much you’d be worth if you lost all your money.”
Think of this: How much Bill Gates would be worth if he lost all his money?
Personally, I would still call him a rich person.
Your value cannot be measured by the money you have. The ultimate measure of your value is by the size of the problem you can solve and the number of people you can impact their lives.
5. Determine What Your Ideal Life Would Cost
One of the most useful techniques that I have personally tested is: Identify what is truly enough for you.
I did that exercise a few years ago and I found it very relieving. I thought I would need billions of dollars to be happy and rich.
However, when I started to list everything I needed to have and do in order to enjoy my ideal lifestyle, I realized I needed much less than I thought I would need.
In a nutshell, in order to become rich you need to be creative, have fun and enjoy more with less things.
In your point of view, Who Is Rich?
Please share your thoughts in the comments section below.
photo credit: alancleaver_2000
Mohamed Tohami is a bestselling author and the creator of “The P.A.S. Technique: The World’s Easiest Way To Find Your Passion and Purpose In Life”. Visit hisTransformational Motivation blog now to grab your free copy of his special report 4 Steps to a Life of Passion and enjoy a unique, easy, expansive and lively motivational reading experience.
Hi
This was a great post. The money thing is so interesting to me because lack of it can cause so much strife in life so we naturally think having a lot will make us happy. It definitely increases peace of mind and you are right, it affords a flexibility with life that is not possible otherwise. But, making us happy, not so much. I think there is a lot of weird energy and beliefs around money and that this accounts for the struggles we face when trying to manifest better financial circumstances. It seems to be the biggest area of struggle when it comes to employing principles of law of attraction and changing deeply rooted thought patterns that sabotage our efforts.
Point 5 was interesting too. I am currently living abroad in Thailand, where you can enjoy a pretty high standard of living for a fraction of the cost. I am not fully satisfied with my financial situation at the moment but should I stay here, I could live pretty well on an amount of money that would not meet Western standards of wealth, not even close. While I would like to have more money, I would be satisfied with whatever amount afforded me the opportunity to do the things most important to me.
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 13th, 2012 at 1:21 am
Money can help you live your desired lifestyle. However, it can’t change your state of mind. And I believe with some creativity we can find workarounds and live our dream lifestyle on budget.
Exactly like you did, you figured a way to live wealthy in a country where it is highly affordable.
Thanks for sharing your example.
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Stacy-
Great Article. Being rich doesn’t always mean having a lot of money. There are so many other places to find richness.
Have a great week!
sean
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 13th, 2012 at 1:22 am
Richness is a state of mind and an affordable way to experience a dream lifestyle. I’m glad you liked it.
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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Only rich guys can comment on this topic as they have the experince of it. I know only one thing,there is no shortcut for success.
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 13th, 2012 at 1:24 am
I agree, there is no short cut for success. And anyone can feel rich if they want to. Richness is not defined by money only. As Sean said, there are many places where you can find richness.
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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I love the tips you give! I think all of those can be boiled to simply enjoy your life and do what you love to do. There’s nothing better than being active and passionate about what you do.
There are many ways we can be rich and they don’t always include money.
Thanks for the great article.
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 13th, 2012 at 1:25 am
Passion Is King! It’s the only way you feel truly ALIVE!
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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Wow. I can’t believe how much I agree with this! Great post… and I am following my dreams instead of doing what is typical.
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I agreed that money don’t guaranteed happiness and you need quite less money to live your ideal life, there is no doubt but as a family member you have to think about whole family and this really change your life. You start earning for other members in the family such as for your child to whom you wish to give best education and so on.
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 14th, 2012 at 3:53 am
It is important that you care about your family. But never lose focus on pursuing your dreams. When you’re happy doing what you love, every one around you will be happy too. Passion comes first. And when you do something of value to others, money will follow automatically.
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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I think you will change the world soon. Those who follow their dreams and never give up end up doing so. Good luck
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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People who have learnt to find happiness with what they have right now are probably the richest I feel. Unless you learn to find happiness in what one has right now, nothing else will make you happy!
Though constantly moving ahead is a healthy way to live life; but I feel one to be find the best in the right now!
I love how you talk about being the “rich” one despite all odds!
A lovely post indeed!
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Mohamed Tohami Reply:
March 14th, 2012 at 3:55 am
Thanks Hajra. I’m glad you liked it. Follow your passion. Everything else is secondary.
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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Love the title!
Last fall I worked on my first business plan and it really opened my eyes to what my business would have to earn for me to quit my day job. It really helped me change my focus; without that understanding, I would still be on the wrong track.
Thanks for sharing your list.
Kimberly
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Great example. I think it is Peter Drucker who said, “What can’t be measured, can’t be managed” Having a sort of vision or a plan to safely quit your job is a very good approach.
Mohamed Tohami invites you to read… The Four-Part Cure You Need The Moment You Quit or Get Fired
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Great post, Mohamed! I especially like your first point. I am reminded of something that one of the characters in the movie Psycho said about the nature of money that could not be more true: “I don’t buy happiness so much as I buy off unhappiness.” I remember reading somewhere that happiness tends to increase with income up until a certain point, and then it doesn’t any longer. This is why it needs to be about more than money.
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Hi Tohami
This post really hits the nail on the head for me. I feel the richest I have even been, after escaping from the trappings of a corporate career to focus on my own business. I don’t have nearly as much money but I feel alive, joyful and grateful for being in a position to do what I’ve always wanted to do. It’s not the money that makes you rich; it’s the being able to live the life you’ve dreamt about living.
Stay blessed
Mena
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[...] featured at Transformational Motivation by M. Tohami. He has written one guest post here entitled 5 Simple Ways to Become Rich which was a fantastic read! If you missed it be sure to go back and read [...]
Interesting. Great post!
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Stacy Reply:
April 11th, 2012 at 3:56 pm
Thank you, Alicia!
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Being creative is the best, I think the universal power gives creatiivty to us so we can be rich.
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Superb
Thanks M. Tohami for sharing this with us. Be patience to become rich 
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Very nice post. I found richness after retirement – leaving the grind, the American Dream house, and the effort behind. Money is not a bad thing, but it’s not what makes me so rich today – being with my family does.
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You don’t need to be rich and live in a life where everything is accounted for. You can still spend quality time with family or your partner without splashing out.
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I want to be rich. Like Bruno Mars said ‘ I wanna be a Billionaire so fricking bad……
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I agree that having money is not synonymous to being happy and contented. Thanks for sharing!
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A came across a funny quote that reads, “Whoever says that money can’t buy happiness doesn’t know where to shop.” I guess I’ll never know how it really feels like unless I’m in that situation. Thanks for the share!
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Great post! In today’s scenario where everyone is running behind monetary aspects, with the perception that money brings in happiness. This article is an eye-opener. Money never brings happiness, instead contentment in the heart brings the much needed happiness in life. For being rich, you don’t need money, but a great outlook towards life. Thanks for sharing this wonderful article.
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Our contentment stems from genuine happiness and it seldom comes from the things money can buy. Thanks for the insightful read.
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The best criteria to evaluate your pursuits in life is to make a distinction between ‘pleasure’ and ‘happiness’. You can buy pleasure with money but necessarily not happiness. The pleasure is momentary and linked to bodily amusement whereas happiness is longer lasting relates mainly to soul. Only true happiness can soothe our soul and vice versa which transcends material things.
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