I'm so excited to chat with you today about a book I absolutely love: Change Your Habits, Change Your Life.

The author is Thomas C. Corley, a well-known American accountant and certified financial planner who runs an accounting firm that provides financial services to more than 1,000 small businesses and individuals. Because of his work with wealthy people, Corley conducted an interesting survey. He spent five years studying the daily habits of 177 wealthy people and 128 poor people. While the sample size may not be huge, it's worth noting that almost all of the 177 people were multimillionaires. Corey took a really close look at the survey results and found that there were some things that the rich had in common, as well as some things that the poor had in common. But guess what? The habits of the rich and the poor were very different! The habits of the rich kept them rolling in the dough and living the high life. The poor, on the other hand, kept sinking into a state of scarcity and low energy.

So, what makes someone rich? Have you ever wondered why we should learn from the rich? Is having money really that amazing? I don't know about you, but I'm not sure it is. Haha, of course, there are many things in this world that are more important than money. But if a person can obtain a large amount of wealth, it means they've figured out some things better than the average person, or have more experience on the road to chasing after wealth, and have also stepped in more pitfalls. It doesn't matter if you're interested in making money or becoming a multimillionaire. There are always some amazing and simple qualities in these rich people that are worth learning from and can improve your life. After reading this book, you might find that being rich is not just about material wealth. It's also about spiritual wealth, a good state of life, and harmonious relationships with others.

At the start of the book, Corey shared that he was lucky enough to write it while he was helping an entrepreneur with his financial consulting services. This entrepreneur was really talented and his company was doing great, but he was struggling to balance his income and expenses. Every time he paid wages, he felt under a lot of financial pressure. Cory spent several months looking into the company's expenses, production processes, labor rates, and industry comparison data, but he couldn't find anything wrong. It wasn't until he discovered that the entrepreneur had some not-so-great living habits and always splurged on nightlife that he realized why he was facing severe financial pressure. If the entrepreneur kept up these habits, no matter how well his company did, he'd still have financial problems. And that's not what he was going for!

The author has a really interesting take on what it means to be rich. It's not enough to just make a lot of money to be considered rich. You know, you can only be considered rich if you can reap wealth, balance your income and expenditure, and have a healthy and good state of life. He also chose people who started from scratch and became self-reliant, rather than those who gained wealth by winning the lottery or inheriting an estate. This was to better reflect the characteristics of these rich people.

The wonderful theories in the book Change Your Habits, Change Your Life have been published on hundreds of media platforms in more than 20 countries, helping to change the understanding of "rich people" among a large number of readers around the world. We often imagine rich people to be more comfortable and carefree, but after reading this book, you'll find that rich people are actually a group of people who know how to plan and be patient.

I'm going to break this book down into two parts, and I'll do my best to make it easy for you to understand. The first part is all about the word "rich." It looks at what habits help people become richer and richer, and also at what habits might make people less wealthy and even depressed. The second part is all about habits. I'd love to share some tips on how we can cultivate good habits and make our lives and careers better and better!

Part 1: Let's dive into the wonderful world of rich habits! In this part, I'll be exploring the habits of the rich in three fascinating areas: daily life, personality traits, and interpersonal interactions.

So, let's start with a simple question: what are the differences between the daily behaviors of the rich and the poor? The biggest difference is that the rich are just a little more cautious in their words and actions. The rich have a lot of habits that help them live their lives with a sense of calm and restraint. If you take a peek at the daily routine of some of the world's top billionaires, you'll see that they often have very intense work schedules. They're full of energy and in great shape! The rich are really good at looking after themselves, and they know just how important it is to stay healthy.

In the survey by Kerry, it was so inspiring to see that 76% of the rich spend 20 to 30 minutes a day doing aerobic exercise, such as running, jogging, walking, cycling, swimming, etc., at least four days a week! The great thing about these exercises is that you don't even have to go to the gym! You can do them regardless of your financial situation. When it comes to food, even though they're always on the go, 75% of the rich avoid fast food joints that serve up fried foods. It's really quite simple! While fast food is oh-so-tempting and delicious, it can cause some not-so-fun health problems like obesity. We all know this, but it can be so hard to resist delicious food! The rich can often resist because they know that their health is more important than taste. The rich are really good at thinking about what they really want and need, and they make decisions based on what's best for them in the long run. And guess what? The rich are also very rational when shopping! They don't spend a lot of money on things they don't really need, but they do plan their finances carefully.

It's no surprise that so many rich people love to read! In fact, 85% of them read at least two books a month, and 88% of them read for at least 30 minutes a day. So, what do they read? It's so interesting to see what kinds of books the rich like to read! In fact, 51% of them enjoy history books. They find that reading about the past helps them to find solutions to the problems they're facing in the present. It's so inspiring to see how many of them read self-help books (55%!) and autobiographies of successful people (58%!). They're really interested in studying the experiences of their predecessors. The most popular books are professional learning materials, which I think is really great! It's so great to see that 79% of the rich will read the most accurate and authoritative materials directly, rather than asking others or reading second-hand information!

Now, let's chat about the wonderful character traits of wealthy people! Wealthy people have some pretty special beliefs! They all have a strong belief in their abilities and passions, and they trust their decisions wholeheartedly.

Some wealthy people are chatty, while others are more reserved and introverted. No matter how they act, they're usually very confident! In the survey by Kory, it was so interesting to see that 90% of the wealthy people did not believe in fate! They truly believed that they had the power to shape their own lives. It's so inspiring to see that 79% of wealthy people truly believe that they can escape poverty or leap from the middle class to the wealthy class! It's important to remember that this confidence isn't about being superior or arrogant. It's simply a belief in one's own abilities. It's so inspiring to see that 90% of the rich believe that hard work is more important than high IQ! They truly believe that if you put your mind to it, you can make up for any lack of intelligence. They're confident because they know they work hard.

This confidence makes the rich have a more optimistic attitude than ordinary people. They truly believe that perseverance can bring good luck! It's so inspiring to see that 54% of the rich believe that optimism is an important factor in success! And get this: a whopping 92% of the rich believe that as long as they stick with what they love, good luck will find them! They're always focused and determined in pursuing their dreams and goals. On average, it takes them about 12 years to work towards their dreams and achieve them. Just imagine all the hurdles and people who might try to rain on their parade along the way! If they didn't have that self-confidence we talked about earlier, it would be really tough for them to keep going.

Rich people are decision-makers, and no matter their age or gender, they all have a certain air of resolve about them. It's so inspiring to see how many rich people make decisions for their businesses! In fact, 91% of them do just that. They make decisions quickly, like generals, and they're happy to accept the consequences of their decisions. They never dither or overthink major issues. They just act! And they act decisively and quickly. This characteristic seems similar to that of gamblers, but there's a key difference between gamblers and the excellent decision-makers we're talking about. The rich are not just reckless and bold. Before making a decision, they think carefully and have a strong sense of professionalism and responsibility for their business. In other words, they can make those big, bold decisions because they think clearly and execute strongly. This is what makes a great decision-maker!

It doesn't matter if they're introverted or extroverted, the rich are always passionate on the inside. And it's not just a fleeting impulse, it's a real, lasting passion! It's so inspiring to see that 82% of the rich are true to themselves and follow their hearts' desires! The rich are always setting and pursuing ambitious goals. In fact, 55% of them will spend at least a year working towards a particular goal! When the rich are pursuing their goals, they make sure to prioritize everything very clearly. They're not going to let anything get in the way of their goals. They're not afraid to say no to anyone or anything that might get in the way of their dreams. It might seem a bit inconsiderate to refuse others, but the rich all know that if they don't say no, it might make it more difficult to achieve their goals. This isn't selfishness, though. Their goals are often very high and require full dedication, so they're just extremely careful with their time and energy. Rich folks will often choose a challenging task over an easy one, and they'll work hard to get rid of any obstacles that might get in their way.

Let's dive a little deeper and explore the habits of the rich in terms of interpersonal relationships. The rich are really great at communicating and building strong, long-lasting relationships with others.

First, the rich are more careful with their words. It's so lovely to see that 94% of the rich do not gossip! It's so sad, but most gossip is negative. And it just doesn't help relationships! I'm sure you'll agree that it's not a good idea to spread gossip. Because it's judging others, which can make people narrow-minded and angry over time. It's so interesting to think about how we've all been both victims and spreaders of gossip at one point or another.

I've met folks who, at one point, made me wonder how they had become so clever, so talkative, and so insightful, and yet had achieved so little over the years. These folks have one thing in common: they love to comment on other people, whether in real life or online. They're just using their intelligence in the wrong way, bless their hearts! And it can even come back to haunt you! In a small circle, the person being gossiped about will always find out about the participants, and once they do, an account will be opened that you simply cannot pay off.

Even if they're not gossiping, rich people are still mindful of what they say. It's so interesting to me that 94% of rich people won't say everything that's on their mind! They're also really good at controlling their emotions. It's so great to see that 81% of them have developed the habit of controlling negative emotions! People may initially respect them, but when they actually get to know them, they'll feel that they're a relaxed and pleasant person. Even when they're feeling angry or sad, they always take a moment to think about how they're feeling and what they're thinking. If they have a complaint, they'll make sure they communicate in a way that gets their point across without getting too upset.

Secondly, wealthy people are very considerate of their friends. Wealthy people are always thinking of ways to show their friends how much they care. One way is by remembering to call and send birthday greetings. It's so lovely to hear that as many as 80% of multimillionaires will find time in their busy schedules to call the people they care about to wish them a happy birthday! It's so lovely when people who don't know each other very well make a point of calling each other on their birthdays. It's like a little "life support system" for the relationship! And the best part is that 25% of the people who receive these lovely greetings will give something back! This is how we can help our relationships to grow and flourish, beyond the need for a little extra support. Similarly, they'll also call to celebrate each other's big moments, like welcoming a new baby into their friend's home or celebrating a promotion. The rich often call to express their congratulations, which is a lovely way to form a strong emotional bond with the other person. It can really make the relationship between the two of you even stronger! The rich have so many loyal friends, but people often think it's just because they're rich and don't realize how much effort the rich put in.

While wealthy people do do thoughtful things to maintain relationships, this group of multimillionaires believes that honesty is the best strategy for socializing. They're just honest folks, that's all! It's so lovely to see that 85% of wealthy people insist on telling the truth! They just don't feel like fibbing, even if it's just a little white lie. Not only does always telling the truth give wealthy people an image of integrity and trustworthiness, but more importantly, they respect themselves more for it. And that's a good thing! It's often the case that rich people are people with high self-esteem. They just don't see lying as being in line with their own moral code. And they feel that the cost of repairing a lie is just too high. I'm sure there are some people who have made a fortune by cheating, but I don't think most multimillionaires would want to waste their energy maintaining a lie.

Once again, when it comes to relationships with other people, rich folks really pay a lot of attention to building strong connections and making sure these relationships are solid. Rich people are great at making connections! It's so lovely to see that 86% of rich people will make friends with people who can help them achieve their dreams and goals. And it's so inspiring to see that they will also make friends with people who share their aspirations! Once we have a dream, it's so important to surround ourselves with people who support us and believe in us. Charles Schwab, former president of Carnegie Steel, had a great insight. He said that when people are praised, they will perform better and work harder than when they are criticized.

The author isn't asking you to turn your nose up at constructive criticism. What she's saying is that we all need people in our lives who can give us clear, helpful advice. These are the people who will really help you out! He might be a successful person who really knows what they're talking about! Our goals are also the direction in which they have worked hard, and because they have achieved results, their knowledge is really valuable. It's not about how old someone is when they give you advice. It's about whether they've achieved what you'd consider success in a certain area. If you want to achieve your dreams, it's so important to surround yourself with people who are rooting for you and are ready to help in any way they can. As for those who don't give constructive advice but simply pour cold water on you, my dear friend, please also stay away from them decisively, just as you would stay away from a gossiping group.

Part 2

Now that we've chatted about the habits of multimillionaires, let's dive into something new together!

The wonderful Hume once said that habits are the best guide to life. The author also believes that habits are the mother of luck! A good habit can really bring good luck to a person! Don't be envious of those who say they are very lucky. Chances are, they have some good habits they haven't yet recognized.

The author believes there are four types of luck. We all know that life can throw us some pretty unexpected curveballs. Sometimes we get lucky and win the lottery, but then there are also times when we get unlucky and suddenly find ourselves in the midst of an unexpected accident or tragedy. We won't be discussing these two types of luck, as they're beyond the control of ordinary people. But the good news is that there are two other types of luck that we can change! The third type of luck is called "opportunity." This good luck is a wonderful byproduct of good daily habits! Good habits are like apple trees. We just need to loosen the soil a little, plant the seeds, and then give them lots of love and care as they grow. After a little while, the tree produces apples, and the apples on the branches are our good fortune, or opportunities. And then there's the fourth type of luck, which is "bad luck." Just like good habits, bad habits are also seeds. Unfortunately, these bad habits will take root, sprout, and grow, too. And they'll eventually bear unfortunate fruits, like losing a job, a failed investment, divorce, illness, and so on. These two types of luck may seem mysterious, but the good news is that they are the result of each of our daily actions. If you want to succeed, it's so important to attract the right kind of luck!

We all know that there are many obstacles to success. In fact, I'd go as far as saying that procrastination is the biggest one! The author thinks that procrastination is a pretty typical poor habit. And there's more! Procrastination will also stop you from forming good habits. So if you want to build a good habit, you've got to beat procrastination first. Even if you're a genius, it's so easy to fall into the trap of procrastination. And before you know it, you're just like everyone else! One of the main reasons people procrastinate is because they don't feel passionate about the work they do to make a living.

I'd love to share with you what I've learned. If you turn on the internet, you'll find lots of people saying things like, "I have advanced procrastination." It's okay to laugh at ourselves sometimes! I totally get it. I used to be like that too. If you have this habit, please be sure to get rid of it, my friend. I'd love to share my story with you. When I was at university, I always put off my assignments, even writing them on the day they were due. So I thought of myself as a procrastinator and often told myself so. But I didn't realize that this behavior of mine was terrible. Because, you know, once an idea pops into your mind, it'll lead to corresponding behavior. Once our minds start thinking in a certain way, we start thinking in that same way all the time. We tend to keep repeating our previous thoughts, don't we? I found myself becoming more and more prone to procrastination, and I even started to feel a little proud of it. "I'm procrastinating, that's just who I am." Hey, just a quick note: that "I am who I am" thinking is just my way of confirming my existence. Later on, I realized that thinking this way wasn't doing me any good. I'm happy to say that I'm actually a person who can write and read very quickly! I can always motivate myself to complete the most important tasks efficiently and with high quality. If I hadn't put a label on myself in my freshman year, I might have turned this weakness into a strength a few years earlier, gotten rid of my procrastination habit, and done more. I'm sure I would have!

The author of the book has some great tips to help you beat procrastination. I've summarised them into three simple steps. If you can follow these simple steps, you can become a person who doesn't procrastinate!

First, make sure you have a to-do list for each day! Successful people use "to-do" lists to help them get things done, and we can too! There are two types of daily to-do lists: one is for all those everyday things we need to do, like our daily chores, going to the bank, meeting with customers, and so on. The other type is goal-oriented to-do lists, which I think you'll find really helpful! These are the tasks you absolutely have to do every day, like reading and running. Let me be totally honest with you. These are the habits you really need to develop. It's all about breaking things down from your long-term goals. Let's say you want to learn a language this year. How about setting yourself the lovely little task of memorizing one short text every day? If you're aiming to become the sales champion in your group this year, why not try making 10 sales calls? And, if you can, set five things you absolutely must do every day. These five things are the kind of small things that, if you stick to them every day, can help you achieve your goal!

Second, give yourself a deadline, and then you'll be sure to get it done! If we set a deadline for a task and let someone else know about this time limit, they can help us stay on track. They'll be our accountability partner, and they'll give us a little nudge when we need it. And it's also true that when we get some well-deserved attention from others, we tend to perform better.

Third, give yourself a little pep talk and say, "Do it now!" Instead of beating yourself up for being a procrastinator, try changing your inner monologue. The author says that he now just needs to keep repeating "do it now" in his head. I think that's a great idea! You'll be amazed at how quickly you'll start working on those long-standing tasks if you just keep repeating "do it now" to yourself!

If you've finally kicked procrastination to the curb, it's time to start transforming those old habits! Have you ever wondered what the difference is between good habits and bad habits? It's really straightforward, so just go for it! All you have to do is find a piece of paper, fold it in half vertically, and write down everything you did that day on the left side. It's as simple as that! Just like a running account, one thing per line. For example, in the morning, after lying in bed for ten minutes watching videos, I get up. 2. I get up, brush my teeth, and listen to a book while I do so. It's such a lovely way to start the day! 3. I have breakfast, which is yesterday's leftover cake, and I feel so full afterwards! 4. I hop in a taxi to work and keep listening to my book on the way. Then, take a moment to evaluate your current habits. Now, it's time for a little self-reflection! Next to each habit, put a plus sign for the good ones and a minus sign for the not-so-great ones. For example, we all know that watching videos in bed in the morning is a bad habit, so go ahead and put a minus sign next to it. Listening to a book is a great habit, so I'll put a big, happy plus sign next to it! Eating too much for breakfast is not so good for you, so it's probably a minus sign.

I'm sure you'll agree that this table makes it clear what needs to be changed. Oh dear, I've put on a few pounds recently. I think it's because I've been spending the time I used to get up for morning exercises watching videos and stuffing myself with a cake! I've been spending a lot lately, and it's been tough! I've been taking taxis, and they're not cheap. This table is your "habit awareness table," and it's here to help! It's so important to start changing habits by becoming more aware of them. This step is all about spotting those bad habits that we don't even realise we have! We all know what habits are holding us back, so we can work on making some positive changes in our lives! However, most people completely ignore this step and jump straight to the step of adding new habits, which is totally understandable! It's that time of year again! Many of us write down our New Year's resolutions at the beginning of each year, and then, before we know it, we're writing the same resolutions the following year. This is totally understandable! It's so easy to get caught up in the excitement of making new habits and forget about the ones we already have. It's so important to understand our existing habits and be aware of their impact. This is the only way we can cultivate new habits!

Now, it's time to write down the new habit you'd like to cultivate on the right side of the sheet. For instance, you could jot down next to "I got up after 10 minutes of video brushing while lying in bed": I woke up this morning and got up to do some gentle morning exercises, and I felt so awake and ready to go! Next to "breakfast," write: Today's breakfast is a nutritionally balanced delight! I drank some lovely warm milk and felt so comfortable after eating. The next day, whenever you feel like repeating a bad habit from the day before, just take a look at the new habit on the right side of the table and do it right away! The changes that add up little by little every day might not be obvious at first, but they'll catch up to you! Before you know it, you'll be enjoying a healthier body and a better job, all thanks to the small but mighty changes you've made.

And that, my friends, is the essence of this wonderful book! I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did. In a nutshell,

In the first part, I took a close look at the habits of the rich as described in the book from three different angles: their daily lives, their personalities, and their relationships with others. The rich are generally more cautious in what they say and do. They're also more confident and passionate, and they pay more attention to cultivating good interpersonal relationships. Plus, they have stronger emotional control. In the second part, we get to learn more about how habits and luck work together. We also get the lowdown on how to beat procrastination, which is the worst enemy of good habits. And with the help of the handy Habit Awareness Chart, we can take a close look at our daily habits and start turning those bad ones into good ones!

I'd also love to share with you a list that sums up the main points of the book and the author's summary of the habits of 177 multimillionaires. I think we can all agree that this list is a keeper. It's called "Rich Habits" Promise, and it's perfect for you to collect, read, and share with anyone you think would benefit from it. I'm not saying it's for anything else, but for the positive spiritual power in these ten promises, which I think you'll agree is worth our repeated appreciation and experience. I truly believe you'll feel that the word "rich" is used to describe so much more than just money and material things. And "rich" is also a kind of spiritual abundance and happiness. And the great thing is, the rich habits the author shares are actually practical ways for us to become materially rich, spiritually rich, and rich in our relationships with others.

I'm so excited to share with you the ten "rich habits" commitments!

1. I will make sure I do my daily good habits every day without fail.

2. I'll set myself some daily, monthly, and yearly goals, as well as some long-term ones. Then I'll give myself fully to achieving them!

3. I will love myself a little bit more every day.

4. I'm going to make sure I take care of my body every single day.

5. I will make an effort to build and maintain healthy relationships with others every day.

6. I will try to live a balanced life every day.

7. I will encourage myself to "get it done" and complete the tasks of the day on time.

8. I will try to live with a positive mindset.

9. After each paycheck, I will save 10%.

10. I will try to control my thoughts and emotions every day.