Wow - it’s Thanksgiving 2007 already! For everyone in the U.S. this is one of the biggest holidays of the year since most employees have a 4 day weekend starting on Thursday. (for me currently living in Japan it’s just another work day:) )

It’s a time for family get togethers, rest and relaxation and enough food to feed everyone for days.

Whether or not you live in the States….what are you thankful for this year?

I’m thankful….

To be BLESSED with my soulmate and best friend - my wife and for my 3 wonderful boys who are growing up so ever fast.

For our HEALTH, everyone in my immediate and extended family are very healthy. My grandfather is pushing 90 years old with the heart of a 21 year old. He and his wife travel the States every year in their 30 foot 2006 monster mobile home pulling their new Cadillac - it’s a site for sore eyes.:) They are still active, playing golf and going strong at almost 90! My father is healthy as a horse as well.

For GREAT PEOPLE in my life such as my sister and her husband, good lifelong friends like my buddy Shane in the States who I’ve known since gradeschool, my business partner and close friend Simon Hodgkinson, close partners such as JP, JD, AF, EC, RB, TT, JC, ML, EL and so many others like the cool people I met in Atlanta, US and Coventry, UK, our brilliant technical staff and office at SK Tech, all our members and customers around the world, our network of virtual worldwide staff, JV partners and affiliates and the angels that are watching over us and guiding us all.

For FREEDOM where in some parts of the world is still a matter of life and death. Not just financial freedom, but freedom in general. To be able to think, do and go where I please safely.

For our BUSINESS SUCCESS which would not be possible without you, our members and satisfied customers who we strive to please. Our own business success has been a chain reaction for many of our affiliates and partners who we’ve helped to profit. But the best thing is so many of our members and customers are now able to earn more and improve their lifestyles as a result of buying our products and services. (MemberSpeed.com, SureFireWealth.com, MarketingMainEvent3.com etc.)

To have been able to build a new house for my father, remodel our house in the States, buy a new condo in Japan for my family as well as help financially support my mother-in-law.

To be in a situation to start thinking more PHILANTHROPICALLY by donating more and help others as a results of our business success and financial freedom which has come about. We hope to be able to help support many worthy charities even more such as Room to Read, Doctors without Borders, fighting global warming among a few. 

These are just some of the many things I am very thankful for…

Post what you are thankful for below.

I’ve recently read a very inspiring book titled, “The Autobiography of Andrew Carnegie and his essay The Gospel of Wealth.

Reading this was like stepping back into time as it was all written by Andrew himself in his private diaries around 100 - 150 years ago. Compelling work of history, family, business and ethics all combined into one 336 page book.

I find it pretty humbling to find out that he was once the second riches man in the country, only to give away his entire fortune to charities at the end of his life and after his passing on. This man made fortunes then proceeded to give away most of his $350,000,000 in wealth.

He opened thousands of libraries, music halls and parks for the public to enjoy. These were great feats in his time as there were not many libraries around 150 years ago. Nowadays of course you can find one in most every town and city in developed countries.

His philosophies on creating the best products, providing outstanding customer service and doing business with partners is really insiteful to read. Pretty amazing to think he started out at $1.20 a week as a teen to go on to amass one of the largest fortunes in America in his time.

You can pick this up at Amazon.com or most bookstores, this new version was publishes in Nov. 2006.

Have you read this book or other books that inspired you? If so, post and share your comments.

Lots of great posts here, some went very deep (Mystery Lady and a few others) - while others may not have quite gotten the question here. Thanks to everything for posting your comments as they most likely helped others to think more.

And the MAIN goal was to get everything thinking at least, and that is the first step towards improving yourself and your life.

Ricardo Weatherly hit the nail on the head in regards to product creation when he said, “…if I was granted one wish that would come true for one year, it would be to have a product or service that the WORLD just can’t do without.”

When you can accomplish that, wealth will certainly follow. Keeping it going is another story.

Keeping the wealth and using the wealth towards the greater good for mankind can certainly lead to more happiness, success and health. Paul Slater made a good point when he said, “God said: “You’ve been granted one wish and one wish only. Whatever it is you wish for will absolutely come true for you instantly. You could wish to be successful, wealthy, wealthy, powerful, happy or free but you can only pick one.” Solomon chose . . . wisdom.”

 Yes, wisdom is very important, that is why so many wealthy families lose their wealth by the 3rd generation due to lack of wisdom from their inheiritors.

Marie Gervacio had some really good points on happiness, “What is there without happiness? If I had only one wish it would have to be happiness. Happiness attracts health, wealth and success. Happiness is power (power without happiness equals one tortured soul). Let me show you a bit about the power of happiness and it all begins with a smile.

Studies show that smiles ignite chemical reactions in your body to lower blood pressure, improve immune system, take away pain, make you feel good and balance your mood. So being happy actually helps keep me healthy. Being healthy makes it possible to work and play as much as I want.

Smiles make people appear successful and draw other people in. Happiness is a magnet for good things. The positive energy caused by happiness is powerful and can cause me to be as successful as I want to be. Happiness really is an empowering force.”

Well said, and Dr Hein Lambrechts also made some great points on happiness when he said, “…My choice is definitely HAPPINESS. By being happy, you experience a high vibration of energy. According to the Universal laws (especially the LOA), you attract more of the same.

Thsi indicates that you are going to attract more circumstances of the same, i.e. happiness. By being happy, you are going to attract other similar high energy vibrations, like success and wealth (so, even though I didn’t choose it, I will actually still get it). Happiness is freedom. To conclude - Happiness is my choice, because it will result in giving me all of the other.”

Michele Andree Lemieux and Georgie both would like to help others improve their health and wealth, very noble of them.

Judy Lorenz had some more interesting points on happiness, “…The word Happy as we use it today means being at peace with our surroundings, being ambitiously content, being calmly observant to make use of what has been presented to me, being able to let the day develop without my muscle pushing constantly for what might be a sorry outcome. To move forward on my faith, to acknowledge and appreciate those who work around me, to develop generous tolerance.

If I develop happiness as inner contentment, then I will have wisdom to not let success be abusive, to not let wealth be mismanaged, to not destroy my health with worry and stress, I will be free no matter what the everyday politics.”

Nezrul Hisyam said, “...It goes without saying that I choose FREEDOM above all. I love to be free.” but Marge Berkeyheiser really makes you appreciate your freedom (if you do have it) in your own countries when she said, “…Freedom to me is a very special word. It has nothing to do with money or power. It has everything to do with our husbands or wives,sons or daughters,brothers or sisters, aunts or uncles that are dying every day in a land not their own. They have the unselfish duty of protecting this country and this country does not always treat them so nice for there efforts. Freedom by no means is free. The price has been paid with the color of red. Freedom for the year ahead I would like to see not one more death…”

Carmen covered mindset well when she said, “…I don’t believe that these things are external, that they are out of our control. I believe that a person can have all of the things you mentioned, but they have to have the mindset to accept these things into their lives…”

 Again, lots of great ideas and comments, HOWEVER, Yvonne Gamache and John Turner seem to be the only ones who answered the task given by explaining how they would be better off in 12 months time with their business by using what they chose.

While they both explained how their business would be better off by the end of 12 months, Yvonne’s answer was not as detailed as John’s and she also lost 1 point by adding in some self promotion at the end of her post (sorry:))

So the winner of the $100 Amazon Gift Certificate for this round is John Turner….congratulations! We’ll be in touch with you on how to claim your prize.

We would like to encourage you to read all the comments given and to keep adding your own ideas. Check back here soon for the next think and win question:)

Watch The Next Internet Millionaire Episode II

Branding your business was the topic of episode II, this is something we have been getting more serious about ourselves in our own businesses. You may notice the SFW logo on the top left which has been there since we opened up end of 2004. We are also doing a lot of research in regards to branding for our other products and services as well.

This is something you should definitely consider for your own business. A good legal team can really help you out with trademarks and copyright issues as well.

What did you think of the contestants and Joel’s judgment at the end?

Who do you think has the most potential on the show?

I can pretty much already tell a few people who I would NOT want to do a JV with, maybe Joel feels the same way.:) Working as a team can be quite challenging, I know as we have over 20 people on our own team and it’s important to get everyone on the same page. Best thing you can do with a team is to utilize the talents each member can contribute.

Quick tip: Don’t ask your programmers to do your marketing and don’t ask your admin support to manage your websites.:)

You can watch more episodes of the Next Internet Millionaire here The Next Internet Millionaire by Joel Comm and company. Post your opinions below, what do you think of The Next Internet Millionaire reality show?