The 3 Words That Will Make You Rich

Many of my students just can’t make up their mind about what to focus on for their career.
They want to do a bit of everything that they have an interest in. And they wonder why they aren’t successful yet.
“I have this, this and this going on. Am I taking on too much to be super successful?”
Yes.
“I want to do this, this and this.”
Okay, but you’ll be broke.
“You don’t understand. I like them all.”
Okay, but you’ll be broke.
“What if this doesn’t work, and I give up this and that?”
Fine, be broke!
Before I get into why those were my responses, let me tell you a little story about my own life and see if you can relate to it.
I was living in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. I was broke until I started doing pretty well selling pen watches. I made $4,000 a month working only two hours a day in the flea market! Not bad, yes?
I worked for an extra hour going back to the shipping yard to pick up another couple of boxes of pen watches. I was happy with that, except for one thing.
A friend of mine at the yard asked me, “Do you know what just came in? These watches look like really high-end watches, but they’re not. You can buy them for $40 and sell them for $100 or more.”
My first hunch was that it wasn’t a big market, but the watches were legal, and even I wanted one. He was convincing, saying how he made $1,000 a week hardly doing anything. So I bought and sold a few here and there, doing okay with that.
Next time I hit the shipyard, the same guy said to me, “I have a shipment of T-shirts coming in. You should see these T-shirts. You’re already going around to the jewelry stores to show them the watches. You should sell these T-shirts.” And then it was hats.
About a month later, I noticed I’m selling all this other stuff, but my pen watches weren’t doing as well. I ended up running four businesses at a single time, and none of them fully took off yet.
Within six months, I went from making $4,000 a month for two hours a day to making literally no money for 15 hours a day.
How does that happen?
Two Reasons Why Most Business Owners Don’t “Make It”
I was clueless in business and personal development at the time — I didn’t know what I was doing to myself. I was chasing after every opportunity because of two reasons that end up being huge pitfalls to a lot of would-be entrepreneurs:
1) I wanted to make money faster.
In terms of making money faster, let’s just put this reality check into perspective:
It takes every bit of energy and focus you have for you to succeed in any one thing.
Your first million dollars ain’t happening overnight. That might work for a lucky few, but not for most.
That’s not to say there’s anything wrong with wanting to achieve maximum results with as little effort as possible; $4,000 for two hours of work ain’t bad, but the fact of the matter was: I got greedy.
And then there’s reason number two — the B-word.
2) I wanted a “backup.”
I wanted a “backup” in case what I was doing didn’t work.
In my mind, I thought that if I had more than one business, it would be “safer” — it would assure me of some kind of success because I’d always have some sort of backup.
What if my pen watches didn’t work so well? I should get into this and this in case that doesn’t work so that, well, I’ll have a fallback position.
But I went from doing decent, to being completely broke again!
How can having more be less?
You Need 100% Energy Going Into One Thing At A Time
Here’s the deal:
At the time I didn’t understand something called energy.
It takes an enormous amount of energy to get something going, especially at the beginning.
If you don’t use 100% of your energy to get something off the ground, you’re not going to make it over the chasm. You’re going to fall into it.
Let me give you an example that I mention in this video.
Imagine a rocket launching and all the power it takes to get it off the ground. All the thrusters have to be facing in the same direction — especially at the beginning for the rocket to escape Earth’s gravity.
Now imagine that one of the thrusters was facing outward, in a completely different direction, instead of facing downward. What would happen? Obviously, that rocket would crash and burn.
Why? Because it takes massive energy — a 1000% focus in one direction — for the rocket to launch successfully.
Many people ask me:
“Harv, what about multiple streams of income?”
That’s a great idea after you have one stream going beautifully. “You mean I can’t do three things at once?”
Yes, rich people are diversified… But only once they are rich! You don’t get rich by being diversified, you get rich by being focused.
It’s hard enough to be successful at any one thing. Do you think you could be successful at two or five things all at once? Are you kidding me? I can’t.
Focus, Focus And Focus Are Your Three Words
At the start of anything, it takes much time and energy to get it off the ground. It’s called momentum. It takes everything you’ve got to get it going.
Every resource, every inch of energy at your disposal to launch successfully.
I learned the hard way so hopefully you won’t make the same mistake I did. Don’t fall into this trap. I see it everyday and wish I had someone tell me this 30 years ago.
Focus on the pot that is going to make you rich, leave everything else UNTIL you “make it.”
Focus, Focus, Focus is 1 of the 6 principles taught on T. Harv Eker’s signature class…
Zero to Muiltimillionaire: The Ultimate Business Success Formula
Would you like to learn the other 5?
If so, watch the encore of his free class now.
Click here to reserve your seat now and pick a time that works best for you!
Does any of this sound familiar to you? What interests are you juggling right now? How are you discerning which is most important and why? What’s keeping you from making a choice and sticking with it?
We’d love to hear from you! Let us know what might be keeping you from taking that 100% leap into a more prosperous future.
For Your Freedom,








It’s my story, I’m doing this, that, this and else
Now I realize why even after doing massive hard work, investing enormous hrs in work yet I have to be successful
I’m gonna focus on one thing now
Guilty, Guilty and GUILTY!!!! I want to change the world and do several different things, but it is just too hard trying to juggle so many balls. One of my favorite quotes: “An Eagle chasing 2 rabbits will die of hunger”!!! (more in my upcoming book)!!!
Ben, I hear ya loud and clear. It is so hard to do all of that. I would like to connect with you? I know for a fact that I can help you. Let me know when we can connect. Thanks Lisa
I can not TELL YOU how many times my fiance has tried to get this into my head!!!!! I was doing great for nearly 2 years then an injury took place that landed me from being #1 in the region to flat on my back! It’s been challenging getting that momentum again because the injury hasn’t healed yet and still determines the time I’m in the field.
Thank you!
Have to get my focus back!!!!!
can not understand your message and what is the psychology of Harv’s story for you wpu;d ypu tell?
Fear, that is keeping me to go ahead like my brain tell me ( I WILL DO IT , MY dream) Thank you Harve.***
I love your comment!!!
Thanks for the tip harv
I am 100% focused on my MLM business.
Keeping that focus is a challenge as the money is not up there yet, but I know the more I do – it will come. I must keep my faith and belief and keep asking …
Are you still doing this Philip? Did it this advice work for you?
Energy flows where attention goes. It’s true. Mastery first until it becomes natural then move on to the next. In my experience, it is difficult to do to many things at once but it’s also hard to only focus on one thing because you feel like there’s so much to do and so little time.
Wow, that is exactly where I have been finding my anxiety.. in the b word, back up.
I am moving to my dream location, have an awesome roommate, and will be starting a new job, as an independent contractor placing exchange students. I have no idea how much money I will make in this new adventure in the first few months…but it requires my talents and about 4 hours a day of my time and a balance of action and calm waiting and trust. I also, need to take a test for my license for bodywork career which is another entrepenurial (sp?)business adventure. I have been feeling a little like the bird in Bambi who panics when the hunters come to the meadow and freaks out, flys too fast out in the open and ends up getting shot dead. This reasoning is counter intuitive… my new part time job can and will support me, and after I take the test I can rebuild my practice….I get rich doing what I love and I get wealthy with balance and with joy..are my focusing mantras. I do not need to run around trying to have a back up, when I remain focused on my 2 careers I solve people’s problems and share my gifts…when I am present and attentive to people…they feel it and I naturally gain trust and wealth.
very little closer but I can’t get from you to help me, almost there, little hints of what you wanna say but close, thank you
Absolutely guilty of this. Have always prided myself on being a multi-tasker, however, it’s not always a positive thing! Thank you, Harv, for sending this tip at the perfect time.
For many many years I have been struggling with this. I like new Ventures and I am struggling financially so I am always trying to use “what makes sense” to make some money….I am 35 and exhausted abdominal broke
It’s hard to work hard at everything and not achieve anything year after year after year..just feel trapped in on a vicious cycle…
I am guilty of this. I own a studio and do a network marketing business on the side. My problem is I’m not making enough money from the studio to just focus on that so I’m keeping the network marketing. I know it sounds easy to just focus on the studio but I can’t survive off the money from the studio. How will I pay my bills?
This is what’s happening to me..
Thought I could juggle with all businesses at once. Seems I’m just kidding myself.
Now I’m back on track and do one at a time until the first one can run by itself.
Then only I can focus on another one before this one runs by itself and so forth.
Thanks so much for the insight, Harv.
Frankly it’s so true that it hurts.
And many are denying it.
It’s been my biggest problem – trying to decide what to focus on – I run my own marketing co., so I have to always continue to learn new tools / strategies / prospect for new clients – then I have my Network Marketing business and I just purchased a Real Estate investors course – I feel overwhelmed at times but I just can’t pick 1
Pick the one you love the most. Your cute too 😉
Merci Harv pour tous vos conseils, ils sont toujours pertinents. Je fais tout pour les mettre en pratique. Merci.
Harmonieusement
You are the Master! I’m glad you remind us that focusing on key for us to succeed. Thank you.
I found out the hard way that working on more than one active stream of income not only dilutes my effectiveness, but it confuses my clients and prospects. When they clearly understand what I do and I do it well, then they are more willing and better able to give me referrals.
Wow
Focus I feel is key
But I am trying to improve with James altucher choose yourself.
Any thoughts ?
I have also been doing this and that and end up getting nowhere with the one thing that’s my main priority,I’m gonna start focus on pursuing only one thing.You’re the best Harv
Doing more then business has made me overwhelmed and Broke. My heart has wanted to focus on one thing and I Do everything else but the one that is a no brainer money maker. Now I know what I have to do to succeed again and be a millionaire.
Thank you for the reminder Harv,
It reminds me of the YouTube video of Wil Smith and about having no Plan B only Plan A and working hard at being the best at what you do and decided. You and Wil Smith are an prime example to follow.
Thank you for the checkup and helping us who accept reality in being successful.
With Gratitude
Alejandro
Oh my God, this is it, my Story trying a lot of things…. success – nope! Thanks Harv, absolutely love your though Love teaching!
Of course, Tough Love and 5 Stars, didn’t hit them right. THANK YOU!
I feel pulled into pieces, in all directions. First, in gaining consistant income to pay bills and reduce that Stress. Secondly, to build my Protandim Team for better health and chance at wealth. -Mac
Well i think the people can have/use different ways/options to arrive to your success… i think the key is diversify resourses wit one porpuse…. even if it means to do/to have different activities…
Hi, Matteo from Italy, here. I am listening to your tapes over and over again. I really admire your work and your inspiration! Thank you!
This is it!
My question of the day: How do I find what I would love to do??? I don’t even know since I’ve been giving all my attention and time to the ones I love, now that they’ve grown up I have to “find myself” again!
Hi rachelle, I feel your pain… Iam there tooooo… Can any one give some advice please…
was touched by remark… another course and another time to learn listening to your heart..? is there time for it?.. do we find our directions here, outside…on the blog,,, or through pain and yeara…
I am working on creating more hours in my field of study for a better license in a year or so. I feel blessed to have received an opportunity to work in my field, I consider it to be a paid internship.
I have learned to be cautious with my self care, take it a day at a time, and learn this well.
I think this is a great lesson, thanks for sharing and it is a great reminder for me.
Muchas gracias . muy enfocado. Donde me enfoco allí la energía fluye.
Yes! I know what you mean. I went all in with my business, with all my love and all my heart and all my commitment and now after five years I really created momentum!!!! I agree you have to dive in 100%. Still I do that hopping thing with my personal development and try this and that and everything, attend far too many seminars to be able to put the things learned into practice afterwards. So there I really see that I have to get focussed. Urgently. Oh how much I love you Harv, for your directness, your sharp clarity and your huge love to all of us! Thank you.
Warmly wishes,
Katharina
That’s true to some extend… If you’re a single mother, you always juggle 2-3 jobs/projects. It’s how you devide your attention. Also, I believe if you choose a very simple type of businesses you can replace yourself much quicker and move to another one (preferably in the same direction). Coffee kiosk, icecream van, Amazon shop and etc. However, more difficult part – finding people, who are better than you to run these businesses 🙂
I am greatly apreciative with the knowledge and truth you have shared it was much deserved
Very timely read for me. I’m actually trying to build a business online, but working at a full time job I hate to pay the bills. I’ve been contemplating waiting until I make the first dollar to quit the job, or just quitting and devoting my energy 100%. Part of me feels like it’s a backup, the other part is telling me to just wait. What are other people thoughts?
Hi Merwin, we are on the same page..and I am also having challenges doing this..
times of change now… the heart would tell but we don’t connect to it… what are the thoughts?.. some will survive ans others won;t but Harv is on the button since he speaks himself
Its good to learn how directed attention yield results.
True. Guilty. Thank you!
Thank you Harv for the CLARITY!…’ONE at A TIME.’
Thanks mr. Harv.. got it..
Master the process of the topic and give 100% to it make sense ……..
Very nice article with good example, although I have heard a lot about importance of focusing, but still not able to focus sometimes. trying hard
dementia, bipolar, you name it
but no one agrees they have it in full… too sad
I agree. We are exposed to media which is quickly switch from one idea to another. We need to resist this, slow down and focus on one thing at a time to be successful.
Oh, yes. I can identify. The moment I opened my mind to opportunities, many came my way. Wasted money and time. Doing Business plans (research) gave me clarity. The ideas that don’t pass the business plan test are out. For example, I started doing a business plan for a sales & marketing business. While doing research for the business plan I was bored and I did’t want to put the time and energy for learning more so I scratched these idea out and I felt relief. Now I am focus on fashion and being an image consultant. By doing the business plan and the research I realize how much I am enjoying it. Good sign for me.
again… same thing
Guilty as charged. Though i tell myself that I am delegating because I have a different partner in several ventures, I find myself doing most of the work. I know what I need to do now
Thanks a lot Harv. I couldn’t agree more with you. However; I don’t like it too much if I have to be honest. I am always creating new things and trying out lots of stuff to see if I can get a dozen sources of income, but we have to be realistic.
You can only achieve one goal at a time. I guess it could be different when I get a big team and I can invest more money and time in my other projects by delegating.
After trying a webstore, commercial works and anything that came across, I focused on my main job as a self employed language teacher again and I got much more money than expected so quick with my intensive Spanish courses than anything else.
Focusing pays off, when I fulfil my expectations that would be the time I try to make something else.
I also have been chasing many rabbits. I am so glad to find Harv and his teaching. I hope I can have a clarity to chase the rabbit that will give me a success. Looking forward to the teaching.
I think anyone who has an entrepreneur spirit will encounter this problem. Until we are ulterly broke and need so desperately to survive, then when we have the discipline to focus. I run two businesses now. One is a capital company that raise fund by constructing bond and invest into ventures with potentials. Time and time again we see founders of the company jumping all over the place with their ideas, including myself. But all it takes is a decision and a little bit of disciple. Here what I have for reminder to myself constantly, focus = follow one course until success.
What if I can’t keep the nerve beside? It can be hard. I have to choose from two different and focus on one only? What if I fail? And what if not? What? If I succeed? The new way is coming friend. Something is easier. I am trying to shopping it and cancel focusing on feeling abundant. It is stopping me from having active income streams. Sure I will become relaxed even more geting Millions.
This is exactly what’s happening to me in my life.
Thanks again Harv for the wise words. I am in process of making the necessary changes for my financial success in approximately 2 years. Lots of work ahead and training classes….
CIERTO …CIERTO… ES HORA DE CRUZAR EL PUENTE Y LA HISTORIA SE LLAMARA… DEL OTRO LADO DEL MIEDO…. ERASE UNA VEZ
Wow, this is so true and such a great reminder. ..I do try to limit what I put my energy into as I understand the more endeavors you take on, the less time you can devote to each area, which in turn limits your results over all.
Hi Harv,
that’s a beautifully written article. Here is one thing I’d like to share with you so feel free to share it with your students, too:
It sometimes takes an “extra activity on the side” to maintain the energy needed to build the momentum for your startup. Oddly enough, for me this is a position as an innovation and creativity coach in a massive, global IT corporation. (I can shake up the corporate world from the inside) and I just so happen to make money with it, too.
I believe, with the right intrinsic motivation and the WHY in place, you can really have multiple incomes at the same time AND be successful.
Cheers and all my best to you Harv,
Jonas
Mr. Harv I want to tell that happens to me the same thing, I have multiple streams of income, work clothes and catalogs, the stronger the clothes but the catalogs let me extra profit besides that I can buy things of personal use of the family the discount. but not good for me is that customers are the same clothes and catalogs, and if I do not pay a thing and pay me another is not whether to give up the few gains catalogs porq I could not take the decision … you can give me your advice please and thank you.
I was soo into helping people that I did not cared about myself. Now noticing that after everyone was taking care of I stood alone with nothing. They went on and I had no house en no money. It was strange to recognize that nobody cared? It hit my like a big, very big hammer. Strike down… NOW I take care of ME, my loving ME too.
Very great Idea and concept. In this way you are going to sharp a very big number of people
If Richard Branson read this, he would be rolling his eyes. The most successful business people and organizations of the world have always learned how to cover multiple products in multiple markets. The biggest success stories in the history of retail business are the likes of Walmart, Carrefour, Costco, and Tesco. Steve Jobs was CEO of both Apple and Pixar, and both were rediculously successful under his leadership, while the heaviest name in business today, Elon Musk, started 3 different companies in three years and dominated all three industries of electric vehicles, civilian space travel, and solar power. Trump and Peter Jones are specifically proud of mentioning their success in starting and running multiple businesses in different industries at the same time. The fact is you grow better, faster, and can clench opportunities based on market changes easily. You also cross reference skills and contacts, and protect yourself from sector recession. The only people that i can think of that are focused on single products are insurance and vacuum cleaner salesmen, and those i never want to be.
Hi Patrick, I think you should do a little more research.
All of these people you mentioned all started and became successful in one area first and then expanded into different industries.
Richard Branson started Virgin Records and ran that for 7 years prior to starting anything else.
Donald Trump has been in the commercial development business since he started and is now a billionaire and runs serval businesses. S
Elon Musk started with Zip2 and then 4 years later SOLD that company and started Paypal and then SOLD that company for 165 million. At that point he started to expand into the other areas…
Are you catching the drift here. It may look at surface level that these guys now can do everything at once but it wasn’t always like that. NO ONE will start multiple companies at once and be successful. If you are going to be in business you are in ONE business, until you have systemized it and proven it. Then you expand into a new one.
The only people who can start multiple businesses at once are people who have a lot of money and who can form teams to work exclusive on their projects while they oversea it. If that doesn’t describe you then I would stick to ONE business.
Yes! I’m in this same boat right now. Lord knows all I want to do is music, and after that, art stuff (comics, animation, etc) and I know I have to do one thing at a time. I graduated college a year ago and got a position in sales helping people with financial planning. it’s been a year and I still hear the voice in my head, but I feel I have to clean up the debt I’ve accumulated before I move on. What should I do?
It was thanks to Allen that I found you and Zufelt. So glad you cleared this up. With the rocket metaphor. Haven’t read MSI yet.
PS: Nobody here in the toxic, post seminar home environment dindu nuffin.
As a multi-passionate entrepreneur I can totally relate. The question is: I have one business that is my main source of income (interior design) but I am moving into doing transformational work. So working on new website, e-book, booking seminars and retreats, etc. How do I shift my focus to THOSE things only? If I let go of the design business while I build the other, then I really go broke, until the other business takes off.
How do you handle this transition? Anyone?
Please send this post to all the people who are joining the MMI.
One of the principles is creating mini geese to create the golden goose. And this “but” is not shared yet.
After attending 5 times I am sure this can be explained a little better. During the QL we already learn to do 3 different things at the same time!
Guilty…of all this I am into all sorts of opportunities , since I was laid off and started my real estate businessI thought I should always have something just in case I now realize that I need to put 1000% energy on 1 business in order to see success as it is I have been doing mediocre . Thanks for the advice and I will continue to follow it till I see a break through ….as I write I am seated at a coffee shop contemplating my next move as I have not seen a cheque in a couple of months and I am not sure where to face .
Thank you very much for your clear powerfull lesson, i recognize myself.
Wishing you a lot of Health Wealth Happiness.
Woooooooow
Estos últimos meses me he calentado la cabeza pensando en cómo dividir mís horarios para hacer ésto ésto y ésto, pero jamás había pensado en lo que dice esta lección.
Se requiere del 100% de energía para enfocarse en algo específico.
Gracias gracias y gracias…