Sticks&Stones

I was browsing the Internet the other day and came across very motivating story of one family which became millionaires by turning their hobby into very successful business. By selling custom keepsakes made using framed photos Jera, 34, and Brad Deal, 39 from Peoria, Illinois made in 2007 in sales (projected) $10.5 million. Isn’t it amazing?! Their story really makes us learn that everything is possible in this world, and it is not so hard to become a millionaire one day, as long as you have a brilliant idea and a strong will to succeed.

Here is their story: (I took it from their site http://www.createsticksandstones.com. You can find a lot of interesting things there as well)

Sticks and StonesTM began as an alphabet lesson for Brad and Jera Deal’s daughters. The family began “letter hunting” while on walks or while spending the day at the park. They would look for different “letters” in nature (STICKS) and architecture (STONES). They began taking photographs to remember their adventures, creating a collection of letters based on the family’s hobby. Brad, Jera, and the girls continue to letter hunt, so keep checking in as new letters are added to the “Letters Gallery”.

In October 2005, Jera was a room mom for Julianna’s preschool class. Therefore, she was in charge of finding a gift for the teacher when she was married during the school year. Jera didn’t want to give the teacher a gift from her registry — that just wasn’t memorable enough. She wanted to give her something that she would look at in 20 years and know exactly who the gift came from. As the family discussed their gift dilemma, they decided to try something new: having their letters custom framed spelling out the teacher’s new last name. Once the other mothers saw the gift at the class bridal shower, and the teacher displayed her gift in the Teacher’s Lounge, everyone wanted one of their own.

In less than three years, Sticks and StonesTM has grown from one creation to being available in many catalogs and boutiques around the world. Sticks and StonesTM is also honored to be the gift of choice for many dignitaries and celebrities including Oprah Winfrey, The Obama Family, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Martha Stewart, and Rachael Ray. Oprah told Brad and Jera, “This IS the perfect gift for the person who has everything because no one has anything like this!”

So, how did you like this success story? I think it is very motivating, isn’t it? I would love to know what do you think about it. Maybe you have your own success story which you want to share with us?  Please leave your comments below or send us your story by filling out this form. Good luck!

Yours,

Rich Girl

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Millionaire

Ok, so you want to become a Millionaire one day, right? At least  you like to dream about it. I think it is already a good start. If you at least know what you want, it is most likely that you will get it.

But do you know what does the word Millionaire mean? Who are they, those Millionaires? Do you know what you will have to do and face when you will become one? You need to know it before you started your jorney towards Big Huge Money!

Let’s have a look at the Wikipedia:

The word was first used (as millionnaire, double “n”) in French in 1719 by John Law, and is first recorded in English (millionaire, as a French term) in a letter of Lord Byron of 1816, then in print in Vivian Gray, a novel of 1826 by Benjamin Disraeli. An earlier English word “millionary” was used in 1786 by Thomas Jefferson while serving as Minister to France; he wrote: “The poorest labourer stood on equal ground with the wealthiest Millionary”. The first American printed use is thought to be in an obituary of New York tobacco manufacturer Pierre Lorillard II in 1843.

The increasing prevalence of people with more and more money has given rise to additional terms to further differentiate millionaires. A multimillionaire has a net worth of more than 2 million units of currency, a decamillionaire has a net worth of more than 10 million units of currency, and a hectomillionaire has a net worth of more than 100 million units of currency. The term centimillionaire has become synonymous with hectomillionaire in America, despite the centi- prefix meaning 1/100, not 100, in the metric system.

While statistics regarding financial assets and net worth are presented by household, the term is also often used to describe only the individual who has amassed the assets as millionaire. That is, even though the term statistically refers only to households, common usage is often in reference only to an individual.

A millionaire (originally and sometimes still millionnaire) is an individual whose net worth or wealth exceeds one million units of currency. It can also be a person who owns one million units of currency in a bank account or savings account. Depending on the currency, a certain level of prestige is associated with being a millionaire, which makes that amount of wealth a goal for some, and almost unattainable for others.

The increasing number of millionaires is partially due to prevailing economics: Increasingly, the term denotes more and more to the status of high wealth. American sociologist Leonard Beeghley classifies all households with net worth exceeding $1 million as “The Rich.” Currently, there are over 10 million residents around the globe classified as millionaires.

So, I guess you are now more aware of when people will start calling you a Millionaire, right? Now you need to make your first step toward your long and exciting journey to the Rich and Happy Life. What will be this first step? Let’s find out in the next post.

Yours,

Rich Girl

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10 secrets how to become rich

I will tell you these secrets in my new post