1) Motivation -> You LOVE that area.  Then, you could INVEST the extra 10,000 hours to be VERY GOOD in that area.

2) Talent / Temperament -> You are born to be better than average people in doing this kind of stuff.

3) Environment / Industry -> You are working in a country / environment / culture / industry that appreciate YOUR STRENGTH and would not mind your weakness so much.

Dreamer

Thank You Mr. Obvious 

MeruChan,

<<my brother's pretty average. and he's financially independent. he's not the best in his job but he has his skills that are in demand. you know what i mean?>>

1) Your brother is NOT average. Average people do not have skill in demand.

2) Does your brother need to work to support his life style?? If yes, he is NOT financially independent..

<<I am trying to promote a moderate living. >>

3) Why do you ASSUME that rich people CANNOT live moderately??

Dreamer
B u B u,

Most of the time, people don't.  I try to achieve that but sometimes I failed too.

Dreamer

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Added on August 20, 2011, 4:44 am
PenangLaksa,

1) Yes, I think I am successful.  I am living the life style that I want and doing the job that I love.  In my book, I am successful.

2) I am RICH.  I am saving 50+% of my gross income while I am living in the life style that I want.  In my definition, I am RICH.  This same definition probably applies to most people too.

<< I am SURPRISED that he can be successful with the sort of " I KNOW IT ALL" attitude that he has.>>

3) There is a BASIC PROBLEM here.  Most people do not know what they are talking about.  They do not spend the time and effort to study anything DEEPLY.  So, sometimes, when you come across a person that ACTUALLY know their stuff, you DO NOT KNOW how to handle this. 

For example, many people blah blah blah about rich people this and that.  But, when you asked them how many rich persons that they actually know FIRST HAND, the answer is NONE.  Meanwhile, somebody that actually know RICH PEOPLE first hand tell you things, you DO NOT KNOW whether you should trust the person.

You DO NOT KNOW how to separate the REAL from the PRETENDER.

The CORRECT QUESTION is how do you LEARN the skill to verify whether a person REALLY know what they are talking about.  And, this is INDEPENDENT of whether you know that particular subject.

Dreamer

The point Dreamer is trying to get across is how to succeed in achieving one's goals. Whether your goal is to have a fulfilling family life, or to be rich, or to be good at what you do, that's up to you. He's just trying to show ways to achieve your goals, esp if your goal is to be better than others.

What is RICH to YOU??  What is YOUR DEFINITION??

Do you BELIEVE that you can achieve YOUR DEFINITION of Richness by THINKING and BEHAVING like AVERAGE PEOPLE??

Yes or no.

If YOU need to THINK DIFFERENTLY, the question is HOW to THINK DIFFERENTLY??  What are THE DIFFERENCE??

Dreamer

waxppl,

I am LUCKY??  Do you want my kind of LUCK??

I lost my father when I was 8 years old.  My mother had to raise 6 children on her own.  We starved regularly through childhood.  To be AVERAGE in Poverty meant that you DO NOT SURVIVE..  We refuse to stay poor and starving.

Then, we were faced with NEP.  Many people were forced out of their jobs and businesses.  My batch were forced to go oversea and compete with foreigner to get college education.  So, I had to work 2 part-time jobs and take 20 semester hours per semester.  I slept on the average of 4 hours per day for 6 years.

You call this LUCK??  Is this LUCK?? Do you want my kind of LUCK??

Do not insult me!!

Dreamer