Somewhere down line, some major company will report fantastic earnings and guidance and at same time all economic data will paint a picture of a healthy nation and, at that point, Dirty Bomb may seep back to crevices of our minds that houses Dirty Bird (my apologies to Falcons fans for bringing that up), and movie "Dirty Dancing". Until then, it will always be a convenient reason to sell stocks or explain a sell off. In addition to a healthier economy, more closure in war on terror would also mitigate concerns of Dirty Bomb. That may not happen until Iraq is invaded and likes of Saddam and Osama are brought to justice. Yet, as long as market is off in part to worries like these, it will create that much more of a rebound once dust is settled.

As unsettlingly as "Dirty Bomb" scare is, dirty actions that continue to rain on market from nations wealthiest people. Say it ain’t so Martha! In biggest stroke of luck since Hillary made one hundred grand in a single year from a one thousand dollar investment, Martha Stewart says she sold her shares in Imclone not from a tip but because she was a disciplined investor. Of course, she also got a call from IMCL CEO a day before FDA issued news that sawed value of IMCL in half, and coincidentally she sold her position on same day. If she isn’t telling truth, then, it boggles mind. This is a petty crime for a billionaire. Sort of like Dennis Kozlowski trying to beat taxman on a million dollars.

It really is amazing and so hard to quantify as to impact it is having on investing public. Americans will root for bad guy at times (some will even go to work for bad guys even if caper is to destroy America) but they have never rooted for unbridled greed. During a week in which mega-rich corporate CEO took another kidney punch, "Dapper Don" was being mourned by an entire city. John Gotti is seen as a hero by scores of people because he did what he had to do. Skipping out on a small tax bill or a minuscule hit in portfolio isn’t doing what one has to do.

I think shrapnel from these never-ending cases of violations of trust are much more damaging than shrapnel from a dirty bomb ever will be. The consequences have been obvious if stock market is proxy, but it really becomes a deeper issue for nation. Just as scientists say they can’t predict true damage a dirty bomb would have, we never really will be able to truly measure degree of radiation of trust that has occurred. Investors also go into each day wondering when next allegation will rear its ugly head. From a life and death point of view, we never want to deal with a dirty bomb, from a stock market point of view; investors don’t want to hear about another billionaire beating system for a few bucks.

Thinking has to be Turned Upside Down

As market continues to crumble and pundits continue to scratch their heads, or in some cases pat themselves on back, big question is how does market turn itself around? Stocks have been turned upside down and bounced on their heads. In order to get on same page entire thinking of financial world has to also be turned on its head.

It is true of everyone that worked in financial arena, each day became a season and winners were at closing bell. In order to play game, one had to adjust their thinking and that more often than not meant abandoning a game plan that was focused on long-term success, safety and balance. To get back on track public companies will have to ignore hue and cry from investors and stick to realistic long-term planning. It means more criticism and less income from stock options for those in executive suites. It also means that analysts will have to focus on pick winners from a longer-term perspective.

The dilemma for individual investor is to understand that stock market isn’t a slot machine. They will also have to pay for research and understand that it is an investment, a blueprint that doesn’t become a castle over night. Along way, it could look like an outhouse, but it will be only way.

Step 1

The first step in creating wealth is building Wealth Consciousness within yourself. Prosperity is an inside feeling that becomes expressed on outside as material wealth and success. Any wealthy person will tell you that. When you are in presence of a truly and highly successful and prosperous person, you can feel their calm and confident presence, a knowing that surrounds them. This is what you should first build within yourself. And you can do it right now. Anyone can. Without wealth consciousness, building wealth becomes very difficult, elusive and erratic. This not a threat, it is a reality. Wealth starts within and is evidenced outside. Your mind may tell you "I want money now, so I want to act now, forget wealth consciousness bit. I don't have time or patience for that. Just show me how to make money and I will". That is what most people say, and they end up working hard all their lives with little change happening in tens of years. Life becomes a dull rep! eating event. You must build wealth consciousness if you wish to start creating an exciting and glorious life and stop living a survivor's hard life. There is no other way. Even people who win lotteries hardly keep their newly found wealth. Most lottery winners destroy their new wealth within a year! Why? Because without wealth consciousness, wealth hardly hangs around.

Step 2

Once you build Wealth Consciousness in yourself, you then create wealth using following strategies:

1. Create multiplied independent assets and efforts: Multiply your efforts and income by having multiple assets that work for you 24 hours a day without needing your further involvement. You can achieve this right now, no matter where you are.

2. Investment and growth: Take advantage of compound interest. Even one dollar can grow to a billion dollars at a certain interest rate and amount of time. You can never have too little to start with. You shall also see how here.

You should combine both of these two strategies. Have multiple streams of income and investments that grow well on long term.

Today, your financial life may be summarized as follows: all or most of your income from your job goes to your expenses and debts. That will never create wealth and financial freedom.

Within a few months, you can change it to look like that of a wealthy person, which is: your income goes to build assets and investments. These investments and assets grow that income into something bigger than it was. In this way, your money works for you. The extra cash is then used to pay for your expenses and build more income streams. So, you never work for expenses and liabilities, for that will never release you. Instead you work for assets. Then assets work for your expenses, leaving you free to do as you wish and to create more assets and income streams.

Multiple Sources of Income

A very important and fundamental key to wealth is multiple sources of income. Build multiple sources of income for your life. Multiple sources of income are your key to financial freedom. They are a manifestation of your dynamic, free and multidimensional nature.

More accurately, make sure that each income stream is a business and not a job. A job is something that requires you to be there for it so that it can make money for you. A business is something that once set up, does not need you to be there to keep going or growing. A job needs you, a business does not – that is difference. Some businesses are actually jobs. You may own a business that is a job for you. It needs you to tend to it; without your constant attention, it falls. Jobs take your time and freedom; businesses give you time and freedom. A person with multiple streams of income from multiple businesses ends up with free time that he or she can use to live well and to launch more businesses if need be. Jobs never allow such liberties of free time to diversify and be free to enjoy other aspects of life.

So, have multiple sources of income, but ensure each source is independent of you and has been built to do well without your constant attention. If your multiple streams of income are jobs and not businesses, they will literally drain your life, take away your freedom, and kill you slowly. Choose well. Love your work, but set it up so that you can be free to choose when and where to work, or to take time off for other aspects of life.