Did you know that the primary difference between the 5 percent of people who are wealthy and those who are not is that the 95 percent focus their attention and extra time on entertainment, while the wealthy 5 percent invest their extra time in education.

I don’t know about you but I want to be in the 5% group of wealthy people in the world. This is why I do my very best to focus any extra time that I have on education and building my own business.

I watch one football game per year… the Super Bowl.  (and mostly for the commercials)

The only time I watch TV is with my wife maybe once a week and we do rent 1-2 movies a week as well.

Click on the below link to read the rest of this post from Darren Hardy’s blog. It’s awesome!  You can become part of the 5% group!

Think about it: What if the time you spend…

• reading the sports page, you read a self-improvement book?
• listening to sports talk radio, you listen to an instructional CD?
• watching ESPN or Sports Center, you watch a seminar DVD or read a book?
• talking about sports scores and players, you talk about your goals and plans to achieve them?
• playing fantasy sports, you role-play your key skills training?

How would the trade of that time investment change your life scores and statistics? I’m certain it would make YOU victorious… and far happier.

Oh, and let’s not leave out the non-sports fans. What if the time you spend…

• reading People magazine and other gossip rags, you read SUCCESS magazine?
• watching E! Entertainment, TMZ or Access Hollywood, you watched a seminar DVD or read a book?
• watching Keeping Up With the Kardashians, The Real Housewives, or Jersey Shore, you read a book about YOUR reality?
• talking (or gossiping) about other people’s lives and foibles, you talked about your lessons learned in life and plans for growth?

How would the trade of that time investment change your life scores and statistics? I’m certain it would make you victorious, and far happier.

Am I saying that anytime spent on any of the above for entertainment value is a bad thing? Of course not. What I am suggesting you look at, however, is the balance between the time you spend watching other people live out their dreams and the time you spend on making yours come true.

Last tip: Practice, train, develop, focus, and work as hard at your skills and career as the people you watch and admire do at theirs. Imagine that!

(Read entire post from Darren Hardy’s blog here: http://darrenhardy.success.com/2011/02/get-in-the-game/)

I just got this great email from Andre Vatke, founder of Leaders Club. I don’t know about you but it can be very easy to take for granted what I know or get lazy in developing my mind. I do believe that Knowledge combined with Action is Power!

Warren Buffet was asked not too long ago what investments were the most important during this economic recession. His response was that the most important investment you could make was in yourself. Looking at the 48% decline in my mutual fund portfolio since 2001 his point becomes all too clear.

But how often do we take for granted what we know or get lazy in developing our minds?

Knowledge is so powerful and such a good investment because it has no expiration date. You can’t get taxed on it and no one can take it away. Therefore any knowledge that empowers you to improve business, build connections, communicate better, or develop a valuable skill is something that has the power to continue to pay off even if you lost everything.

Here’s a prime example?

On Saturday my 11 year old son will be testing for his Black Belt in a Mixed Martial Art and Self-Defense System. He’s been training for about 3 years. And I can’t say that he’s been eager for every training session. Like most 8 to 11 year olds, his enthusiasm waxes and wanes with his attention span.

But he’s learned a valuable lesson – a lesson I wish I would have had at the same age. And that is that you won’t always be motivated to go after goals. In fact, I overheard him tell his sister that, “It won”t always be fun, but if you stick with it, it will be fun again.” That’s a lesson a lot of adults haven’t learned, that the pursuit of a goal isn’t always fun, that you have to give something up to gain something but in the end you do it because it’s MORE than worth it.

He’s also learned another valuable lesson?

That in pursuing a Black Belt, it’s not the belt that’s valuable; it’s the knowledge in his head and the skill he’s gained by repeatedly applying that knowledge. And there’s no shortcut for that. Buying a belt at a martial arts store won’t get you the knowledge or skill, only years of training will. You only get there by going through the process… cheat and you only cheat yourself.

Don’t hold back on gaining knowledge. Because once you have it, no one can take it from you. Apply it, and it can be worth gold.

Here’s to your success,

Andre Vatke