Your Secret Millionaire Is About To Arrive!

Hey, Hey!

The week is already started and is well on track for greatness...While you were out busy shopping on Black 'Furday', buying things you do not need - really, YOU DON'T NEED!

Oh, there I go again saying too much, too soon....Let me quickly return to our subject.

I have been perusing the new line-up of shows for your viewing enjoyment and we are weeks away from the return of the behemoth, American Idol. However the new shows appear moderately promising....Especially the one with 'Millionaire' in the title....

The Secret Millionaire
This week, Fox will debut a new reality series called, "Secret Millionaire" based on the successful UK based program produced by RDF for Channel 4.

According to recent Press Release:

"Secret Millionaire is a dramatic unscripted series that takes viewers out of their comfort zones and into the heart of America's social issues."

Further the release continues, "Each week, one of the wealthiest Americans, worth millions of dollars, will go undercover into one of the most impoverished and dangerous towns in America. Their job is to spend one week canvassing the town - meeting as many people as possible - some of whom will touch the millionaire with their dedication to helping others while others will have incredible stories of trying to overcome tremendous odds."

Wealthy people in the real world...Sounds intriguing...

The Millionaires On The Block
Wait, wait, wait...So just who are these millionaires? According to friends at Fox, the show includes a serial Internet company founder (Well, not me surprisingly); a husband-and-wife team who own a multi-million dollar magazine-publishing business; a successful Southern California lawyer (Way to represent); an owner of a restaurant empire; a Baltimore socialite and former NFL cheerleader; and a software inventor worth $50 million.

The Millions of Millionaires
First, let us discuss the idea of being a millionaire - Some years prior, I began writing a documentary on this very subject all based on a book that I had read called, "The Millionaire Next Door" by Thomas Stanley (Given to me by mum). The book was practical advice on how to achieve millionaire status by living beneath your means (Remember above, YOU DON'T NEED IT).

The idea being, if you cut back on your Lattes at Starbucks and excessive, wasteful shopping habits (According to the book), you could actually save your way to wealth. Save your way to wealth? WHAT THE?!

Mind you, by the time I began reading the book - I already had my first business during my Junior year, so my immediate thought was well if it is that easy, why would not everyone be a millionaire - that's just common sense.

After reading the book, I completely disagreed with the notion (Of course I would, right?) and embarked on the process of researching the idea of wealth achievement during of which eventually became a very lengthy thesis on the subject.

There will not be vacillation of this entertaining blog into a financial blather (Although, I do own a financial site - I am not involved), however my point is that the key to wealth is not by saving your way into oblivion - I mean, was Ben Franklin "A penny saved is a penny earned" a millionaire?

Furthermore, the very nature of the word "Wealth" means prosperity and abundance - not savings, depravity and suffering.

So, How Does One Become A Millionaire?
Well, if you watch any 'Business Related' program on said financial networks, their advice is to invest in the stock market.

Quite frankly, if you are not familiar with the market, companies or understand the Economy, investing in the stock market may not be the best choice - despite their blurring of business and politics. Money to the aspiring is not about politics, General Motors or what's happening on Wall Street.

My biggest 'Beef' with said financial networks is that they spend way too much time with point - counter point "What if" scenarios about General Motors, Wall Street, Banking industry and 'Capital' Hill. Well, if you are 60 years old this may be relevant - to young, aspiring millionaires - it's nothing more than meaningless political fodder. Nothing useful can be gained from these networks.

Friends often ask me which stocks should they invest - I always reply with the advice - That if you must invest in stock market, stick with what you know, buy companies that you like and whose products you use.

Millionaire On Paper
Sure, I happen to like Starbucks, Amazon, Netflix but I was a customer before I had invested and having prior experience as a satisfied customer made it easy to support these companies when they were start-ups and now they are giant mega corporations.

Even better if you take care to notice, most individuals that have achieved wealth attained such not by working at a job and penny pinching (For this will only result in a lot of pennies).

Individuals whom have achievement of what could be perceived as wealth (It's all a matter of perception), accomplished the level of status largely through Business Ownership: Dell, Walton, Winfrey, Redstone, Turner, Disney, Trump, Brin, St. John -Alright, so I am working on it...Taking over the world is no small task...

Secret Millionaire will premiere with a special two-hour episode Wednesday on Fox at 8PM.