What is "money consciousness?" It is how one thinks, both consciously and unconsciously, about money.

Now, if I told you that 1% of the people control over 50% of the money in the United States, would you believe me?

Well, the distribution of wealth is that skewed.

What about this 1% who have the wealth - do you think that these people are any smarter than everyone else? Do you think they are luckier?

Well, they aren't. The 1% of the population that controls over 50% of the money in the U.S. simply developed certain attitudes and habits that are geared toward high achievement and prosperity.

Simply put, they developed a money consciousness. They look at money differently than the majority of people.

Interested? Do you want to look at money in such a way that you could join that club - the 1% club, that is?

In his book "Think and Grow Rich," Napoleon Hill wrote, "the attraction of money is very similar to the attraction between a man and a woman. Money must be pursued as a man would pursue a woman that he finds attractive. In order to attract a desirable woman, a man needs to make himself attractive."

Hmmm. Now that's an interesting perspective. That same philosophy probably applies to any big goals that a person pursues.

But, back to money. In order to attract money, you must develop a certain attitude toward success and toward money. A strong money consciousness is like a powerful magnet that attracts money.

Napoleon Hill further wrote "poverty is attracted to the one whose mind is favorable to it, as money is attracted to him whose mind has been deliberately prepared to attract it, and through the same laws. Poverty consciousness will voluntarily seize the mind which is not occupied with the money consciousness. The starting point for creating a money consciousness, and thus accumulating money, is persistence. With persistence, you will win."

Ask yourself what your money consciousness is? Is it consistent with the goals you want to achieve? If it isn't, then I suggest your money consciousness is holding you back.

Do you want to turn that around? Then start by being really honest with yourself about how you perceive money.

Perhaps your response to my above suggestion is something such as, "Well, I like money. Doesn't everyone?" Possibly. But many people also have issues related to money: they can't seem to hang on to it, they can't seem to make enough of it, and they can't seem to ever get ahead.

So, ask your self, "What is my relationship with money?" Once you are more aware of how you relate with money, you can begin to be more deliberate about how you think about money.

Make it a game. Make how you think about money a game and see what happens depending upon the way you play that game. Meaning, depending upon how you're thinking about money what kind of results do you experience? Do you like the results? If yes, keep playing that way. If not, regroup, check out what you're thinking and change those thoughts!