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your worth
Prepare to be a Millionaire with Kimberly Burleson
Jackie Chakirelis: Your Worth is brought to you by Genworth Financial. Visit them at Genworth.com.
Caroline Kruse: You're listening to Family Matters. I'm Caroline.
Jacquie: And I'm Jacquie. So, who want to be a millionaire?
Caroline: You know, my 11-year-old son and I watch that show together every single night.
Jacquie: Oh, yeah. I'm not talking about the game show, Caroline. I'm asking a question.
Caroline: Oh, OK. Well, shouldn't the question be: who doesn't want to be millionaire?
Jacquie: That's true.
Caroline: Or even better, how do you become a millionaire? What a question.
Our next guest has the answer to that question and more. Kimberly Spinks Burleson is the co-author of "Prepare To Be a Millionaire, "As well as president and editor-in-chief of "Millionaire Blueprints Magazine." Kimberly, welcome to Family Matters.
Kimberly Burleson: Thank you, thank you. I'm glad to be here.
Jacquie: I understand there are some secrets to becoming a millionaire. So what's the top three?
Kimberly: Well, I'd say, we've interviewed close to 300 millionaires and there's common threads that we see among these interviews. The three top things that I'd say I see, number one: every one of them have a passion about their product or their service.
And two, complete determination. They are absolutely bent on getting this product or this service out there to the market. And then every one of them possesses, third, stubbornness. They will not take no for an answer. There is no one that can stop them from making their dream a reality.
Jacquie: In your book, "Prepare To Be A Millionaire, " you profile 43 accomplished millionaires in seven different industries, everything from e-commerce to food, inventions, arts and entertainment, to real estate and the service industry. Why do you think these millionaires were willing to share their secrets with you and the rest of the world?
Kimberly: You know what? I love that question, because I think there's something magical about it. When we tell people that we want to be in our magazine or our book what we're doing, when we tell them what our mission is, that we truly want to help that entrepreneur out there to go for it and take the necessary steps, because everyone's so afraid to take any kind of risk, it's like something takes over them and they want to help.
It's like that we all have this innate desire to help one another. They're willing to give us the information that we need. Number one, they've never even been asked the questions that we ask. No one's asked them. But after we finish the story, we always let the millionaire read the story first, just to make sure that all of our information is correct.
And I promise you guys, nine times out of 10, they give us even more information after they've read it. They'll call back and say, "You know what, Kimberly? There's a person. You may want to mention this person, because they really helped us with giving some funding. And here's a website. These people really need to look at this, because this is kind of how I based my own website after."
They give us even more after they see what we're trying to accomplish. And the beauty of it is what the reader gets.
Jacquie: I think that many people think it has to do with luck, but with your blueprints to becoming a millionaire, how long to you think it takes someone to become a millionaire?
Kimberly: It's kind of weird; it's different times. But from what I have seen, it seems like that year is a magical time. A lot of people become millionaires within that first year of starting their business.
Jacquie: OK, we're over with, Caroline.
Caroline: You mentioned the three secrets, or maybe characteristics, that these millionaires all seem to share. But do you think that you need an extensive education or a certain skill set to become a millionaire? Or just that hard work, determination, and dedication?
Kimberly: Well, I wouldn't say education. And I hate to even say that. But I wouldn't say it is education, I'd say it's being the best in what you're passionate about. If your passion is dogs, be the go-to person about dogs. Educate yourself as much as possible on what you want to do. Not necessarily a degree in a university, but for what you want to do, educate yourself to the full extent that you can do it.
Jacquie: Do you think that you're ever too old to become a millionaire?
Kimberly: There's no way, there's absolutely no way. I think with entrepreneurs, there is not age limit. If you're working for somebody, yes there is. But as an entrepreneur, it's forever. We featured Art Linkletter in one of our magazines. He's already in his 90s, and he's still going strong with making deals and making things happen for himself.
Caroline: He's amazing, isn't he?
Kimberly: Yes, he is.
Caroline: Well, speaking of being too old, I guess you're never too young either. You were the driving force behind the launch of "Millionaire Blueprints Junior" a magazine, and "Millionaire Blueprints Teen Magazine." Tell us about those magazines and how we can make our children discover financial security.
Kimberly: All right. Well, Caroline and Jacquie, talk about passion. This is where my real passion is. And it's one of those things that what drives me is not money; I think it's absolutely crucial that our children are learning business by the time they're six years old and up. I think there needs to be business taught in every elementary school in the country.
And by creating these magazines, the junior and the teen magazine, I'm hoping to -- it's a safe magazine. You don't have to worry about what's being advertised or what's being said to our children. It's information that they're going to use inevitability in their future. And so why not get them started now, instead of waiting until they're a senior in high school and taking that one class of economics? This is their future, so let's get them started right now.
Jacquie: Well, actually your dad, Tom Spinks, and his wife Barbara, founded "Millionaire Blueprints Magazine." What did he teach you about achieving financial wealth and what can parents learn from those lessons?
Kimberly: My dad, I've got to tell you, he was an amazing entrepreneur. His dream was to be in the NFL, and he got hurt after a sports injury playing with the Steelers, and then he was thrust into this world of entrepreneurism. And at a very young age -- and we all grew up together, because my parents are only 20 years older than I am -- we were able to watch him grow, try, and I wouldn't say fail, but learn new ways of making money.
And one thing that they always taught us was hope. Hope has to be there. You have to talk about dreams out loud with your children. You have to teach your children how to give back, because in giving back, you only receive when you give back. So giving back in your family is an element that has to be taken care of.
And make your money make money for you. Put your money in safe places, so that as you grow businesses, you have a certain amount of money that is making money for you.
Jacquie: Well, Kimberly, that's a very inspiring story. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing this important information with us today.
Kimberly: Thank you guys so very much.
Jacquie: And if you want more information, you can visit the Your Worth section at FamilyMattersRadio.com at our website.
Your Worth has been brought to you by Genworth Financial. Visit them at Genworth.com.
Jackie Chakirelis: Your Worth is brought to you by Genworth Financial. Visit them at Genworth.com.
Caroline Kruse: You're listening to Family Matters. I'm Caroline.
Jacquie: And I'm Jacquie. So, who want to be a millionaire?
Caroline: You know, my 11-year-old son and I watch that show together every single night.
Jacquie: Oh, yeah. I'm not talking about the game show, Caroline. I'm asking a question.
Caroline: Oh, OK. Well, shouldn't the question be: who doesn't want to be millionaire?
Jacquie: That's true.
Caroline: Or even better, how do you become a millionaire? What a question.
Our next guest has the answer to that question and more. Kimberly Spinks Burleson is the co-author of "Prepare To Be a Millionaire, "As well as president and editor-in-chief of "Millionaire Blueprints Magazine." Kimberly, welcome to Family Matters.
Kimberly Burleson: Thank you, thank you. I'm glad to be here.
Jacquie: I understand there are some secrets to becoming a millionaire. So what's the top three?
Kimberly: Well, I'd say, we've interviewed close to 300 millionaires and there's common threads that we see among these interviews. The three top things that I'd say I see, number one: every one of them have a passion about their product or their service.
And two, complete determination. They are absolutely bent on getting this product or this service out there to the market. And then every one of them possesses, third, stubbornness. They will not take no for an answer. There is no one that can stop them from making their dream a reality.
Jacquie: In your book, "Prepare To Be A Millionaire, " you profile 43 accomplished millionaires in seven different industries, everything from e-commerce to food, inventions, arts and entertainment, to real estate and the service industry. Why do you think these millionaires were willing to share their secrets with you and the rest of the world?
Kimberly: You know what? I love that question, because I think there's something magical about it. When we tell people that we want to be in our magazine or our book what we're doing, when we tell them what our mission is, that we truly want to help that entrepreneur out there to go for it and take the necessary steps, because everyone's so afraid to take any kind of risk, it's like something takes over them and they want to help.
It's like that we all have this innate desire to help one another. They're willing to give us the information that we need. Number one, they've never even been asked the questions that we ask. No one's asked them. But after we finish the story, we always let the millionaire read the story first, just to make sure that all of our information is correct.
And I promise you guys, nine times out of 10, they give us even more information after they've read it. They'll call back and say, "You know what, Kimberly? There's a person. You may want to mention this person, because they really helped us with giving some funding. And here's a website. These people really need to look at this, because this is kind of how I based my own website after."
They give us even more after they see what we're trying to accomplish. And the beauty of it is what the reader gets.
Jacquie: I think that many people think it has to do with luck, but with your blueprints to becoming a millionaire, how long to you think it takes someone to become a millionaire?
Kimberly: It's kind of weird; it's different times. But from what I have seen, it seems like that year is a magical time. A lot of people become millionaires within that first year of starting their business.
Jacquie: OK, we're over with, Caroline.
Caroline: You mentioned the three secrets, or maybe characteristics, that these millionaires all seem to share. But do you think that you need an extensive education or a certain skill set to become a millionaire? Or just that hard work, determination, and dedication?
Kimberly: Well, I wouldn't say education. And I hate to even say that. But I wouldn't say it is education, I'd say it's being the best in what you're passionate about. If your passion is dogs, be the go-to person about dogs. Educate yourself as much as possible on what you want to do. Not necessarily a degree in a university, but for what you want to do, educate yourself to the full extent that you can do it.
Jacquie: Do you think that you're ever too old to become a millionaire?
Kimberly: There's no way, there's absolutely no way. I think with entrepreneurs, there is not age limit. If you're working for somebody, yes there is. But as an entrepreneur, it's forever. We featured Art Linkletter in one of our magazines. He's already in his 90s, and he's still going strong with making deals and making things happen for himself.
Caroline: He's amazing, isn't he?
Kimberly: Yes, he is.
Caroline: Well, speaking of being too old, I guess you're never too young either. You were the driving force behind the launch of "Millionaire Blueprints Junior" a magazine, and "Millionaire Blueprints Teen Magazine." Tell us about those magazines and how we can make our children discover financial security.
Kimberly: All right. Well, Caroline and Jacquie, talk about passion. This is where my real passion is. And it's one of those things that what drives me is not money; I think it's absolutely crucial that our children are learning business by the time they're six years old and up. I think there needs to be business taught in every elementary school in the country.
And by creating these magazines, the junior and the teen magazine, I'm hoping to -- it's a safe magazine. You don't have to worry about what's being advertised or what's being said to our children. It's information that they're going to use inevitability in their future. And so why not get them started now, instead of waiting until they're a senior in high school and taking that one class of economics? This is their future, so let's get them started right now.
Jacquie: Well, actually your dad, Tom Spinks, and his wife Barbara, founded "Millionaire Blueprints Magazine." What did he teach you about achieving financial wealth and what can parents learn from those lessons?
Kimberly: My dad, I've got to tell you, he was an amazing entrepreneur. His dream was to be in the NFL, and he got hurt after a sports injury playing with the Steelers, and then he was thrust into this world of entrepreneurism. And at a very young age -- and we all grew up together, because my parents are only 20 years older than I am -- we were able to watch him grow, try, and I wouldn't say fail, but learn new ways of making money.
And one thing that they always taught us was hope. Hope has to be there. You have to talk about dreams out loud with your children. You have to teach your children how to give back, because in giving back, you only receive when you give back. So giving back in your family is an element that has to be taken care of.
And make your money make money for you. Put your money in safe places, so that as you grow businesses, you have a certain amount of money that is making money for you.
Jacquie: Well, Kimberly, that's a very inspiring story. Thank you so much for joining us and sharing this important information with us today.
Kimberly: Thank you guys so very much.
Jacquie: And if you want more information, you can visit the Your Worth section at FamilyMattersRadio.com at our website.
Your Worth has been brought to you by Genworth Financial. Visit them at Genworth.com.
