Hi, I’m James L. Clark.

I always read “about” pages―and they always seem to be written in the Third Person.

So after James L. Clark made a number of ham-fisted attempts to sound cooler and smarter than he really is by writing about himself in the third person (it felt like I was writing my own obituary), he gave up, and decided to write like it was an email to a new friend.

Which, in a lot of ways, it is.

Okay, what to share. I’m not as young as I used to be, and it seems every day that I get closer to the end of my life than I am to the beginning. And now, I actually have gray hair in places I didn’t expect I’d ever have gray hair.

I’m a bit of a nomad―splitting my time between the US, Europe, and the Caribbean with my wife. She and I have been married for nearly thirty years at the time of writing this. We have a grown son and a toddler (there's over twenty years between them). You can call us Sarah and Abraham I guess.

We used to have massive dogs (they needed their own couches) that traveled with us all over the world, but we've since lost them sadly, and we have a couple of cats. One we've had for about a decade now and the other my son and I rescued in the flood waters of Texas after a major hurricane. She's lovely.

But that’s probably not what you’re looking for.

You’re probably wondering... Is this guy worth listening to?

Well, for many the answer is NO. Nope. Definitely NOT.

Here’s six really good reasons why you should not be here:

I say what I think. I'm that kind of crazy like that.

Bullshitting is stupid. Beating around the bush is stupid. Just say what's on your mind, and get it over with. I get that some topics are considered more scary than others like politics or sex for example; some are more taboo or even contentious than others, like dealing with homosexuality or transgender issues or having to face the reality that children are trafficked today even in the United States and most of the population doesn't give a shit about it other than in passing or briefly discussing it on social media.

However, those topics exist and people deal with them every single day. Real life doesn't stop happening around us just because we can bury our heads in Instagram or Facebook and pretend things are okay.

So, while I am generally a positive person and I am all about helping people succeed in life, don't think for a second that I won't talk about these kinds of things and tell you exactly what I think. Because the worst thing you can do is pretend something doesn't exist as a way of coping with it. It just doesn't serve anyone to not be forthright about things. Just say what you mean, and mean what you say.

Of course, that doesn't mean you have to be a jerk. That's one of the biggest problems I see these days; people lack decorum and respect. The things people say online they'd never say to your face; social media doesn't bring the worst out in people, to me, it exposes them for who they have always been. Mean, rude, or supper sensitive are all cut from the same crappy cloth if you ask me. I do think it is okay to be respectful of people's feelings, but I'm not here to sugar coat my thoughts; if you ask me something, or if I write about a topic, you're pretty much going to get the unvarnished version of what I think.

You should do the same. 

Again, I'm NOT saying be mean or rude. There's a significant difference between being honest and tactless. But to make matters worse, much of what I teach or share in my writings and classes is based on old school thinking. As an example, T. S. Eliot once wrote, “Conservatism is too often conservation of the wrong things: liberalism a relaxation of discipline; revolution a denial of the permanent things.” That resonates with me; I think the permeant things, as he called them, matter. I believe in conserving things (life, knowledge, our planet) while being vehemently opposed to things like oppression or the deprivation of human rights and individual freedoms. The truth us, I can't stand extremes in any form because they are inherently dangerous (left or right). That doesn't mean I don't take moral, ethical, or legal stances on things, only that I'm not an idiot and I'm not easily swayed by hyperbole.

In considering Eliot's writing, think of it like this: he didn't remotely say he put his faith entirely in whatever form of conservatism was on offer. He made it clear that "...[i]n the sense in which Liberalism is contrasted with Conservatism, both can be equally repellent: if the former can mean chaos, the latter can mean petrifaction.” My point is simple: it's important to remember that the real danger is authoritarian versus libertarian.

The ultimate authoritarian figure is fascist, and the upmost libertarian figure is an anarchist. In reality, this isn't a left versus right kind of thing (that's a grossly oversimplified view). I mean, any real student of history know that fascism was actually created by a left-winger, but in reality, it doesn't matter what side of that spectrum you are on. Anyone who is opposed to liberty and wants to reduce our freedoms and security is dangerous to all of us. Unfortunately, that can come from people who consider themselves progressive, conservative, or religious. 

I'm by nature a critical thinker; I'm what you could rightly call a skeptic too. And yet, I am happy to take advice from that really old book that most people forget about or entirely dismiss these days, except for your Nana (Yaya, Mema, or Granny) who has had one in the credenza since you were a kid. Some call that the Bible.

The fact is, I’m into that dude. 

Now, granted, I'm far from perfect. That's the nature of being human. And I screw things up far more times than I care to admit publicly. I've done stupid things, and made plenty of mistakes. But everything in my life is built on precepts found in the Bible, for the most part anyway. My marriage. My businesses. This Foundation. My efforts to serve others all over this planet. I am pretty sure that without that, I probably wouldn't be the person I am today.

No, I can’t prove G-d is real. But I can't prove Buddha, Allah, or anyone other religious figure does or does not exist either. Sure, it could be in my head. I could be crazy. I don't know. I'm sure there are countless people out there who will say that I am. That I'm stupid for believing in a thousands year old fairy-tale. That I clearly lack intelligence. That I'm holding on to an old draconian system designed to control the masses. 

But, I think I have some good advice to give based on that craziness. 

I like to think of the Bible as the “manufacturer’s suggested handbooks” for our lives. Like when you buy a car, it’ll tell you to remember to put oil in the engine, to only use unleaded, and to air up the tires. The Bible does that too. Yeah, okay, it doesn’t mention cars but it does talk about relationships, finances, sex, marriage, and so on.

Ultimately though, good advice is good advice (now’s the perfect time to look up the Fallacy of Origins). I'll take it from wherever or whomever; the source is irrelivant to me.

Frankly, if it helps people live better lives, I don’t see why anyone should care.

Maybe you shouldn’t either.

I'm not the Guru you're searching for.

Listen, I get it. Really, I do.

For most of my adult life (we're talking for decades now) I’ve gone out of my way to learn from other people. The fact is, I've read just about every major “self-help” book that's ever been published, listened to countless audio programs (starting way back in the day they were still on cassette tapes), watched a multitude of courses (on VHS, DVD, and now digitally), and yes, I've attended scores of incredibly costly seminars all over the place including seeing people like Tony Robbin and Brian Tracy live. 

Early on when I was a youngster (sounds like I'm 90 years old when I put it that way!) I was looking for someone I could latch onto, learn from, and emulate. Truth be told, that's fairly normal actually. To some degree, that desire still persists even today despite everything I've accomplished already in my life. If I’m perfectly honest with you, there’s something tremendously comforting it that pursuit, and Scripture does tell us to have many wise counselors.

People in the fields of personal development like Dale Carnegie, Napoleon Hill, Norman Vincent Peale, Earl Nightingale, Zig Ziglar, Richard Bandler, John C. Maxwell, and Stephen Covey, have all had an impact on the way I think. I'm also a big fan of philosophy and have read the works of luminaries such as Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Kant, Descartes, Hume (I've actually been to his grave in Edinburgh), Locke, and even Friedrich Nietzsche. Incidentally, one of my favorite bumper stickers reads, "God is Dead. Nietzsche." Followed by a second line that says, "Nietzsche is dead. God." That always cracked me up. It's the epitome of the clash between philosophers and theologians, if you will. Speaking of the latter, I've also read Thomas Aquinas, Martin Luther (and yes, Martin Luther King Jr. too), John Calvin, Jonathan Edwards, Wesley, Kierkegaard, and many others.

The ideas, philosophies, concepts, techniques, and strategies of hundreds (if not thousands) of other men and women who've come before us have all contributed to the man I’m becoming every day, and to what I’ve been able to accomplish along the way. For me, if I want to learn something (or to do something), I tend to find someone who has the recipe. That is, if you want to learn how to bake a cake, the wise person goes to a baker and learns from them. If you want to be successful at building wealth, you seek out integrity-based people who've earned (and been able to keep) millions of dollars. It may seem obvious, but you don't go to the guy pan-handling on the corner and ask for investing advice. That's not me being insensitive, that's just reality.

But none of these people I've mentioned (and the litany I've not) have impacted me more than Jesus of Nazareth.

Here's the reality though... I’m not one of them. I’m just not as smart. Not as articulate. And certainly not as talented.

That said, I am skilled in a few areas that may be helpful to you. I can actually bake a pretty damn tasty cake, for example.

If you’re prepared to take good advice on board, and work for what you want.

I can't help you get rich—quick.

I'm very much into building personal and financial wealth. But I'm not into bullshit. 

I can't stand cons and scams. Though, I do have a fascination with how they work and the psychology behind it all. After all, it was Sun Tzu in his seminal work The Art of War who told us, "If you know the enemy and know yourself, you need not fear the result of a hundred battles. If you know yourself but not the enemy, for every victory gained you will also suffer a defeat. If you know neither the enemy nor yourself, you will succumb in every battle."

When someone walks up to me and says, "You look like an intelligent guy..." as part of their multi-level marketing pitch to become my own boss, I'm quick to roll my eyes out loud. I kid you not. It's actually happened to me before. I was at a payphone on a university campus (actually on a call with someone) once when some dude approached me, interrupted my call, and actually said that to me. I'll never fully know what "amazing business opportunity" he wanted me to invest in because I immediately looked him directly in the eye and said, "I think you have me confused with someone else." To which my buddy who was pre-med at the time burst out laughing. Decades later, we still joke about that moron, and I share the story when I teach classes on sales.

When I comes to business (one of the several categories I provide reasoned advice on here), I’m heavily focused on selling online. For some reason though, when people hear that I'm involved in online marketing (for example), they automatically equate that to some kind of “get rich quick” scheme. But nothing could be further from the truth. At the end of the day, it's impossible to bifurcate any legitimate brand's business into online and offline anymore. There are a few exceptions, sure, but it's exceedingly rare that businesses aren't online in some form or another.

Real life, is real life.

I've been marketing and selling online for decades. Yes, that long. I kid you not. I was selling things on builtin board systems (BBS), on Prodigy, American Online, and Compuserve long before top level domains cost pennies. My first .com cost me like $75 USD! Now, I'd be lying if I didn't say that I was attracted (initially) to creative opportunities shared by so-called gurus that flogged their wares in early AM infomercials or by newsletters. 

If I’m honest, that’s what initially attracted me to the Internet to some degree. It was this exciting new way to make easy money. But I was young and naive. Like countless dreamers who want to make it big when they migrate out to Hollywood, I had stars in my eyes. I expected to start making millions overnight, on autopilot. That’s what most of the nonsense out there suggests will happen “If you just buy their system” (its even worse today because platforms like Youtube make it easy for BS artists to advertise now).

But, things seldom work out the way those programs tell you it will. If they were as successful as they claimed to be in real estate or selling and buying options or penny stocks, then why are they selling courses? If they're so incredibly talented at marketing on social media, why are 73% of their followers objectively bots? If they're so amazing at creating abundant lives, then whey are they seemingly on an endless treadmill trying to make money themselves?

I'll confess that I bought a ton of programs, got on just about every junk mail list there is, and none of the crap that showed up in the post ever worked for me. It didn't matter how diligent I was at following their incredible "system". I mean, if you just wanted to be a marketer like those guys, then you could easily just copy their methods. That's not that difficult at all, even it what is now an incredibly saturated market. After all, that was their real business is—selling the idea of getting rich quickly. Just like virtually every single MLM that has ever existed. They sell courses because that is where the real money comes from—not real estate or whatever.

You get the point. 

Now, that said, I am a marketer. Just not that kind of marketer. I use similar techniques to those most successful marketing guys online use—because they work. And I share those tools with my clients and through training programs I offer online and off. Because I work hard, plan strategically, and use integrity based marketing and sales techniques, cash regularly flows into my account even while I’m wearing pajamas, at the beach, or sitting at a coffee shop watching other tourists in San Marcos Square in Venice. But it's because, first and foremost, I offer legitimate products and services that people need or want. Just like any other real business does. I don't sell hype and I don't prey on people's vulnerabilities. To me, that is detestable behavior. I can't be apart of it.

Everything I’ve ever earned, I’ve earned. I’ve had to work for it, and so will you if you're serious.

I can show you how.

If you won't work for it, I won't help you.

Note that I said I wont, not that I couldn’t.

I can. In most cases anyway.

But, if you’re not willing to invest yourself―I’m not gonna.

I can't stand takers. And there are a lot of them out there. People who are just looking for short cuts or to take advantage of other people's generosity. Been there, had it happen to me. Too many times. And I'm telling you right now, I don’t waste my time on people who are time wasters. I simply don't have enough time available to me to do that. Other people like my wife, kids, family, friends, students, mentees, customer, and clients deserve my time way more than someone whose just looking to get something for free. The fact is, anything worth having, takes hard work, laser-like focus, dedication, and perseverance to get.

Period.

Most of all, it takes time.

A lot of your time. Probably 10 times what you think it will take.

Trust me, not even people like Tim Ferris works four hours a week―even after he became a millionaire and didn’t have to work. Because even when you do “get there”, it’ll still take work to keep it all running smoothly so it doesn’t implode.

Fixing problems, repairing relationships, running businesses, earning an education all takes time (and hard work).

You can believe that. Anyone who tells you differently is full of crap.

My last major project cost me 80-100 hours a week for two years straight. Yes, cost. Time is the one currency you can’t earn more of. Once you spend it, it’s gone. And there’s no refunds. So, invest it wisely. You can do the ol’ 40-40-40 that we’ve all been told is the only way to lead a successful, fulfilling, happy life (total nonsense)―or you can strategically invest it so it pays dividends.

Key life lesson here: become an investor with your time. Not a spender.

So if you’re not willing to commit for the long haul, and actually act on the advice I give―I’m definitely not your guy.

I can't help you get rich—quick.

Wait, didn’t I JUST say that up in section 3?

Yep, I sure did.

I know it feels like some kind of internet dejavu, but it’s not. I’m repeating myself because it’s important you realize that while you can make a very decent income online (or off), there’s nothing in life that comes without a cost. Not even winning the lottery.

This is especially true if you want to become financially independent. Nobody is going to do it for you. If you want it, you’re going to have to apply yourself. What I can do is teach you methods that will help you achieve those kinds of goals. I won’t do it for you, and I won’t help you take unethical or immoral short cuts to get there. Shortcuts, sure, but not the immoral or unethical kind.

Now in saying all that, quick isn’t the issue; I have no problem with increasing the speed by which funds enter my account. That in and of itself isn’t a problem. In fact, I’m all for getting rich quickly, just not get rich quick schemes. I know it sounds like I’m contradicting myself, but I’m not. There really is a difference.

The key is that you understand that difference.

It’s something I can teach you.

If you're not willing to pay it forward, move on.

I'm only looking to work with and get to know people who are willing to help others become more today than they were yesterday. After all, that is a central theme of both my life and the purpose behind this foundation. I want to do my part to make a difference in the world, and to leave it a better place for my children, for you, and for others. The older I get, the more important that is to me. In my mind the root of all happiness is in serving others, whereas, the root of all misery is in only doing things for yourself.

Are you actually still reading? Sweet.

If you've made it this far, you're pretty amazing. Talk about staying power.

Here’s my most heartfelt promise to you:

• I’ll give it to you straight, and I won’t hold anything back

I have always valued the truth. The whole truth. And nothing but the truth. Not as someone just happens to sees it, but objective facts where humanly possible. Life, like in a military engagement, requires a healthy dose of reality; speculation, conjecture, and rumors won’t help you get ahead. Making decisions on poor information almost always results in poor outcomes.

• My advice will always be free, with no strings attached

I believe, firmly, in an exchange in abundance. So the resources you find on this site, and many of the products will be available at absolutely no cost to you or anyone else who happens to find them, regardless of the value.

But I know that I have to earn your trust first. In a sea of talking heads out there, I’m just one little voice and when you first learn about me, you’ll not be sure if you can actually learn from me. My goal then is to give you solid, actionable, strategies and tactics you can use to begin improving your life right now―not later.

At absolutely no cost to you.

• This will almost certainly be followed by blatant sales pitches and requests for support.

Wait, what? Did I just tell you flat out that I’d be pitching you things to you to buy or asking you for money?

Yes, I did. And why shouldn’t I?

Integrity and transparency matters to me. I’m guessing it matters to you too. So, I want to start out our relationship with that as the foundation. I’ll always give you something for nothing―something of honest to goodness real value, where I don’t expect anything in return. After all, my life and this Foundation revolve around helping others become more today than they were yesterday. I created the Foundation for that very purpose.

The idea is simple: learn and grow by using the resources we offer here. It’s my gift to you, because God gave it to me. Use my advice and the resources offered by the Foundation to become closer to God, to reign in your finances, to start a business, to fix your marriage―to live life more abundantly. Anything I can afford to give away for free, I will continue to do. It’ll take time for me to truly build out the Foundation and this site (after all, I just started it). But I’m going to give it my all.

My hope is one day you’ll think to yourself, “Man, all of this free stuff has really helped me. Maybe it’s time for me to give back.” And then you do.

Pretty simple, right? I sure think so.

Me and a small but growing group of volunteers will continue to produce resources (and so does our tiny little staff) and the Foundation will share them with the public (often at no charge or greatly subsidized), but it’s important to point out that the products aren’t free to us. It costs me time, and it costs the foundation time and money to print a book, it costs time and money to film and cut a video, and it costs money to stamp DVDs. Shipping isn’t free either, not even for charities or ministries. Even the server where this very website resides costs every single month, and the more it is used, the more it costs. That’s life. And those funds have to come from somewhere.

That’s where you can help.

So if you benefit from them, and you believe in what we’re doing here, partner with me and the Foundation: buy some products and donate what you can afford, so we can make a difference in the world around us together. Let’s bring life-changing resources to others.

But you still might be wondering…