[ahimel]

Originally Posted by Wreck

It all depends on what you're referring to by specific - as I pointed out, there are two definitions floating around in this thread. I definitely think our intentions should be formed as specifically as possible. For me, the more I define something, the easier I'm able to visualize it and get into the feeling of it. I don't think it needs to be very specific to begin with, but I think over time, the ideal will develop.

In negotiating books, there's an important section at the beginning on setting limits. This is where you think about what you really want out of the deal. When you walk into the clothing store, do you really want that red sweater? Or do you want something that goes with these pants? When you're negotiating with the boss, do you really want an extra $100/month? Or would you be just as happy if she offered you the same salary + a Netflix subscription?

I think that's where your intentions have to focus. Do you really want to win the lotto? Or would you be just as happy if an old entrepeneur walked up to you and said, "I don't want my kids to be dependant on money, so I'm giving away my fortune in million-dollar chunks. Would you like one?"

That being said, my primary intention is $5,000/month passive income. But every time I come up with a good way to get that, I set up a new intention for it to come to pass. So I would intend to get a million dollars, intend to win the lotto, and intend for a wealthy person to decide to give me money.

Should we intend Jane Smith, the winning lottery ticket, or that specific house on that corner two blocks down the street? I don't think so. For some reason this seems like tempting God.

If I were God (and Steve says I am ) I would grant your intention for the winning lottery ticket, but make 7 other people share it, or have you lose it, or make it be on a day when the pot was really low. If it were for the house 2 blocks down, I would grant it... but a better house would go on the market a month later.

Two people are intending $1,000,000. The first person decides to buy a cheap tiny condo in the ghetto, renovate it, rent it out or flip it for some profit. Once they've bought the condo, they've got a budget, a plan and have a target amount of profit they expect. That's pretty specific - this condo needs to sell for this amount of money by this date. The second person buys a lottery ticket. They think about how much they'd like to get. They figure the pot would need to grow at least a certain amount, and even larger if it's going to be split and still expect to get a certain amount out of it. How different is it really?

I see it as extremely different. If the first investor is semi-intelligent, he's picked the average market price within the average days on market. Or significantly below average market price within less time. But his probability should be well over 50%. Whereas odds of winning lotto are one in 35 million or so. So I see them as being different by a factor of 17.5 million.