Happy and prosperous 2010 to all of you

Jobless claims fall to lowest level since July ’08 http://ow.ly/RmTj

There were over 16 million victims of identity theft in 2009. 30 new victims every minute! http://ow.ly/P2eN

Discover how to improve your credit score now http://ping.fm/MbbIF

Declaring War Against Temptation

The recent worldwide financial crisis has made me reflect about how we manage our financial resources and the reason why we find ourselves in such precarious situations. One of the aspects that most of the people struggle with when they establish a savings/investment plan is temptation. I am not talking about those who saved, created reserves and due to unfortunate situations their savings have been depleted. I am talking about those who have a job, sometimes two or three jobs, they do not seem to have any out of control circumstances, yet they seem to live in total financial chaos. I will say this again...saving money is not difficult at all. You just need to have the right attitude and set some goals for yourself. Say no to the “hand to mouth mentally”, that's teaching yourself to live a poverty stricken life. You must save and create reserves for you and your family, otherwise you will remain the way you are now and never have any meaningful progress in your life.

One of the main reasons we are going through the financial crisis in the United States is that we are expose to temptation on a daily basis. We are infected by the “I want”, “I need”, and “Give me” bugs. Many people are worried about the H1N1 bug, it is something that we need to be aware and address, but where are the news about the number of families destroyed by the “I want”, “I need”, and “Give me” bugs. The family that is destroyed because of the husband that instead of bringing home the hard earned money, he goes to address his personal needs first for a “new toy”, or the wife that wants a new pair of red shoes to add to her collection of 103 different tones of red shoes she has in her closet. Let not forget Junior, who we have not taught about self-control and money management and he is crying “Give me, give me, give me” and we run to give them in our fear that they will develop a case of lack of self-esteem, like the new toy is going to solve that.

Temptation can come in many forms and includes spending money. In today’s society we are constantly bombarded with marketing. Marketing is all around us wherever we go on signs, TV, Radio, Internet, even in our own clothing in the form of tags and labels, it’s everywhere. Marketers are constantly coming up with new ways to expose us to their products and of course tempt us. We are constantly in a race to spend our money, as soon as we have received the money, we are looking for ways how to spend it.

So what can can we do? Temptation involves a choice. I requires that you arm yourself and set war on your temptation. In addition, avoid those places that cause you to spend your hard earned money. You will surprise yourself at how much money you save by doing this. Here is a challenge for you and your family, take a look at your expenses over the past 30-60 days, and find expenses that could have been avoided and make the conscience decision to avoid those places in the future.

In conclusion, money is important in order to survive in this world but it is only a tool. Since it is a tool, do not enslave yourself to it, learn the management of this tool to help you in achieving your goals. Make it a goal for 2010 and beyond to manage your household budget properly.

Improve Your Credit Score The Smart Way

Having a good credit score is very important in today's society. It is something that many people should have and it is also something that people today would consider to be worthy to be doing just about anything to have a good credit score. By having a good credit score, applying for loans and unsecured credit cards is much easier.



If you already have a good credit score, you will want to boost it in order to obtain the best loan and credit card deals possible. For example, sometimes two points difference in your credit score can mean thousands of dollars in savings from paying interest.
I am talking about the difference between a 688 and 690. This is why it is very important for you to improve your credit score even if you already have a good credit score. It will mean lower interest rates and also more chances of getting the loans you need.



There are several ways on how you can significantly improve your credit score. Some ways takes time to achieve and some takes only a few weeks or even a few days to do. However, if you start working on it as soon as possible, you will see that it will be worth all the effort.
So, here are some of the ways you can boost your credit score:


1.Check credit reports for errors. Even minor errors can significantly hurt your credit rating. So, if you ever suspect that your low credit score is caused by an error, you should contact the credit reporting agencies and challenge them about the report.

2.Check the amount of open credit cards you have. Specially those you may have paid off and still show in your credit report. Before you start closing accounts you may want to make an assessment of the impact in your credit score by closing of the account. However, too many credit card accounts can cause a negative impact in your credit score.

3.Pay your bills on time. This will have a positive impact on your credit score because it will show credit reporting agencies and also creditors that you can manage your debt effectively.
4.Manage you credit card balances effectively. Don't use your entire credit limit on each of the credit card you own. For example, if you have credit cards with a credit limit of $2,000, $2,500 and $3,000 dollars, it is better to use 600 dollars on each card rather than $1,800 dollars in one card.


These are some of the methods you can use to boost your credit card score. Following all these will ensure you that your credit score will increase and will result in better opportunities in the future.
I have also prepared a book How to Improve Your Credit Score One Day at a Time, which is packed with valuable information that will help you develop a plan on improving your credit score. Reserve your copy here.

How To Improve Your Credit Score One Day At A Time

There are many misconceptions about credit scores out there. There are customers who believe that they don’t have a credit score and many customers who think that their credit scores just don’t really matter. These sorts of misconceptions can hurt your chances at some jobs, at good interest rates, and even your chances of getting some apartments or investing in real estate.

Every time you apply for credit, apply for a job that requires you to handle money, or even apply for some more exclusive types of apartment living, your credit score is checked. In fact, your credit score can be checked by anyone with a legitimate business need to do so. Your credit score is based on your past financial responsibilities and past payments and credit, and it provides potential lenders with a quick snapshot of your current financial state and past repayment habits.

In other words, your credit score lets lenders know quickly how much of a credit risk you are. Based on this credit score, lenders decide whether to trust you financially - and give you better rates when you apply for a loan. Apartment managers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted to pay your rent on time. Employers can use your credit score to decide whether you can be trusted in a high-responsibility job that requires you to handle money.

The problem with credit scores is that there is quite a bit of misinformation circulated about, especially through some less than scrupulous companies who claim they can help you with your credit report and credit score - for a cost, of course. From advertisements and suspect claims, customers sometimes come away with the idea that in order to boost their credit score, they have to pay money to a company or leave credit repair in the hands of so-called “experts.” Nothing could be further from the truth. It is perfectly possible to pay down debts and boost your credit on your own, with no expensive help whatsoever.

Reserve a copy of this newly released book that will show you how to:

* Define a credit score, a credit report, and other key financial terms
* Develop a personalized credit repair plan that addresses your unique financial situation
* Find the resources and people who can help you repair your credit score
* Repair your credit effectively using the very techniques used by credit repair experts

Plus, unlike many other books on the subject, this book will show you how to deal with your everyday life while repairing your credit. Your credit repair does not happen in a vacuum.

For only an investment of $5.99, this book will teach you the powerful strategies you need to build the financial habits that will help you to a keep a high credit risk rating. It really is that simple.

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Go now and start reading and be prepared to start taking small but powerful steps that can have a dramatic impact on your financial life!

Teaching Teens About Money Management

Most of the times parents complain about their teenagers and their expenditure habits. As “difficult” it may seem to you, it is important to teach them early about money and money management. Having a constant allowance, source of income and their savings account can teach them about the importance of savings, how to manage their resources, and to make financial decisions about their expenditures, since they will see the impact of their decision on their account.

In addition to teaching them about saving, it is important to educate them about the difference between good and bad debt. In today’s environment, teenagers are exposed to credit card marketing enticing them to register for a credit card. It is important for them to learn early about the use of credit cards and the impact of the bad use of them.

Kids these days are becoming more and more aware of their family's source of income and financial status. They apply these money-spending principles when they venture out on their own. Thus, it becomes more of a parent’s responsibility to start “training” their teenage kids to use their money wisely.

Here are five tips on how to teach your teenagers about money management:

1. Lead by example - This in my opinion is the most important step. With your lifestyle, the children will see how you spend your money. If they see you allotting a certain amount for a specific household need, they will eventually do the same when they get to earn their own keep.
2. Open a savings account – Help your teen open a savings account. It is important that the account is in THEIR name. This will give them an instant financial responsibility. Many banks offer starting accounts, many geared to minors, where there are no monthly fees. The idea here is to get them motivated about the saving process. When they receive their statements and see their balance, they will be able to see the impact of their decisions. As they see their account growing, it may motivate them to continue saving. 
3. Teach them how to manage their money – Show them how; do not make the decisions for them. Sit down and explain to them how to manage their own account, and the rewards that they get from saving. Help them review their savings account statement, so they can see how much money was deposited into the account and how much money was spent and where. This will help a teenager later in life with the management of a checking account.
4. Construct a “spending plan” – I suggest that you do not call it a budget, unfortunately many people feel that a budget is restricting their lives. The idea is to make it fun, educational, and for the teenager to gain a sense of responsibility. Instead call it a spending plan, this can be fun for the teenager to think of the ways they can wisely spend their savings.This will help them feel better about saving money since they will have a target to work toward.
5. Develop a “saving plan” – Now that you have helped your teenager to develop a series of goals on how they could wisely spend their money, you need to show them how much money they need to save monthly to achieve their goals. This is a learning experience for the teenager since it may be their first savings account.

Teens can learn at an early age about money management. If you implement the plan above you will provide your teenager a lesson in life that will prevent future financial failures and something that they won’t learn in any textbook in high school. It is important for them to understand purchase decisions, and the management of the money they earn. It will teach them that they do not have to waste money on expensive stuff that they don’t really need. You will help your teenager to grow up being a responsible adult at least money wise.

Accomplish Your Goals

Have you ever wondered why some people make dramatic changes in their family, community, and/or business by their achievements? Why some people never take off, they never get passed the dreaming stage?

I think all of us have the ability to have great ideas, to have big dreams. However, many of us fall victim to fear or lack of confidence which freezes us in the accomplishments of our dreams. The purpose of this posting is to motivate you to take action and not to let your goals fall by the wayside. However, many people struggle in the passing from the dreaming stage into the action or implementation stage.

Here I share with you six steps for the effective implementation of your goals:

1. Desire – You must deeply desire the goal. As Napoleon Hill stated in his book “Think and Grow Rich” “The starting point of all achievement is desire”. Therefore, the first step in goal setting and achieving your dreams is to have, what Napoleon Hill describes, “burning desire” to achieve the goal.
2. Visualize – Lee Iacocca said “The greatest discovery of my generation is that human beings can alter their lives by altering their attitudes of mind”. Visualize yourself achieving the goal. Visualize yourself successfully completing the negotiation, giving the speech, landing the perfect jump, etc. The power of this step is in your ability to make a clear representation of your goals. The more detail you have in the representation the better. The better you can experience being in the desired situation, the more power the representation gets. As Stephen Covey says “You begin with the end in mind”
3. Commit – Make a plan for the path you must follow to accomplish your goal. Develop a work plan with target milestones, dates, and important steps that must happen for the goal to become a reality. Write down the plan, the action steps and the critical path. When you write down your goals, the plan, the steps and timeline you transmute your ideas/dreams from the something metaphysical into physical.
4. Take Action – Now that your dreams have been converted into a written plan, you must take action. As Anthony Robbins has been quoted “A real decision is measured by the fact that you've taken a new action. If there's no action, you haven't truly decided.” Here is where many of us fail to convert our dreams into reality, we do not take ACTION.
5. Perseverance – Perseverance is defined as “steady persistence in a course of action or purpose in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragements”. Just the fact that you have an idea, have the burning desire to achieve the goal, you visualize it, you commit to a plan of action, you have taken action, guarantees that your idea will become true. Sometimes you will face difficulties, opposition, naysayers, pessimists that all they want is to destroy your dreams. You must persevere. For example, when Walt Disney had the dream of building Disneyland on a orange grove field, he didn’t have money, over 200 banks turned him down, once the project started it was plagued by problems, the press constantly criticized the project until it opened, Mr. Disney faced daily challenges, opposition, naysayers. He didn’t give up and persevered on his dream.
6. Review - No matter how positively you are thinking, you need to assess your progress. Take a look at all of the factors that are keeping you from accomplishing your goal and develop a plan to overcome them. Make sure you are making progress. If you are not making progress, hire a coach, tap into the support of loved ones, analyze why the goal is not being met. Don’t allow the goal to just fade away. Figure out what you need to do to accomplish it.
You have to have the passion for your dream or it will never come true. Life is now, so do it now. When your goal seems overwhelming, break it down into smaller steps. Avoid negative people. Stay clear of the energy-sucking vampires that are around. Don’t let people flood your environment with negative karma/energy. Just keep working on your goals, following your dreams, a little every day, and before you know it your dreams will be reality!

Dreams the Beginning of Reality

"If the why is strong enough, the how becomes easy." - Jim Rohn

What do you want from life? Do you know, or do you just drift from day to day without any particular aims or sense of direction? It might even be that you feel defeated, or stuck in a rut from which there seems to be no escape. This is a sad turn of events in our life. Instead of experiencing exciting adventures in self actualization, we get caught up in the routine of living from day-to-day just barely existing.

We have allowed the current financial situation in the world stop us from dreaming and in many cases destroy them. As far as I can tell, the current climate is ideal for entrepreneurs. The time to launch businesses and to invest in the real estate market is now. To launch your business and be successful, you must have a vision, a viable product or service to sell, a global outlook and a smart experienced team.The beginning of your success is in your vision, your dream.

It has been said that dreams are the seedlings of reality. Everyone, at some point of his or her life, has dreamed of being somebody special, somebody big, achieve great things. Often, we dream big dreams and have great aspirations. Unfortunately, many times our dreams remain just that – dreams. And our aspirations easily collect dust in our attic.

I know, right now seems impossible to think positive and think big. There lies the problem. The word “impossible”. One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the familiarity with the word impossible. Most people get hung up thinking I can't do this. It's too hard. It's too impossible. No one can do this.

Now think about this, if everyone thought that way, there would be no inventions, no innovations, and no breakthroughs in human accomplishment. If you limit yourself with self-doubt, and self-limiting assumptions, you will never be able to break past what you deem impossible. Have you heard of Dr. Robert Schuler? He dreamt of a Crystal Cathedral in Santa Ana, California, which is an earthquake area. In the 80's he invited a famous architect to plan the Cathedral for him. The architect was skeptical that such a large glass structure could be built there and if possible, would cost a fortune. "Do you have that type of money?" he asked Dr. Schuler. "No" was the answer. "Well, then it's absolutely impossible!" the architect retorted. Dr. Schuler showed him his dictionary. The word impossible was cut out, as it was in all his literature. For him, impossible did not exist and a few years later the Crystal Cathedral was built and today his "Hour of Power" is broadcast to the world every Sunday. Can you imagine if he would have listened to the architect and would have given up on his dream?

What he did, you can do! Be outrageous! Think big!

Here is a poem I came across recently, written by Marianne Williamson and used by Nelson Mandela in his inauguration speech in 1994...

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.
It is our light not our darkness, that most frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?
Actually, who are you not to be!
Our playing small does not save the world.
There's nothing enlightened about shrinking,
so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
You are born to make manifest to the glory of God that is within us;
it is not just in some of us; it is in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine,
we unconsciously give others permission to do the same.
As we are liberated from our own fears,
our presence automatically liberates others."

Thomas Edison once said that genius is 1% inspiration and 99% perspiration. Nothing could be truer. For one to accomplish his or her dreams, there has to be hard work and discipline. But take note that 1% has to be a think-big dream, and not some easily accomplished one.

Dr. Schuler, Edison, Mandela, and thousands of other extremely successful people all have these 3 things in common:

1. They knew exactly what they wanted and started with the end result in mind.
2. BELIEF - People who do the impossible believe they can do it and eventually do!
3. They act in spite of their fears; in spite of their doubts and in spite of what their family and friends might tell them.

Much of what we hope for in life starts out as a dream, whether it is a wonderful family home with a large garden, a successful and stimulating career, or a trip around the world. It is important to have a dream. Through our dreams we can visualize what we want in life. We can turn that visualization into a plan and start taking steps that will take us closer to our dream. Visualizing is also essential, allowing us to see how things could be, see what we really want and then begin the process of making it a reality. If you can dream, visualize and plan it then you can bring it into your life.

So dream on, my friend! Don’t get caught up with your perceived limitations. Be like Dr. Robert Schuler and think big and work hard to attain those dreams and remove the word “impossible” from your life. As you step up the ladder of progress, you will just about find out that the impossible has just become a little bit more possible.Stay tuned, next week we will share simple steps to accomplish your dreams.

The Perfect Business

Today I would like to share with you a video of Robert Kiyosaki, entrepreneour and self-made millionaire. His Cashflow Quadrant message had a profound impact on my thinking of money and people. As you will see on this video there are many ways to earn income and build wealth. I would like to review one in particular Network Marketing. I know what you are thinking right now, SCAM!. Well, Network Marketing like any other business model has its validity and I will share with you my views on it.

I had my first experience with MLM industry back in 1989 when I was in the university and I was presented this wonderful business that would make rich overnight. As you can imagine it was a total failure and I lost my initial investment. I have discarted all MLM since then and considered them scams myself, so I understand your feelings when people talk to you about MLM. Then a couple of weeks ago I was approached again with another network marketing opportunity. Now older and wiser I decided to study the reasons why many time people fail at this business model and the validity of the model. Based on my observations of the reasons why people fail on the Network Marketing Business Model are:

1. The choose the wrong businesses to promote. Not all of the networking marketing programs are designed equal. They do not do enough research about the company and the products before they get involved.

2. Lack of understanding of how the products work. You do not have to be an expert of the molecular composition of the products you are selling. I think you need to have a clear understanding of the benefits of the products and why the potential customer should buy this product as opposed to the competition. For example, become a consumer of the products first. Become a believer of the product before you sell it to others.

3. Lack of understanding of how the compensation plan works. After all we are doing this to make money, we all need to understand how we will be compensated for our efforts. I have read the last couple of days many MLM Hate blogs and websites, criticizing the fact they did not make the money they expected, blaming the company of lying. I am certain that many of them did not ask the right questions and did not have a clear understanding how they were to be compensated. It is easier to blame others for our failures than accept responsibility for our actions.

4. Unrealistic expectations. People get excited at first with the illusion of becoming a gazillionaire in 30 days and dreaming of the new car you will be driving. Like any business, network marketing requires faith, effort, desire, dedication, passion, and perseverance.

5. Lack of business skills. When you start a network marketing business, the most important skills you will learn are business skills. Skills such as managing people, understanding the needs of your customer, how to invest your time and money wisely and lots of self-improvement, mindset changing awareness that will take your business skills to the next level. You need to work at improving your skills to become successful at it.

6. They do not want to spend time on the business. They want everything to be digested for them, the work to be done for them, and to be compensated to do nothing. Please be real, if someone sold you that idea of the “Lazy Man Get Rich Quick Program” and you bought it and failed at, it you deserve it.

7. Thinking that MLM is easy. Once again, network marketing is simply a business model that facilitates your success.

Robert Kiyosaki, the famous author behind the Rich Dad, Poor Dad series of financial books has talked about network marketing as one of the most perfect business models on the planet. But why has one who has never been involved in network marketing seem to endorse it as a good business model? When he first heard about network marketing, he was against it. However, after opening his mind, he began to see the advantages of the business model. Some may say that this is a hypocritical endorsement. I found that Mr. Kiyosaki's findings to be solid business building principles.

I invite you to see the video and make your opinion about it. I would like to hear your opinion about the information on the video and your thoughts of network marketing.

Are Rebates Worth Your Time?

Rebates have become increasingly popular in the last few years on a lot of items and certainly on electronic items and computers. Rebates of $20, $50 or $100 are not uncommon. I’ve even seen items advertised as “free after rebate”. Do these rebates come under the heading of “too good to be true”? Some of them do and there are “catches” to watch out for but if you are careful, rebates can help you get some really good deals.

The way a rebate works is that you pay the listed price for an item then mail in a form and the bar code to the manufacturer and they send you a refund thus reducing the price of what you paid for the item except with a time delay of several weeks.


Rule #1. Rebates from reputable companies are usually just fine.
You can be pretty sure you will get the promised rebate from Best Buy, Amazon or Dell but you should probably not count on getting one from a company you’ve never heard of. If you really want the product and are OK with paying the price listed then buy it but don’t count on actually getting the refund.


Rule #2. Check rebate expiration dates.
Many times products will stay on the shelf of a retailer after the date for sending in the rebate offer has expired so check that date carefully.


Rule #3. Be sure you have all the forms required to file for the rebate before you leave the store.
Rebates will almost always require a form to be filled out, a receipt for the purchase and a bar code.

Rule #4. Back up your rebate claim.
Make copies of everything you send in to get your rebate including the bar code. Stuff gets lost in the mail all the time and if the rebate is for $50 it’s worth the trouble to back up your claim.

The Miracle of Compunding

The greatest minds in the world have marveled over the simple and yet extraordinary concept the power of compounding. Einstein called it “the greatest mathematical discovery of all times” and the “eight wonder of the world”. There is a good reason for such an importance to something so simple. See many fortunes have been built on this simple concept.

For example, Ben Franklin used the power of compound interest. Back in 1783, when he was 77, he added a new section to his will. He set up a codicil that was to last 200 years after his death. Ben allotted $5,000 Boston and Philadelphia each. The money was to provide loans to the needy young people. The borrowers were to pay back these loans at 5% interest over a 10 year periods.

Ben’s $5,000 investment over a period of 200 years grew to well over $20 million dollars and that is after each city took out half-a-million dollars for public works.

Given enough time, even little sums of money, invested wisely, can turn into sizable sums. The earlier you start in the process, the more benefit you derive from the snowball effect of compounding since not only do you achieve growth on your original investment but also on all of the growth it has achieved in earlier years.

Here are four tips to help you maximize the power of compound interest:

1. Start as soon as possible. The best friend of compounding is time. Getting rich is easier and less painful the earlier you start.
2. A little bit goes a long way. If you do not think that you have enough to invest, think about this if you invest $50 a month for a period of 20 years into a mutual fund earning an average of 10% annually, you will accumulate $528,000.
3. Be patient. Good things come to those who wait. You must be patient for compounding to work its power.
4. Don’t spend your earnings. Compounding works if you do not spend your earnings as you receive them, but reinvest all of those returns back into your account.

The effects of compounding are difficult to achieve in the short-term. The final lesson about the miracle of compounding is that time matters, so do not delay in starting your own investment plan.

Tips to Help You Remember to Get Things Done

Tips to Help You Remember and Stay Organized

Staying organized is a critical aspect of our lives. One of the challenges many encountered is how to remember the tasks we have set ourselves to accomplish today. All effective planning system must have a reminder system. If you don’t develop a system of reminders you won’t accomplish your goals and the results are frustration, lower self-esteem, and the problems continue to pile up and getting bigger.

Here I share with you 10 simple steps to help you remember your tasks:

1. Belive in Yourself. This is the most important of all of the steps. If you keep saying you have a bad memory, you will probably continue to have a bad memory. It is important to have a motivated, I CAN remember attitude.
2. Write down your tasks. Due to the overflow of information we have in todays society it becomes difficult to keep it all in your memory bank. Write down appointments, ideas, tasks. Todays technology allow us to accomplish this task in our handheld organizers. If you do not have one, carry a notepad where you can write down the ideas until they can be transferred to your daily planner of choice.
3. Keep one place to collect your information. Once you have developed the knack of writing everything down, your next step will be to keep your writing all in one place. You will remember better this way. Otherwise, you are going to spend valuable time searching for your notes. The use of daily planners (digital or paper) helps you keep your information in one place and accessible when you need it.
4. Exercise. A keen memory is a well-nourished mind. Eat healthy; get plenty of rest and lots of good exercise. A slugish mind is bound to fail. These will all see you through to having a good memory, staying focused and being alert.
5. Record your every thought. You might find yourself driving when a good idea about organizing comes to you or you might recall something that you really need to write down. No need to pull over and start writing, record instead! Pull off to the side of the road and use a small hand held tape recorder. This is a wonderful tool to carry around with you, to record your thoughts, or your parking space number, or even a memorable telephone number you see on a billboard as you drive by. Use your handy recorder to be your second eyes and ears. Todays recorders are non-invasive and easy to carry.
6. Call ahead. When you are at the office and you want to do something when you arrive back home, call ahead to your answering machine and leave yourself a message. As soon as you get home you can listen to your message and remember exactly what you wanted to do.
7. Handy email reminders. There are many good and free e-mail reminder services available. You can type in what you want to remember, such as a welcome party, anniversary or special event, and you will receive an e-mail reminder when the date is approaching. This is a terrific way to jog your memory by Internet.
8. Use sticky notes. Those wonderful, little sticky notes are the next best thing to sliced bread! They are amazing as memory helpers. Want to remember something prior to leaving your home? Just mark it down on a Post-It Note and stick it to the inside of your door. The bright, neon colors will be great to catch your eye as you are leaving. You will not likely miss it! Need to make an urgent call first thing in the morning? Leave a Post-It Note on your telephone.
9. Use timers and alarms. Take advantage of alarm clocks and timers throughout your day. Have to take the clothes out of the dryer by 12 noon? Set your alarm clock to remind you. Want to leave for the ladies luncheon by 7 p.m.? Set your timer to beep a few minutes before it is time to start to get ready. This is simple to do with our phones.
10. Visual memory joggers. Visual reminders will help you remember and stay focused. Use visual reminders for remembering your goals. If your goal is to take a trip to a Ireland in a few years, keep a magazine photograph of Ireland right on your desk. If your goal is to lose 30 lbs. in six months, find a picture or ornament that will help remind you of this goal each day.

With the use of hand-held, computers, daily planner and alarms you can get things sorted and organized in a more efficient and faster way. Disasters like forgetting a wedding anniversary, buying birthday gifts, appointments to meet with the guy that is going to make you money, etc might not happen again.

As the thought, so the mind.

In order to fulfill your set goals and your dreams, it is necessary to practice thought patterns geared toward wealth building and success. The habitual inclination of our thought patterns is ultimately the deciding factor, which determines our abilities, talents and our personal characteristics. Based on this critical and vital piece of knowledge, one assumes that those lucky few have been born with the special talent you lack and fervently desire to have.

To a large extent this is true, but it has to be said that no one is born a millionaire. The valuable information lies in the art of cultivating the pattern that brings success. We are what we think we are. Like Napoleon Hill would say, “Your Thoughts create the environment”.

Thoughts constitute the mind, and mind constitutes the content of our being. As the thought, so the mind and as the mind, so the man. Thought is another name for fate. We are what we are because of what has gone into our mind.

• Thoughts develop personality
• Thoughts promote health
• Thoughts influence the body
• Thoughts can change and shape the future (destiny)
• Thoughts bring forth creation
• Thoughts influence the physiology and psychology of people
• Thoughts can bring success
• Thoughts can even heal the body

You can accomplish anything through the power of thought. Visualization uses your imagination to allow yourself to ‘picture’ your success or achieving your earnest goal. Your mental thoughts or vibrations are incredibly powerful, because the mind has a tangible connection with your thoughts and your actions. Your thoughts are subtle energies and have a strong connection to our consciousness.

What we will be will depend on what continues to go into our mind. Our destiny is shaped by our character; our character is shaped by our habits; our habits are shaped by our actions. But what shape our actions are our thoughts. If we shape our thoughts, we will shape our destiny. Your thoughts create your reality.

How to choose the right goals to focus on

Today I want to address an question that many times we are asked, How to choose the right goals to focus on? Sometimes setting goals alone is not the only problem that you must face. Sometimes, choosing the right goals to begin with is harder. Basically, you can choose to work any goal that you feel is necessary for your health, stability and happiness.

Goal setting is nothing more than a formal process for personal planning. Goal setting is not intended to limit your ability to think and/or accomplish your day-to-day tasks. By setting goals on a routine basis you decide what you want to achieve, and then move in a step-by-step manner towards the achievement of these goals. The process of setting goals and targets allows you to choose where you want to go in life. By knowing exactly what you want to achieve, you know what you have to concentrate on to do it. You also know what nothing more than a distraction is.

Goal setting is a standard technique used by professional athletes, successful business people and high achievers in all fields. It gives you long term vision and provides you with short term motivation. It helps to focus your attention and knowledge which helps you to organize your resources. By setting sharp and clearly defined goals, you can measure and take pride in the achievement of those goals. You can see forward progress in what might previously have seemed a long pointless effort.

By setting goals, you will also raise your self confidence, as you recognize your accomplishments and ability to meet the goals that you have set. The process of achieving goals and seeing this achievement gives you confidence that you will be able to achieve higher and more difficult goals later on. Goals are set on a number of different levels. In the first place, you decide what you want to do with your life and what large scale goals you want to achieve. Second, you break these down into the smaller aims that you must hit so that you reach your overall lifetime goals. Finally, once you have your plan, you start working towards achieving it.

Formula to Success

What you think and how you then act is the deciding factor that will help you discover the goal of success. These two attributes are important together with a set of consistent principles, which you follow through. Thoughts based on reason are a powerful catalyst to start any reaction, and once you set off, you will soon realize that courage is the simple virtue needed for a human being to traverse the rocky road.

Obstacles are natural, and they are a means to the source of acquiring wealth, as I am sure you will agree. Persistence, patience and perseverance will have to be practiced religiously to reach the goal and to overcome the obstacles.

Do not procrastinate, do not pretend that you know it all and finally do not prolong your ‘venture(s)’. Be prepared to fight the stumbling blocks that may confront you, but pursue your goal and allow your potential willpower to predominate.

In any situation in life, it is unequivocally important to remain level headed, despite all the ‘ups and the downs’ that we are likely to face. Remember life is dualistic by nature – the obverse and the reverse sides of the same coin to put it simply. I am compelled to add that though we know that the past is the cause and the present is the effect, it is self evident that with time the present itself becomes the cause with reference to the future.

The following guidelines will help you pave a wonderful path to your ultimate success.

The steps are very simple to implement in your daily life.

1. Do what you love and what you are good at.

2. Be prepared to learn and to be positive (motivation and enthusiasm).

3. Be an innovative individual.

4. Be prepared to invest not just money but your time, effort and resources, too.

I mentioned money – this does not mean that you have to invest a large sum to become wealthy.

5. You must be disciplined in having set goals and targets. Remember that persistence is the key to success.

6. You must be prepared to manage your time effectively.

7. As you evolve, learn to give back what you amass to the society. I call this philanthropy.

You must have a solid vision – one in which you ‘see’ yourself having attained success. Great people of the past and present see to it that they reach this coveted position, by employing these basic steps. Napoleon Hill once said “Whatever your mind can conceive and believe it can achieve”.

Life is the greatest teacher, thus you must be willing to accept challenges all the time (using the power of discrimination) and thus as a result you must learn via its eternal principles the magnificent doctrine it has revealed with the passing of time. This means that you must act when the time is right. Action is incredibly important and highlights success – the two are synonymous to be quite honest. To succeed action is needed but the essential ingredient is how serious you are. Being too serious can ruin your business venture, so the point is to have FUN.

Any discipline will require organization and orderliness. You must be prepared to listen to your inner voice as much as you possibly can. This means that rather than being too dependent on your family, friends and so on (not that this is bad) begin to have faith in your own capabilities. Stand-alone and strive to learn and succeed. Often, failures may just result from instances where we have stopped exercising our own views, or we have become too dependent on others’.

Success is not some secret that you have to search for or unearth in order to reach your destination; it is rather the understanding or the recognition factor that you develop with respect to what you really want in life. Intuition, courage, skills, knowledge, challenges and opportunities are some of the concepts that determine the traits of people who enjoy wealth. Any task performed with the right spirit will give you victory. Mental attitude is what will give you success, but negative attitude, laziness and working unwillingly will result in failure. No one is ever defeated until defeat has been accepted as a reality.

To begin a new venture, it vitally important that you realize the following, which I have to say is crucial. You have to appreciate the fact that to start a business you need to acquaint yourself with the term cash flow. Investment in the form of a capital is a requirement, but more importantly it is the concept of viability of the business venture that matters most.

FEAR VS. SUCCESS

“Nothing is more despicable than respect based on fear.” Albert Camus

“Fear is not the natural state of civilized people.” Aung San Suu Kyi

Fear is defined in Webster’s dictionary as, "an unpleasant, sometimes strong emotion caused by an anticipation or awareness of danger". Professionals in the field of human emotions and therapy define fear as a “strong emotion caused by the anticipation of loss”.

Fear is the great paralyzer. It is one of the major factors why some people succeed and others fail. It is one of the major contributors why some people do not achieve their full potential and financial freedom. The majority of people allow relatives, friends and the general public to influence them so they cannot live their own lives, because of fear of criticism, because of fear of rejection.

Fear is the destroyer of dreams, ambition, self-reliance, and the desire to achieve our goals and wealth. Countless numbers of men and women permit relatives to wreck their lives in the name of “duty”, because of fear. Remember that duty has nothing to do with submitting your life to the destruction of your dreams, personal ambitions, and the right to live your own life.

I do not say there is no such thing as fear. Fear does exist. But it exists in your life by your permission only, not because it is needed as a warning against "evil." Fear must be controlled so we can be able to suceed in life and achieve financial wealth.

There are various factors that can create fear and most people don't realize that fear itself is something that is totally internal to their own mind. It is not a real physical thing, you can't point to something and say, "That over there is fear, watch out or you'll trip over it". The good news is that since it is a by-product of our reactions to things, you have the ability to manage your fears. Rudy Giuliani once said: “Courage is not the absence of fear; rather it is the management of fear.

Fear can be controlled. Remove its power to affect you and your potential in life. Having the self-confidence to be able to handle situations will help you. Don’t let fear control you and prevent you from achieving your dreams.

Develop an action plan for dealing with your credit score

Once you have your credit report and your credit score, you will be able to tell where you stand and where many of your problems lie. If you have a poor score, try to see in your credit report what could be causing the problem:

-Do you have too much debt?
-Too many unpaid bills?
-Have you recently faced a major financial upset such as a bankruptcy?
-Have you simply not had credit long enough to establish good credit?
-Have you defaulted on a loan, failed to pay taxes, or recently been reported to a collection agency?

The problems that contribute to your credit problems should dictate how you decide to boost your credit score. As you read through this ebook, highlight or jot down those tips that apply to you and from them develop a checklist of things you can do that would help your credit situation improve.

When you seek professional credit counseling or credit help, counselors will generally work with you to help you develop a personalized strategy that expressly addresses your credit problems and financial history. Now, with this ebook, you can develop a similar strategy on your own - in your own time and at your own cost.

When developing your action plan, know where most of your credit score is coming from:

1) Your credit history (accounts for more than a third of your credit score in some cases). Whether or not you have been a good credit risk in the past is considered the best indicator of how you will react to debt in the future. For this reason, late payment, loan defaults, unpaid taxes, bankruptcies, and other unmet debt responsibilities will count against you the most. You can’t do much about your financial past now, but starting to pay your bills on time - starting today - can help boost your credit score in the future.

2) Your current debts (accounts for approximately a third of your credit score in some cases). If you have lots of current debt, it may indicate that you are stretching yourself financially thin and so will have trouble paying back debts in the future. If you have a lot of money owing right now - and especially if you have borrowed a great deal recently - this fact will bring down your credit score. You can boost your credit score by paying down your debts as far as you can.

3) How long you have had credit (accounts for up to 15% of your credit score in some cases). If you have not had credit accounts for very long, you may not have enough of a history to let lenders know whether you make a good credit risk. Not having had credit for a long time can affect your credit score. You can counter this by keeping your accounts open rather than closing them off as you pay them off.

4) The types of credit you have (accounts for about one tenth of your credit score, in most cases). Lenders like to see a mix of financial responsibilities that you handle well. Having bills that you pay as well as one or two types of loans can actually improve your credit score. Having at least one credit card that you manage well can also help your credit score.

As you can see, it is possible to only estimate how much a specific area of your credit report affects your credit score. Nevertheless, keeping these five areas in mind and making sure that each is addressed in your personalized plan will go a long way in making sure that your personalized credit repair plan is comprehensive enough to boost your credit effectively.

Understand Where Credit Scores Come From

If you are going to improve your credit score, then logic has it that you must understand what your credit score is and how it works. Without this information, you won’t be able to very effectively improve your score because you won’t understand how the things you do in daily life affect your score.

If you don’t understand how your credit score works, you will also be at the mercy of any company that tries to tell you how you can improve your score - on their terms and at their price.

In general, your credit score is a number that lets lenders know how much of a credit risk you are. The credit score is a number, usually between 300 and 850, that lets lenders know how well you are paying off your debts and how much of a credit risk you are.

In general, the higher your credit score, the better credit risk you make and the more likely you are to be given credit at great rates. Scores in the low 600s and below will often give you trouble in finding credit, while scores of 720 and above will generally give you the best interest rates out there. However, credit scores are a lot like GPAs or SAT scores from college days - while they give others a quick snapshot of how you are doing, they are interpreted by people in different ways. Some lenders put more emphasis on credit scores than others.

Some lenders will work with you if you have credit scores in the 600s, while others offer their best rates only to those creditors with very high scores indeed. Some lenders will look at your entire credit report while others will accept or reject your loan application based solely on your credit score.

The credit score is based on your credit report, which contains a history of your past debts and repayments. Credit bureaus use computers and mathematical calculations to arrive at a credit score from the information contained in your credit report.

Each credit bureau uses different methods to do this (which is why you will have different scores with different companies) but most credit bureaus use the FICO system. FICO is an acronym for the credit score calculating software offered by Fair Isaac Corporation company. This is by far the most used software since the Fair Isaac Corporation developed the credit score model used by many in the financial industry and is still considered one of the leaders in the field.

In fact, credit scores are sometimes called FICO scores or FICO ratings, although it is important to understand that your score may be tabulated using different software.

One other thing you may want to understand about the software and mathematics that goes into your credit score is the fact that the math used by the software is based on research and comparative mathematics. This is an important and simple concept that can help you understand how to boost your credit score. In simple terms, what this means is that your credit score is in a way calculated on the same principles as your insurance premiums.

Your insurance company likely asks you questions about your health, your lifestyle choices (such as whether you are a smoker) because these bits of information can tell the insurance company how much of a risk you are and how likely you are to make large claims later on. This is based on research.

Studies have shown, for example, that smokers tend to be more prone to serious illnesses and so require more medical attention. If you are a smoker, you may face higher insurance premiums because of this.

Similarly, credit bureaus and lenders often look at general patterns. Since people with too many debts tend not to have great rates of repayment, your credit score may suffer if you have too many debts, for example. Understanding this can help you in two ways:

1) It will let you see that your credit score is not a personal reflection of how “good” or “bad” you are with money. Rather, it is a reflection of how well lenders and companies think you will repay your bills - based on information gathered from studying other people.

2) It will let you see that if you want to improve your credit score, you need to work on becoming the sort of debtor that studies have shown tends to repay their bills. You do not have to work hard to reinvent yourself financially and you do not have to start making much more money. You just need to be a reliable borrower. This realization alone should help make credit repair far less stressful!

Credit reports are put together by credit bureaus, which use information from client companies. It works like this: credit bureaus have clients - such as credit card companies and utility companies, to name just two - who provide them with information.

Once a file is begun on you (i.e. once you open a bank account or have bills to pay) then information about you is stored on the record. If you are late paying a bill, the clients call the credit bureaus and note this. Any unpaid bills, overdue bills or other problems with credit count as “dings” on your credit report and affect your score.

Information such as what type of debt you have, how much debt you have, how regularly you pay your bills on time, and your credit accounts are all information that is used to calculate your credit score.

Your age, sex, and income do not count towards your credit score. The actual formula used by credit bureaus to calculate credit scores is a well-kept secret, but it is known that recent account activity, debts, length of credit, unpaid accounts, and types of credit are among the things that count the most in tabulating credit scores from a credit report.

Building Courage for a Better Life

When we develop the habit of courage and unbreakable self-confidence , your whole life changes for the better. Building courage will help you take risks to a better life that you ordinarily would not take. You open doors to a new world of possibilities. When you build courage, you put fear behind you. Courage is the process of admitting that you have fears, yet you are willing to find a way to defeat those fears and not allow them to take control of you.

The good news is that the habit of courage can be learned. To do so, we need to develop a systematic way of thinking to eliminate those thoughts of fear, while at the same time build up positive thoughts of courage that will allow you to deal with the difficult situation(s) that brought those fearful thoughts in the first place. It is a habit that needs to be built in our subconsious mind.

To be able to put under control your fears, we must determine the factor(s) that caused or predisposed us toward the being afraid. Many of the sources of fear have been injected in us since our childhood by our friends and family; “fear of rejection”, “fear of separation or being alone”, “fear of failure” are some of the example of root causes of fear.

Why is it critical that you address your fears now?

Because if you ignore them, your fears will grow until they begin to control every aspect of your life. In addition, as your fears increase you will experience a reduction on your self-esteem, self-confidence and self-respect. You will be making your life decisions based on fears.

Once you build courage, you will learn to self-direct your life. You will learn to accept punishment and rewards gracefully. A courageous person will often feel motivated to accept blame and responsibility (accountability) while reviewing their actions and using what they learn to move forward. Courageous people will step to the front, rather than stepping back when opportunities come their way. On the other hand, a courageous person will step back and take a view at his or her mistakes gracefully, since their self-confidence, self-esteem, and self-respect are high.

With this new found courage, your life will become more relaxed because of an ability to accept the good with the bad. This acceptance is not the same as settling! Settling is product of fear, where as acceptance is product of courage and self confidence, because even in the bad, you are confident in the fact that good will come; therefore aquiring a less stressful life.

A person willing to improve their life will relax. This person will relax even when plans fail. For instance, if it stormed the next day the person will find something else to occupy his or her time and feel just as happy about joining this adventure. Acceptance as a product of self confidence is your key to happiness and a more relaxed life. When you can learn to accept the good with the bad, you can learn how to live happier and improve your personal life.

To become successful, wealthy and improve your life you will need to learn how to trust yourself. When you trust yourself, you can trust others as well. Unfortunately, we live in a world where trust is hard to find, yet when you trust yourself, you can’t blame others when things go wrong, you are acountable of your own actions. You will begin the process of eliminating your fears when you create the habit of courageous behavior whenever you are faced with a difficult situation. Remember that anything you practice over and over eventually becomes a habit. Therefore, choose the habit to handle life’s difficulties with courage.

Buried in Tasks

Have you been spending too much time on administrative tasks? Not enough time generating new business? Has your personal/family life been reduced to a few hours on the weekend? Does your to-do-list includes hundreds of tasks and many of them don’t seem to accomplish your goals? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you need to read further. You cannot let the tasks rule your life, it is time to take control of your life.

One solution to this problem is partnering with a virtual assistant. This will allow you the luxury of spending more time in front of your clients and less time behind your desk. It will allow you more time in the planning of your business and the generation of money. Because virtual assistants are independent professionals they come equipped with their own office, their own equipment, the latest software programs, and the know how of running a successful business. They don't, however, come equipped with added expenses like payroll taxes, expensive benefit packages, paid vacations, holiday pay, or "free time" (that you pay for) spent talking to co-workers. They're only there when you need them. Sometimes they're even there when you don't think you need them!

A virtual assistant, or VA, can help you with many of the administrative tasks that we tend to take care ourselves and add to our task list ,like:

o Manage your email
o Manage your calendar
o Tweak or create your presentations
o Make travel arrangements
o Be your own personal concierge
o Write letters
o Transcribe notes and interviews
o Follow up on trade show leads
o Handle literature fulfillment

The possibilities are endless once you start to see how many tasks you really can delegate.

Another problem why we get buried on tasks has to do in the creation of the lists. See using a big, long to-do list (even if you do it in Outlook) makes it harder to manage and use effectively to figure out what are we going to do next. Just the mere fact of looking a long list of tasks all of them being considered “urgent” is overwealming. It can freeze you and frustrate you.

One way to avoid this problem is the creation of master project lists (“MPL”). This should represent the major projects you are working on right now, this list needs to be smaller than your task list. Your MPL represents your outcome, what you want to achieve. Once you have your project list or “outcome list”, decide what will be your action steps you need to work on at the project level to complete each of the projects, this will be your task list.

The advantage of doing it this way, is that when you sit down to think about the projects and the action steps you already have place where to store them instead of keeping them in your head or simply creating a list of tasks with no order and by the time you get to it, you wonder “why am I doing this?”. Another advantage is that you can focus in one specific project and you will know exactly what you need to do to move that project forward without getting distracted with tasks for other projects.

Another step that you need to take anytime you are working on your project planning is the prioritization of the tasks. Otherwise we wont know where to start. This is critical, since it will help you spend your limited time on the most important tasks. You should do the same with the projects, so you can allocate properly your time among them.

While the techniques and tools are constantly being refined, at the “end of the day,” project management is simply the art of organizing tasks in a logical sequence and according to a schedule. By following these basic steps you will give structure and order to your to-do-list so you can use your time wisely, get things done and live a life with less stress.

Be Organized, And Achieve Your Goals!

Being forgetful or disorganized is not a good sign of leading a healthy mind and a successful life. The misplacement of files, documents, even where you left your keys this morning will prevent you from achieving your goals. How much time do you think the average American wastes looking for a misplaced paper? There are reports that state that approximately 150 hours are wasted a year looking for misplaced papers (Approximately 3 work weeks of the the year).

Why is it important to be organized?
1. It saves time – you do not waste time shuffling through papers.
2. You have more control of your spare time and space – the time that is otherwise wasted looking for the misplaced document can now be used stress free on other aspects of your life.
3. You will stress less when you can locate things easily.
4. You will get more tasks done – you can reinvest the time wasted in looking for misplaced documents and use it productively to increase your income and wealth.
5. When you are organized, you will feel better, and you will have more time for other things.

One aspect of being organized that few people talk about is that we are not all wired the same way. In other words, since we are not wired the same way, we do not process and store information the same way. One book I recommend that you read that will assist you in establishing an organizational style based on your personality is How to Get Organized in Spite of Yourself by Sunny Schlenger. This is the perfect resource for the modern age of fast-paced business and life styles. The conclusion made on this book is that just one organizational system is not for everyone. This is the reason why we see so many people that succeed with one system and many others that fail and quit at it.

Two of the personalities discussed in Mr. Schlenger’s book are :
1. Some people like to have everything put away neatly.
2. Others like to have everything where they can see it.

Let me make one thing clear, all of these organizational methods are good; they just have to fit your personality. If you try to get organized in a way that is contrary to your personality, you will have difficulty staying organized because it is unnatural to you.

How do people that like to have everything out can get organized?

1. Use bins or trays that are labeled, so any papers you accumulate can be sorted immediately. For example, you can have a bin or space on your desk labeled: “Homework Due Immediately”, “Material to Study for Exams”, and “Graded Assignments”.
2. You can also use color coded papers and assigments according to importance, relevance, due dates, etc.
3. Use bulletin boards/message boards. You should use one board for messages and reminders and a different board for your drawings/sketches.
4. Use clear containers. For example, you can use clear bags, clear notebook dividers, clear folders for storing supplies and papers. They are organized and you can still see them.

How do people that like to have nothing out can get organized?

1. Filing. Any type of paper that you handle on a regular basis should have its own, accessible space. For example, create a folder for each of the projects so that you can read it from the opposite side of the room.
2. Keep these files in the same place all the time. This way, they are out of sight, but always know exactly where they are.
3. Use a day planner. This way you can write everything down, but it is out of sight.

Conclusion, arrange files in a way that makes you feel comfortable. Don’t worry if other people don’t understand your method. Make sure that you can find any paper you need in 3 minutes or less. If you cannot accomplish this, your system needs to change.

Negative Thinking One of the Causes Of Under Achievement

It may be no surprise to hear that negative thinking is one of the reasons for under achievement. Your life is built on your self image and that image will depend on what you tell yourself. When you choose (and you do choose) to engage in negative thinking you are deciding to believe in your inability rather than your possibility. But it’s not just you! There will be plenty of people in your life who are all ready, willing and eager to spread the doom and gloom over why things just won’t work. Or why you are just not capable of achieving what you hope to. Unfortunately family and friends can be the worst culprits! They will always willingly let you know why you will fail. Why it won’t work out.

Having said that it is important to recognize that at times your nearest and dearest will be the first to shower negative rains on your dreams because they want to protect you from failing. Sometimes they may be afraid of you developing, growing and leaving them behind. There will always be a deep underlying fear in the negative thoughts of another. The most important thing you can do in an effort to avoid under achievement is to learn to protect yourself from the naysayers. Other people’s opinion of you is none of your business! I have no idea who said that originally but it’s spot on. Instead of taking on board what others have to say focus on learning how to develop the inner strength needed to achieve your dreams.

Negative messages from other people can only affect you if you allow them to. Learn to brush them off. It’s time to become stronger about who you are and what you stand for. Before tackling others though it is important you tackle yourself if you want to avoid under achievement. What do you think about yourself right now and how is that affecting the accomplishments of your goals?

Awareness, acknowledgment and acceptance are the key towards changing the negative conversations that rattle around in your mind. Recognize that you have complete control over yourself and your thoughts. Many people believe it is the other way around. They make statements such as “I can’t help it I’ve always thought this way.” But the real truth is you can help it. In fact if avoiding under achievement is your goal then you must work towards not only stopping it but changing the way you think too!

Once you are in a position where people can say whatever they like without you allowing it to affect what you think about yourself then your life becomes more peaceful and certain than it can ever be. The question here is “Are you going to allow what people say to be the reason you under achieve?” Is the opinion of others more important than the opinion you hold of yourself? Are you ready to tackle the negative thinking that goes on in your head (here’s a tip! If you hear yourself thinking negative talks just shout – either out loud or in your head – “cancel” and then turn it round to something more affirming)

Thinking bigger, wanting more, working towards achievement can make you a target for negative messages from your co-workers, family, friends and even total strangers because most people like the status quo. But when you have a strong conviction within yourself, when you work towards ensuring all your thoughts empower you rather than dis-empower you, then you will be going some way towards transforming how you think and feel.

What you think about yourself will determine whether you are a success or whether you give up. Begin the journey of thinking great things about who you are and what you can achieve. Henry Ford once said “Whether you believe you can, or whether you believe you can’t you are right”

Avoiding Impulse Spending

Answer these questions truthfully:

1.) Does your spouse or partner complain that you spend too much money?
2.) Are you surprised each month when your credit card bill arrives at how much more you charged than you thought you had?
3.) Do you have more shoes and clothes in your closet than you could ever possibly wear?
4.) Do you own every new gadget before it has time to collect dust on a retailer’s shelf?
5.) Do you buy things you didn’t know you wanted until you saw them on display in a store?

If you answered “yes” to any two of the above questions, you are an impulse spender and indulge yourself in retail therapy. This is not a good thing. It will prevent you from saving for the important things like a house, a new car, a vacation or retirement. You must set some financial goals and resist spending money on items that really don’t matter in the long run.

Impulse spending will not only put a strain on your finances but your relationships, as well. To overcome the problem, the first thing to do is learn to separate your needs from your wants. Advertisers blitz us hawking their products at us 24/7. The trick is to give yourself a cooling-off period before you buy anything that you have not planned for. When you go shopping, make a list and take only enough cash to pay for what you have planned to buy. Leave your credit cards at home.

If you see something you think you really need, give yourself two weeks to decide if it is really something you need or something you can easily do without. By following this simple solution, you will mend your financial fences and your relationships.

The Key to a Better Life

Time management is basically about being focused. The Pareto Principle also known as the '80:20 Rule' states that 80% of efforts that are not time managed or unfocused generates only 20% of the desired output. However, 80% of the desired output can be generated using only 20% of a well time managed effort. Although the ratio '80:20' is only arbitrary, it is used to put emphasis on how much is lost or how much can be gained with time management.

Some people view time management as a list of rules that involves scheduling of appointments, goal settings, thorough planning, creating things to do lists and prioritizing. These are the core basics of time management that should be understood to develop an efficient personal time management skill. These basic skills can be fine tuned further to include the finer points of each skill that can give you that extra reserve to make the results you desire. But there is more skills involved in time management than the core basics. Skills such as decision making, inherent abilities such as emotional intelligence and critical thinking are also essential to your personal growth. Personal time management involves everything you do. No matter how big and no matter how small, everything counts. Each new knowledge you acquire, each new advice you consider, each new skill you develop should be taken into consideration.

Having a balanced life-style should be the key result in having personal time management. This is the main aspect that many practitioners of personal time management fail to grasp. Time management is about getting results, not about being busy.

The six areas that personal time management seeks to improve in anyone's life are physical, intellectual, social, career, emotional and spiritual. The physical aspect involves having a healthy body, less stress and fatigue. The intellectual aspect involves learning and other mental growth activities. The social aspect involves developing personal or intimate relations and being an active contributor to society. The career aspect involves school and work. The emotional aspect involves appropriate feelings and desires and manifesting them. The spiritual aspect involves a personal quest for meaning.

Thoroughly planning and having a set of things to do list for each of the key areas may not be very practical, but determining which area in your life is not being giving enough attention is part of time management. Each area creates the whole you, if you are ignoring one area then you are ignoring an important part of yourself. Personal time management should not be so daunting a task. It is a very sensible and reasonable approach in solving problems big or small. A great way of learning time management and improving your personal life is to follow several basic activities. One of them is to review your goals whether it be immediate or long-term goals often. A way to do this is to keep a list that is always accessible to you.

Always determine which task is necessary or not necessary in achieving your goals and which activities are helping you maintain a balanced life style. Each and everyone of us has a peek time and a time when we slow down, these are our natural cycles. We should be able to tell when to do the difficult tasks when we are the sharpest.

Learning to say "No". You actually see this advice often. Heed it even if it involves saying the word to family or friends. Pat yourself at the back or just reward yourself in any manner for an effective time management result. Try and get the cooperation from people around you who are actually benefiting from your efforts of time management.

Don't procrastinate. Attend to necessary things immediately. Have a positive attitude and set yourself up for success. But be realistic in your approach in achieving your goals. Have a record or journal of all your activities. This will help you get things in their proper perspective.

These are the few steps you initially take in becoming a well rounded individual. As the say personal time management is the art and science of building a better life. From the moment you integrate into your life time management skills, you have opened several options that can provide a broad spectrum of solutions to your personal growth. It also creates more doors for opportunities to knock on.

Good Investment Advice: Only For The Rich?

If you think good investment advice is only for the rich, you're not alone. Nearly two-thirds (65 percent) of investing Americans believe that those with more money are able to get better financial advice than those with less money. Further, more than a quarter (26 percent) state that it takes at least $100,000 to get top-quality financial advice. This is according to a new survey by the Retirement Corporation of America, which also finds that more than half (56 percent) of investors believe that financial advisors lose credibility when they accept fees or commissions.

Given the above perceptions, it is not surprising that 53 percent rely on themselves or turn to family and friends when it is time to make investment decisions rather than seek professional advice. However, changing investment funds is easier said than done for investors. The survey finds that nearly a third (31 percent) are willing to wait from one to five years before they move their money from a poorly performing option to a better one. The factor that makes it most difficult for investors when contemplating change is the scarcity of time to conduct adequate research, as cited by a third of respondents. This is followed by 20 percent who state that they are confused by all the available options and 16 percent who are afraid of making the wrong decisions.

The Retirement Corporation of America conducted this survey to better understand why consumers stay invested in poor-performing mutual funds. Their newly launched investment opportunity-Money Masters Investment Portfolio-is the first to offer unbiased advice and access to top-performing investment funds for every American.

Taking The Guesswork Out
The good news for confused American investors is the new registered investment advisory account (the "R" Account), offered through the Retirement Corporation of America, with no minimum account balance, commissions, transaction fees or exit penalties. It allows investors to access a fully managed Money Masters Investment Portfolio containing 15 of the world's top-performing mutual fund managers-the "Money Masters." The Money Masters are the top 10 stock fund and top five bond fund managers chosen from more than 8,000 fund managers who meet very strict selection criteria.

How It Works
When an investor opens an "R" Account, Retirement Corporation of America advisors determine the individual's objectives and risk tolerance. Based on that profile, a Money Masters Investment Portfolio is created to best suit the individual investor's needs.
For more information you can go to http://www.moneymasters.com

3 Reasons Why Sales Professionals Need A Life Coach

No matter how well you’re doing in your sales career, I guarantee that a life coach can help you rise to an even greater level of success – a life coach could probably even double your income this year alone. That may sound like a bold statement, but I’ve seen results exactly that dramatic time and time again. So, if you’ve never heard of a life coach, or are familiar with the concept but aren’t really sure how they can help you grow as a sales professional, let me fill you in.
A life coach specializes in inspiring you to go beyond the ordinary, to raise your standards and definition of success to a level that you’re truly capable of reaching. Most people will never achieve what they’re truly capable of, simply because they haven’t formed the right partnership to make it happen. A life coach is exactly that – a true partner in your success.
Here are three more concrete reasons why all sales professionals should consider teaming up with a life coach:

1. A life coach not only celebrates your victories, but helps you learn from your setbacks. Let’s face it, in sales we have to get used to rejection. But how you use and learn from that rejection is a major determining factor in how successful you can be. A talented life coach helps put perspective on your successes and failures, so you can benefit from both.

2. A life coach doesn’t judge you. I’m not saying that all you’ll ever hear from a life coach is a rosy picture of where you’re headed. That wouldn’t be fair and it’s not the way I handle my clients. But what a life coach should do is listen to what you’re saying without sitting in judgment, and without over-analyzing you.

3. A life coach gets to know your values, passion and life-purpose …and holds you to them. It’s easy to get sidetracked, to lose sight of what’s truly important for your life and career. A life coach’s job is to help you maintain your focus so that you don’t get sidetracked. Simply keeping you working towards your ultimate goal is one of the most powerful services a life coach can provide. Take advantage of it.

10 Ways To Reduce Tax Burden For Your Small Business

Everyone worries about taxes and looks for ways and means of reducing the tax burden. When you have a small business of your own you must up date your knowledge of tax laws that pertain to “small businesses.” As a business owner you must understand clearly about accounting systems and tax planning. Sit down with your accountant and plan on ways of maintaining business expenses, filing receipts, planning on “tax saving” investments, and a strategy for running the business in the most beneficial way.
Did you know that:

1. According to law you can reduce your tax liability by hiring family members to carry out work in your business. Pay your children and spouse to perform assigned duties. This way you can shift from higher tax rates to lower ones.

2. Consider hiring independent contractors instead of employees. You will save on payroll taxes. However ensure that you meet the IRS’s criteria.

3. Think about “deferring income” postpone receiving money to January instead of December. This means that payments received will be up for “tax” calculations a year away. However ask your accountant’s advice as the benefits are dependant on profit and losses for the year and your corporate legal structure.

4. Take advantage of tax deductions allowed for charitable donations. Make donations in November or December instead of January so that you can include the donations for tax deductions in the current year.

5. Maximize your expenditure on equipment and office supplies. Buy in advance for a quarter and use the tax deductions allowed in the current fiscal year.

6. Include expenses of business related travel in the current year.

7. Pay all bills due before the end of the year. Payment to cell services, rent, insurance, and utilities related to the business can be included for accounting and applicable tax waivers.

8. Plan a retirement plan and make payments before the end of the year. This will reduce your income for the year and proportionately the tax due. Be sure to check on the limits. Plan a feasible and beneficial strategy with your accountant.

9. Be sure to deduct from your taxable income money paid to licensing fees, businesses taxes, and annual memberships to businesses related organizations. Be sure to deduct interest paid on borrowings for running the business and related fees. Insurance premiums paid to insure the business office and machinery are eligible for tax deductions. Make a list of your memberships and check which ones are eligible for tax deductions.

10. Check whether you have deducted management and administration expenses as well as money spent on maintenance and repairs of equipment.

Decide whether a cash accounting system or accrual one will benefit your business. The tax deductions are different depending on the system you use. When setting up your small business take the advice of a tax and accounting professional as to which accounting system would be most suitable.

Do You Really Need to Buy A New Car?

In our society today is common practice to change cars every three to five years. People keep on switching to new car for no reason. Changing cars has become a way for people to express and show their status. Every year there are so many new car models coming up. So they keep on changing the car whenever they saw some new models that they like.

I have heard people saying this: “Since I need to pay for my installment every month, then why don’t I switch to a better new car?” It seems like paying car installment has become part of people’s routine life where if they don’t pay for the installment, they don’t know what to do with the money. Maybe people have forgotten that they don’t have to pay for car installment if they don’t want to.

I know that I may offend a lot of people by saying that buying a new car is not necessary. I am not saying that the purchase of a car is not necessary and that the replacement of a car that is no longer fitting the initial needs of the family is a luxury. What I do ask is that next time when you get the itch to buy a new car to be honest and ask yourself; Is it necessary? Do you want to buy it because you need it? Or you want to buy it simply because you wanted to show off to your friends your new toy? Do you buy the car to boost up your ego? If you answered yes to any of these questions, then you may want to reconsider the purchase of the car.

Consider the amount of money saved per month and what you could do to improve your family's wealth, like paying extra toward the house loan. This way you can finish your house loan faster, increase your equity and reduce the interest. Also, you can use the extra money to eliminate/reduce your high interest credit cards. Another option is to use the extra money to do some investment. These different use of the extra money saved by not rushing to buy a new car will improve your financial situation.

What makes successful people successful?

We would all love to be able to walk down to the local supermarket and pick up a bottle of success. But let’s look past that fantasy and find out one of the most basic reasons why people become successful.

Right now, think of someone that you know personally who is successful. Can you see their face in your mind? Good. Now ask yourself this question, “Does this person have a successful routine or set of habits that makes them successful?” I would be shocked if they didn’t.

Sometimes the only difference between being successful and being average is having successful habits. Some examples of successful habits could be getting up earlier, doing things when they need to be done, being prepared, or effective time management.

So how do you start to build these success habits in your life? Here are 4 tips on creating successful habits.

1. Identify – Find the areas in your life that need changing. Write down these new habits that need to be formed. Don’t become overwhelmed at trying to figure out how you are going to form all of these habits.

2. Pick 2 – Most people sabotage themselves by trying to change everything at once. Instead, pick one major and one minor habit that you want to form. For the next 30-90 days these will be the success habits that you will create.

3. Start small – Now that you have your two success habits, create a daily or weekly routine that is easy to follow. For instance, let’s say that you want to wake up an hour earlier so that you can get more successful things done. Instead of setting your alarm an hour earlier right at the beginning, only set it 2-5 minutes earlier every morning until you reach your goal. This way it would take you 30 days or 12 days respectively to create your success habit.

Remember, the best way to eat an elephant is one bite at a time.

4. Repeat – Once you have created your new habits move on to the next 2 success habits that you want to create. Before you know it you will have created a whole new life full of success filled habits.

Just imagine where you will be in one year if you follow these four keys to creating successful habits. If it takes you only 60 days to create 2 habits, you will have created 12 success habits in just one year!

What have you got to lose by reading one more motivational article?

There are a variety of self improvement articles available nowadays. You may be thinking that this is one of those, obviously. What have you got to lose by reading one more self improvement article?

When you come the 40-year stage in your life, you will suddenly realize many things. You get to ask yourself questions. How will it be when I get to the end of my life? How do I feel about the life I lived? Then someone gave you some self improvement articles or books while telling you that it is not yet too late. Does that mean anything to you? You bet it does. The feeling of anxiety that will come next is just normal. Then you will feel confused because life had felt so good. You were happy, had a successful marriage, two wonderful kids, and a job you reasonably enjoyed. What was my problem? It was your class ceiling. The “practical” and fear-based side that had convinced you all along that your passion and dreams had died.

Here are top ten shifts in perspective that can help you move your life to the next level. This self improvement article will assist you in breaking through your own glass ceiling to create the life you really want.

1. Give yourself permission to dream. You probably had no problem dreaming as a kid. What happened to your ability to imagine and dream about what you want and who you want to be? When was the last time you caught yourself daydreaming and appreciated it?

2. Stop looking outside yourself for happiness. Look inside. Increase your self-awareness. Get curious about who you are at the core. Cultivate and nurture a relationship with yourself.

3. Cover the basics. Take the time to address your personal needs. How can you focus on thriving in your life if you are in survival mode? Set up that meeting with a financial advisor, get your space organized, clean up the details that are wasting your energy.

4. Embrace your past and move on. Shift from “why it happened” to what I want to do about it now. Asking “why” is not a very empowering question. Asking what or how I want to proceed can be much more powerful and produce forward movement.

5. Remember that you are not alone. It is easy to feel overwhelmed with life. Seek support at church, family and friends. Read more self improvement articles and books. They might help you figure about some things that are puzzling you.

6. Count your blessings. What is working right in you life? Make a list. Set aside a bit of time everyday to acknowledge what or who you are grateful for. The more you practice gratitude, the more you attract into your life things to be grateful for.

7. Court your passion. You still have your passions though it has been a while since you may have felt it flow. When are you the most alive and joyful in your life? Who do you most admire and what do they inspire in you?

8. Take action and take a risk!. All the inspiration in the world is not enough to make you move your life to the next level. It takes inspired action to do that.

9. Keep breathing. You probably forget to take deep full breaths. We have all learned to constrict our breathing in response to stress. According to many self improvement articles, we not only need oxygen to stay alive, we need oxygen to give us energy and keep us healthy. Right now take 5 deep, full breaths.

10. Have fun. Call a friend, take a bubble bath, take yourself to an art museum or schedule a whole day out in nature. Put on some great music and dance till you drop.

And you thought this was just one of those self improvement articles.

Develop a Success Attitude

One of the most common causes of failure is the habit of quitting when one is overtaken by temporary failure. If you are making the mistake of reading the newspapers or watching the news you are probably being bombarded by all of the negative news about the economy, instead of focusing on the opportunities available.

Here are a couple of suggestions and/or insights on how to keep a winner’s attitude during these difficult times:

1. Start controlling your thoughts and monitoring your self talk. Remember that riches start with a state of mind. But more importantly, remember that with God everything is possible. 
2. One of the main weaknesses of mankind is the average man’s familiarity with the word “impossible”. He knows all of the rules which will not work and knows all of the things that cannot be done. You need to get rid off these people from your life or limit your exposure to them. 
3. Success comes to those who become “Success Conscious”. The same way failure comes to those who allow themselves to become “failure conscious”.