Constant And Never Ending Improvement~C.A.N.E.I.

Top 20 Ways We Waste Money

20. Buying drinks from drive throughs and convience stores

19. Eating out and having alcoholic drinks

18. Speeding

17. Rush delivery on mail orders

16. Tickets for traffic violations and parking violations

15. Not using coupons at grocery stores

14. Not properly maintenancing our vehicles

13. Not making your kids a lunch for school

12. Buying cheap shampoo or cheap products period. They do not last as long

11. Buying snacks or sweets 

10. Not eating left overs

9. Leaving lights and T.V. on all day

8. Turning heaters and A/C's on and off instead of setting at a comfortable temperature

7. By not mending torn clothes

6. By not asking for a better price on goods and services

5. Buying everything name brand

4. Financing personal goods at 23% on store credit cards

3.Buying cigarettes, tobacco, alcohol, energy drinks, espressos

2.Atm fees for using a foreign atm not your bank

1.Late fees on credit cards and bills

The Upside To A Down Turn Economy

As you may or may not know, our economy needs to be corrected all the time. We are either going up or going down but it is impossible to stay the same. When we talk about correction, we are usually talking about a market correction. If the market only went up, we would have astronomical inflation and our money would be worth less. If the economy only went down, our money would be worth less as well. What always has to happen is that the economy has to correct itself. 

I do not believe in scarcity for the most part. What I do believe is that everything will only survive if you make it survive. The outcome is on your shoulders.We can keep building retail stores all day long but you must bring in the traffic to support them. What usually ends up happening though, is that business men and women do not follow the trends that are ahead and then one day it all comes crashing down on them. It is not because we can have only so many retail stores. It is because people's buying habits are changing and the Internet has taken over a lot of the retail world. What these businesses need to understand is that in order to capture and keep the market they have, they must do better. They must figure out that customer service will have to rise to a new level. Cost need to be cut in order to service better and give a better deal. Many have not learned this message and are paying for it right now in this downturn. 

As much as we may hate having the economy go soft, we need it to from time to time to make the necessary corrections. We need it to get rid of the bad, lower prices and make people better than what they are. Housing prices were getting out of control and were being made affordable to only the wealthy. This is a huge mistake and so it had to be corrected. 

There have been so many arrogant companies out there for the past 10 -12 years thinking they can be as they wish and not care about the consumer. They were simply playing a numbers game. Now the tables have been shifted and the customer is now playing a numbers game. If you are going to get the business then you had better dance for them. Mediocrity is not going to work anymore. People want the best bang for their buck. 

Another upside to the down turn economy is that people are starting to realize they need to be more mindful of their money and finances. There was a lot of waste being committed and no one had any liquidity. This is very dangerous for a society as once too many people become poor, the up rise. This has been the case for every great nation since the beginning of time. We need to reteach people economics and help them to be better managed with their finances. The trick to a rich society is education. We need to embrace the idea of getting people the information they need to thrive in a responsible manner. We can avoid false economies if we show people how easy it can be to create real wealth and how to manage it once they have it. We need to teach people to say no I can't afford that right now. Then teach them to say, "how can I afford that?" Good finances is about having the discipline and knowledge to make sound decisions. I hope that is what we are learning from this economic downturn. 

The Problem With Our Government, Is Our Government!

As part of our goal for personal growth, I am always trying to teach you that you must become aware of your surroundings. This includes at home, at work and in your community. Today, I am going to take this one big step further and include our Federal government. The problem with our country right now is the Federal government we have in place. It has strayed from what the originators of our Constitution had in mind. 

I am not one to be an extremist, or yell fire when it is  just smoke, but my friends I believe that the time is coming when this current government will have a revolt on its hands unless we the people start coming together and fix what is broken. The government is just that, broken. I will try not to rant, but I am frustrated at where we are at and want to do something about it. I want to be a part of the solution and take massive action to help in our country's healing.

The problem today is that our entire Federal government system is run by lobbyist and is wholly influenced by the dollar and greed. Special interest runs your life not the elected officials we thought we elected. If we are ever going to start repairing our government, we must start with pushing out all special interest and make it a capitol crime to influence politics in any way. It must be punishable on both the interest group and the politician. We must say no to any sort of pressure or lobbying. There are plenty of ways to make a case but funding campaigns to get your agenda across in government should not be one of them. 

Next, the backwards thinking, good old boy network needs to leave. We need new people, new ideas, and new politicians. This old school way of doing things has slowed down progress and gummed up the system. I am gad we grew up a bit and threw away our bigotries and elected an African-American President, but beyond that I am afraid that is all we have done. I hope the time for change really has come but it just may have darker skin and is business as usual. We need for change to mean we are getting rid of the way we have been doing most things and start creating and developing new ways to dig us out of this mess we are in as a country. What can yo do to get involved and help? The question is easy to ask and difficult to answer. Like most things I talk about, I would suggest first start by becoming aware whet these people are doing in regards to your life and your country. Be aware of the who, what, when, and where of our government. 

The reason as a country, the common person hates politics is because it is full of bureaucracy and red tape. The idea of a politician in most people's mind is liar, cheater, con-artist. We say we are the greatest nation on earth, yet we view our politicians no different than we do a dictator or tyrant of a third world country. We need to be real and start reshaping the face of America. The world is not happy with us and it is mostly because of those we have in power running us. This affects you more than you think. 

I suggest that you start getting involved in our government. There are many groups out there that has local level and national involvement for people who want to get involved. Look on the Internet and see if you can locate one that is alignment with how you live and want to be. See what you can do to help in the fight. Maybe you are not a political brain, but I bet you could help send out emails, write letters, get others involved. We have to ban together and make our voices heard. "We the people" are three of the most powerful words ever written and spoken in the United States History. What do you think the founding fathers were saying? I believe they meant many things when they wrote this. We the people are more when we rise together. We the people are to be heard. we the people will no longer stand for anything less than right. We the people want to be represented in a manner that is ideal for who are. We the people have had enough and will stand up and fight.

Let today be a wake up call for all Americans that if we do not act, we will all loose our way of life as we know it. I am sorry if I sound extreme, but we are in a time when things have become very extreme. God Bless and God bless America.

Weight Loss Redefined

Today we are going to talk about weight loss in a different fashion than the normal everyday way. We are not going to talk about dieting, or exercise per Se. We are not going to talk so much about sacrificing, or magic pills, or crappy food to eat that are less calories. We will not count calories, eat lien cuisine, or sweat to the oldies. What I want to focus on for you in your quest for weight loss is your mind set. Weight loss redefines is the minds ability to determine that enough is enough and take massive action. 

How are all of those diets working for you? Do you here the root word in diet? The root word you here is die. That's right because every diet makes you want to die because you are so staved and so depressed from sacrificing that you would rather die than keep up with what you are doing. I have never been on a diet that works yet. There are certainly successful parts to certain diets that can be useful but overall diets are a fad or gimmick for some company to make money on. Yes some do loose weight but it has very little to do with the diet they are on. It has more to do with their mindset.

The brain is complicated for the most part but there is a simplistic side to it as well. Here is how simple the brain is when we make it this way. When we decide something, the brain will follow orders. The brain in our heads runs us on auto pilot until we wake up and take control. If no orders are given, then it decides what will go on. Some things are good for us or not harmful, but somethings are very counter productive. So ultimately no matter what we want to achieve, it is either up to us or our brains auto pilot. 

The brains main motivation is self full-filing needs. The brain can be as powerful as we need it to be providing we engage, other wise it just coast and gets what it wants. When it comes to food the brain will put you in a sugar coma if you let it. The brain will lead you to 300lbs if you do not stop it. The brain likes chemical reaction and sugars and food is just that. What you need to do instead of running to a diet is start with waking up and taking back your brain. 

Every time I have wanted to drop a few pounds or a lot of pounds I have done it. It has never been about a diet or some latest and greatest exercise guru. What happens is I stand up and say hey, I need to loose some weight so I feel better and look better. When I do this I am telling my brain, hey I got this I am taking over. The second thing I do is determine what is putting on all the weight and I re-program myself to either feel sick over those foods or put controls in place to limit my intake. When I do this it is like re-programming my computer. New directions get input and new calculations or formulas pop out. Your brain is no different. You decide how you will react. 

The next part is very important. You must say and believe this with the greatest conviction. You must believe in yourself. You must believe that you can do this. You must believe that you have the strength of 1000 men inside of you and you will bring it all out to accomplish this. You can stand on your own feet and finish this race I promise if if you will only believe. Tell yourself this, believe this and live this. Never back down again ever on this area of your life. Weight loss can happen in the same way weight gain happened, one pound at a time. 

Do not get me wrong, you need activity and exercise. You need to limit the intake of food in your mouth. You need to cut down on the sugar and sweets. Six small meals a day is much better than the 3 large ones you are doing and all the snacks. The real answer though lies in your brain and your heart.

Why Friendship Starts With the Letter "F"

What is the worse grade that you can receive in school? The letter "F" right? I wonder if it is any coincidence that the word friendship starts with the same letter as so many friends constantly fail to be "A" students in their friendships. Here is what grade you are:

A - This is the ultimate friend. They make being a friend easy. Everyone wants to be their friend because of the trust and the understanding they posses.

B - This is a decent friend but they still lack some fundamentals of friendship. All in all, they are decent friends.

C - This friend is neither outstanding nor horrible but does just the minimum as a friend. They have a moderate understanding of friendship but needs to work much harder to be a "real friend."

D. - This friend may not be a friend at all. You probably put up a bunch from them and they rarely contribute much goodness to the relationship. They lack most of the fundamental values needed for success.

F - Lacks every great quality that a friend should have. This should be a stop sign to turn around and run as they are probably very problematic and selfish. It's all about "me" with them and do not consider others. You will continually be let down by them and come up short. 

What does it mean to be a friend? I do not know your definition but mine would be as follows:

My friend will always accept my apology and will never have an issue apologizing back.

My friend knows I am not perfect and accepts me for me. My friend loves me at the end

of the day no matter how different our opinions may be. My friend will help me in a pinch no questions asked. My friend will tell me like it is no matter how harsh the truth may be. My friend

does not care about being right, just cares about doing right. My friend will not judge me but will 

not put up with me. My friend listens to me and has patience while I am talking. My friend is part         of my family. My friend will laugh with me, cry with me and fight with me. My friend is                         intelligent. My friend values others and does not trample on people's freedoms.  My friend will be         a friend no matter what.  

What is your definition of a friend? I think that for the most part we are missing what a friend really is. You should not have to work your butt off to be someone's friend. Yes, a relationship is hard work but being a friend should not be. Get to know someone before you judge them and start off wrong. Come to understandings in your friendship early on. For some new friends this is done verbally but with some it will just be understood. 

Good friends come in all packages. Keep your eyes open as you never know where your next friend will come from. My new friends are Australian and they are great people. Now when I think about Australia, i think about them. I would have never guessed I would have so much in common with an Aussie but he is like my twin. We do not need to talk about our understanding as friends. We already just get it. 

I hope from here on out you will take a moment to see what your grade is as a friend. I hope you are a straight A student but if not, you can fix that. Start with defining what you want in a friend and then be just that. 

Customer Service, Why don't they Get it? - Pt.1

Customer Service, Why can’t they get it right? –Pt.1

My wife and I often go out to eat at restaurants and no matter where we eat it seems the service has not gotten any better. Customer service is so important I do not understand why the restaurants can't seem to get it right. Here is my story about a TGI Fridays in Springfield Missouri:

So we are sitting there talking intimately. There are many in the restaurant all around us but we do not care, as we do not even know they are there. We are joking and having a good time and discussing important issues as well. Then out of nowhere, the TGI Friday server burst into the middle of us while I am in mid sentence to tell us she is going to get us another drink. She then stands there mumbling for a few minutes and then leaves. We both look at each other then go back to what I was saying. A few minutes later she comes back again and forgets the drinks and interrupts again with, “ I’ll go and get you those refills now.” I mean why does she not get it? She is to be seen and not heard unless it is important to the meal or dining experience. I am not a snob but how rude and terrible can you get at your job?

Throughout the whole visit this continued. My wife and I get so annoyed that servers have no common sense. I do not mean to sound so critical but who is training these people? Sure they know how to carry the plates, and put in the orders, but who is teaching them common courtesy and manners? I think that section must be missing in the TGI training manual. We found this behavior so odd because everywhere we went in the restaurant we were constantly greeted and asked if we needed anything. It was clear that TGI’s policy was to go out of their way to make the customer feel that they were getting great treatment but someone is missing a whole other side of the equation.  

Next we will talk about my number one pet peeve of all time when I am at a restaurant. I mean it kills me every time. We are getting to the end of the meal, and we are still talking intimately. We are feeling good from the meal and are winding down our dining experience. The waitress comes over again and interrupts us and presents us with the bill. We oblige her and take the bill so we can keep talking and she starts reaching across the table to start clearing plates while we are trying to talk. I mean is this for real or what? I do not get it. Why do they have to do that every time? I set the plates I want taken away at the end of the table so they can easily be taken yet she wants to reach across the table in the middle of us to get the other ones. Why can’t she wait until we leave? I want to scream out loud, “leave me alone and go away,” but I refrain as I am not a maniac. This happens at almost every restaurant we go to. I feel like saying,” hey, I am renting this space right now so leave the dishes until I am done or I’ll put them at the end of the table when I’m ready.

My wish is that someone will start cluing in these restaurant and that they will start implementing some common courteous and etiquette training. I don’t care if the meal is $20.00 or $200.00; the service idea should still be the same. Stay out of the customers dining box unless you are invited in.

If you have restaurant dining horror stories or pet peeves send them to me via email or post a comment below.

Why Small Businesses Fail – Pt.6

Why Small Businesses Fail – Pt.6      

The last part of why small businesses fail when it comes to employees is about the waste they commit and the bad publicity they will spread. Their poor attitudes can spread like cancer if gone unnoticed so we will take a brief look at what we need to do to protect our business. Also, watch who is in charge of ordering supplies, handling checks, and dealing with mail or your business will pay the price.

I once was going through a slump when one of my businesses was about to bust. I started looking at every aspect of my business. I found many things but what I found to be the most alarming was how much waste my employees were committing. I would watch individual employees for a span of 3-5 days. I would watch everything and not let them know I was watching them or tracking them. What I first looked at was in an 8-9 hour period, how much production were we really receiving as a company from that employee? After about 15 employees I discovered we were in trouble. The average employee was delivering about 5.6 hours a day of production. The rest was just wasted money down the drain. If you are paying eight hours then get your eight hours.

My office staff in particular would work more and more hours and still not be productive. They would have to work 11 hours a day to get close to 8 hours of production. I had to do something about it fast. Ultimately I ended up closing down the business because of what I am about to tell you next. It was the main reason I had such poor production from the staff.

A few years earlier I hire a friend of mine from softball and took him under my wing. There is a lot to this story but the moral of the story is the important part. As time had passed I made him an offer to become a partner in the business. In looking back it was a huge mistake of mine. One, he wasn’t mature enough. Two he wasn’t smart enough and three friends do not necessarily make good partners. Well, what I found out along the way was that he was breeding a culture in the business which contributed to the lack of production. He created chaos, confusion, friendships, and poor performance. Once you have this in your business and a culture gets bread like this, then it is next to impossible to remove. What you have to do is trace it back to its roots and cut it out. I should have done that a long time ago.

The next thing to be aware of is closely monitor who is authorized or allowed to order supplies. It is not the big money that gets you in trouble. It’s the nickel and dime stuff that will kill you. Monitor this close and remember these words…. Learn to say “no!” It will mean more profit later.

The last thing we will talk about is watch what is done with the mail. I would suggest, if it is possible, to have a separate person open the mail and enter it than your bookkeeper. This is a true story I had happen. I once had a bookkeeper who was horrible and would not open the mail and stuff it in a drawer. What this did was look like we had more money than we really did. When she was let go for poor performance we cleaned out her desk and found the mother load. Unfortunately it was not a good one. Heed my warning and set up a system of controls on your accounting.  Also, pay closer attention than I did and never get surprised.

Why small businesses fail is because business is complicated and it has so many moving parts. Being an entrepreneur is not for the weak at heart. Please leave a comment if you found this article helpful or if you had any other thoughts about it. Remember C.A.N.E.I. stands for constant and never ending improvement

Quotes by Franklin D. Roosevelt

It is common sense to take a method and try it. 
If it fails, admit it frankly and try another.
 But above all, try something.

Franklin D. Roosevelt

Quotes by Abraham Lincoln

Below are famous quotes from Abraham Lincoln. Please enjoy the wisdom from long ago that still holds true today!

 

Always bear in mind that your own resolution to success is more important than any other one thing.

Abraham Lincoln

Force is all-conquering, but its victories are short-lived.

Abraham Lincoln

Tis better to be silent and be thought a fool,
than to speak and remove all doubt.

Abraham Lincoln

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test
a man's character, give him power.

Abraham Lincoln

Personal Growth Tip #2

Always, always, take responsibility for what you do. No matter how painful or how demoralizing it may seem, taking responsibility for your actions is a self cleansing mechanism.

If you are ever going to learn then you need to be ready to take responsibility for your actions. The reason you want to always do this is that is how you will best learn from what has gone on. If you blame others then you have no action to execute. When you take responsibility then you have to deal with it in one or many ways. The process is not over at that point and you get top keep on working on yourself.

I can't tell you how many times in business I have to deal with people who spend their whole life pushing blame on others. Not once did they ever stop to think about why they keep ending up in the same miserable spot. It is always someone else who needs to deal with this as they are not responsible. I feel so sorry for them as those people do not realize all they are hurting is themselves. They are achieving no personal growth whatsoever. Instead they continue to live in a miserable state and never realizing what their life could really look like.

Do not allow yourself to give in to temptation to hide what you have done at least not to yourself. If you con yourself into believing you do not deserve what is going on then you will build in internal lies in which you will have to deal with. You can not hide from yourself so do not try.

Personal growth happens when we decide to do something about the way we are currently living or acting. When you decide to take responsibility for yourself, you then will be granting yourself permission to change your behavior. I hope you will decide to do just that this new year and be on your way to a prosperous life and much happiness.

Why Small Businesses Fail - Pt. 5

In the last post we talked about employees and the affects they can have on your business. The topic in that post was more about attitudes and personalities and how they can affect the reputation or performance of your business. In this post we will be discussing the legal issue associated with having employees and suggestions on what you can do to effectively deal with them. I am not an attorney, nor am I giving legal advise. What I am going to tell you is my opinion and what I have experienced and learned. You should always seek the legal advise of a qualified attorney if you so desire.

As previously mentioned, employees are paramount to having a successful business and can be one of your biggest assets. The other side to that coin is they are also one of your biggest liabilities. In case you didn't know the law looks at you like a custodian when you have employees and therefore charges you with complete care, control and custody of those employees and holds you highly responsible to their safety and anything else associated to them. What this means for you is that you will be afforded no excuses when it comes to properly caring for your employees. This is very important to know right from the start.

If this is your first business or are just starting one or have been in business for awhile I would suggest that you find an attorney who specializes in employment law. Employment attorneys are generally more expensive but are usually cheaper in the end because you will not have to pay their hours for learning or research. Once you have chosen an employment attorney i would suggest creating a short, simple employee manual and make it subject to change. Have your new attorney check any type of literature that may deal with employees. If a document is in existence make sure it is lawful.

Document, document, document any troubles, reviews, promotions, etc that you deal with. Watch what you write as it may be used against you later. Remember that ultimately we want to be successful so we are not just doing this to protect the company. If we are going to retain employees long term we need to be thorough in all we do with them.

My next suggestion is a bit bold and you will need to make sure it is done right. i will give you a generic over view here but for the full report/e-book you will need to email me. What I am about to tell you is a great tool for you with your employees and can save you thousands each year. I have been challenged by it several times by many agencies and I have always come out clean on it. What I am talking about is putting your employees on a wage rate agreement where they are paid minimum wage and any additional money earned will be by work performance only. I can't tell you how many times this has saved me and the customer. Lower cost equals lower prices past on to the customer. It is 100% legal and keeps the employees who are a little dishonest in check. For a sample of the agreement and the accompanying e-book, email me at the link below my picture.

Make arbitration mandatory for your employees should they have any type of grievance. This process is much cleaner, healthier and less costly for all involved. Arbitration is about the issue at hand and not about all kinds of other money wasting tactics used in a regular lawsuit or miscellaneous grievance. If there is an issue between employer and employee, the goal should be to get it resolved and not prolong it.

Employees are a mouth piece or ambassadors for your company so make sure you are always listening to what they are saying to your customers. Monitor phone calls, emails, and any verbal & written communications they are involved in. Promising services or other such things to customers leaves you in the hot seat if they are false. It is your right to snoop around and keep your eyes and ears open.

Implement an intensive training program and stick to it. Employees who are left alone will cause the company real issues. Let your employees know you care and that you are aware of them at all times. Do not coddle them or baby them but do take the time to acknowledge them.

Lastly, employee safety is a much bigger deal than you may put on it. There are plenty of companies out there who will set up and run a safety program for you for minimal costs. They will even supply you with industry specific forms to have your employees fill out. Accidents can drive up the cost of doing business and also lowers employee moral. Keep your employees safe at all times.

What we have just discussed is not intended to scare you but make you very aware of what your responsibilities are as an employer. You can effectively run your company while properly caring for your employees.

Why Small Businesses Fail - Pt. 4

In part 4 of this series we are going to talk about the most frustrating and complicated part of your business. This part of your business is very important and needed but is also the biggest headache you have and that is employees. Why small businesses fail when it comes to employees is allot to do with the unpredictableness of human beings. In this post we will be discussing the problems associated with employees and a few suggestions to help combat those issues. We will be discussing employee issues in the next two posts as employment relations are huge. Quite frankly we could discuss employees in a hundred posts but for now we will stick to three posts.

Employees are necessary to achieving big things in your business. They are the ambassadors for your company. You can not be everything in your company so we need to saddle with the fact that we need employees. The question becomes however, how do we manage those employees and the risk that come with them. For this post we will be looking at the everyday challenges that you need to recognize and deal with in order to keep your business from failing. In the later posts we will be discussing the legal risks they impose and the financial risks.

Employees are the most selfish people you will come in contact with in your business. Most employees will only think about themselves first and maybe the company second. The system is almost designed that way. You need to recognize that the reason most employees are who they are is because they cannot see past themselves. Sure they will show up most days and work but ask most of them to go above and beyond and you will be in for a let down. Do not get frustrated by this. We just need to understand it so we do not put ourselves in a position to get hurt by it. If you keep in mind they are selfish then you will never be surprised when they look out for themselves first.

Next, employees generally always feel under appreciated and generally have a self entitlement personality especially the younger employees. This is particularily dangerous when you are putting them in charge of a project or client where they need to mind the store closely. If that attitude kicks in where they feel they are owed something then your company may end up on the losing side real quick.

On a few occasions I have had employees ask me, "what does your money have anything to do with my money?" You really need to understand what they are asking here. What they are saying is who cares if you collect your money as long as I get paid. Employees generally are short sided and lack real understanding of the bigger picture. This is particularly important when you are trying to role out a new program or system. If they do not absorb it right away they may just push it aside.

So what can we do about all of these problems in our business to keep us from going under? The first thing I will tell you is first be aware , then be vigilant. After that I would suggest finding a good writer and set down and develop a good employee manual and training program. I would also suggest a good employment attorney which I will cover more extensively in the later posts. You also need a clear expectation sheet when you are interviewing them and have them initial they read it and understand it. Nothing is bullet proof but you need to not leave anything up for chance.

Protect you and the company at all times. This does not mean deal your employees dirty in any way but remember if the company is protected the the employee is covered and protected. They may not understand this but you do.

Lastly, have regular counseling and coaching sessions with your employees so you can keep a pulse on them and understand them as much as possible. Always remember this too: you are not there to be there friend. Not now, not ever. you are there to be there leader, mentor and boss. If you ever become there friend you will pay for it in the long run some how. Keep a good relationship but do not ever get sucked in to the friend trap.

Keep an eye on the ball and keep those employees productive at all times and you will do just fine.

Facebook Phenomenom

It is about time that we mature people have a site to stay in touch with those we know, love and are related to. I am now in my mid thirties and do not really appreciate the teeny bopping, all to graphic world of MySpace.

I am no prude and can get wild and have as much fun as the next person but to me I want to be able to communicate to others in a clean, nice environment. I am not a Myspace hater. My space has its crowd and that is fine but I just never really enjoyed it as much as I am on Facebook. 

Facebook seems cleaner, nicer, less advertisements or craziness. Its easy to use features and navigation make it universal for many. I have been on Facebook for awhile and lately it seems like more and more people are signing up and using the site. I have found more and more friends and family on there than ever before. 

On Facebook you can do a search by name , school or city and find old friends or family members. You can post photos, link to your favorite sites, join groups, join a cause, start a link and so much more. The functionality of Facebook is awesome and amazing and I am so grateful for this site. It is one of the best social network site on the web that brings people back together in one place. 

If you have never checked out Facebook, you should go on there and just browse to see what it has to offer. The web URL is www.facebook.com. This is for people of all ages and interests. It is free and is easy to set up and use. There is a calendar for birthdays, marketplace for items for sale or wanted, and so much more. Come and take a look at Facebook and join me on line. We would love to hear from  you. See you in space!

No More Resolutions - Make Commitments This New Years

As 2008 comes to a close many people will start with their New Years resolutions. I say this year throw out your resolutions. They do not work and never have. What we need to do this year is have New Years Commitments! When we commitment to something, we then engage in it.

For a long time I have heard about so many New Years resolutions that people make. The gym is one of the biggest ones repeatedly made by so many. From January through February the gym is packed. By March it is eases up and by April it is back to normal. The problem with resolutions are they become like slogans to people. We do not need slogans, we need commitment.

Commitments are something we bind ourselves with. Yes, people break commitments all the time but you have a far better chance of keeping a commitment than a resolution. This year make at least 3 commitments to yourself that you will keep and make happen at all cost. We do not need 10 or 20 right now. we only need 3. Sit down, and write up a list of the top 20 things you want to change in your life. Then actually number them from 1-20. One being the most important and 20 being the least. Then take the top 3 off the list and devise a plan on how you are going to accomplish them. Once that is done make a solid commitment to making them happen

As a human being we are programmed to want change but in the end we fear change because we say it will never happen, so you figure what is the point? What I believe and know is that fear of change comes in when we do not work on changing enough. We get so used to keeping things as they were. The problem is that you will want to change something at some point in your life. How will you change if you fear changing?

Remember as Anthony Robins says, "repetition is the mother of all learning." You need to work on changing over and over again. The more you do it, the easier it becomes. If you do not like what comes about from the change then you can always change it back.

In 2009 do not make resolutions. Make 2009 your year of commitment and start getting all you want out of life. I wish you a happy New Year and I hope and pray you will seek out lasting change in your life. Life will not slow down just because you do not change. God Bless and be safe.

Why Small Businesses Fail- Pt. 2

Since small business creates so many jobs and brings in revenue for the government you would think they would be bending over backwards to try and be more helpful and supportive. If you think your government cares about your small business then you have been seriously fooled. From the IRS to workers comp to unemployment office, there is no one there to help you in the ways you need help.

Almost every government entity I know of has some pamphlets to hand out or some resource CD to give you but none of it was ever written by anyone who has owned a small business. They are all meager suggestions, and bunch of laws and rules  and nothing more. A list of the do's and don'ts are fine but what you really need are resources for funding, help in solving issues, helpful forms and more. These government agencies really do not get what the real issues are.

When times get tough these agencies will crank down on you. When they see you in trouble they just seem to add to your troubles and not help alleviate them. I am not suggesting they are all bad people or programs and I am not suggesting we do away with them either. What I am suggesting is however that these agencies get revamped and retooled to truly help small businesses grow and prosper long term. Why not have weekly classes with hands on instructors? Why not have advisor's readily available for you who are personable and that can help you with those hard to find answers?

Isn't it time these government agencies soften up and start becoming more inviting and friendlier? What are they worried about? Are they worried about someone cheating the system? There really is no downfall even if someone does cheat the system as economics are this simple. When people make money they spend it. They more they have the more they spend. No matter what more is going in not less. If these agencies only understood this we could be so much better off. I personally am all for a national sales tax. I hate income tax and other forms of this tax. As a small business I need to spend more time focusing on building my business not worrying about the government.

So what do we do in the mean time? Let me make this as clear as I can. Make sure you are keeping good books, use whatever resources you can get from your government agencies and get a good team of  an accountant and attorneys. It is not as expensive as you might think. You can have an attorney on retainer generally as low as $1500. I suggest finding general counsel and one for employment and one for taxes. Those who specialize are generally more expensive an hour but cheaper in the long run because they are already educated highly in that particular field.

Lastly, do not be afraid as there are plenty of normal everyday people working in these agencies. Never be rude even if they are and always be polite and nice. kill them with kindness. The last thing you will want is an upset agent for some government agency who is hell bent on ruining you. Stay tuned for my next installment on Pt. 3 under capitalized.

Why Small Businesses Fail- Pt.1

Understaffed, overworked, under-appreciated, under capitalized, and too much government is the reason small businesses fail. The system is almost set up for failure right from the beginning. These are just the start to your troubles if you own and operate a small business. There is taxes, employees, marketing, sales, operations and so much more. Small business fails because there is not enough resources that are affordable or accessible for a small business.

It was 12:30 a.m. on a Sunday night and there I was up late again doing paperwork. I do not feel sorry for myself, nor do I regret my choices to own small businesses. After all small business is the backbone of this country. What I was regretting however was the fact I wanted to run my business with the resources of a large company but with the flexibility and control of a small business. So I put down the paperwork and started searching for help on the Internet. Sure I found some resources but they were all bits and pieces. A volunteer group here and some Q&A there but nothing that was a complete resource to help me get to bed earlier at night. Then that is when it hit me all at once. Our country needs small business but does very little to support it.

Did you know that 50% of all small business fail within 3-5 years? Most do not even make it to year 2. How can that be when small business is so vital to our country? How can we let this tragedy prevail over and over again? No matter how hard I have searched I cannot find what I am looking for. It has become clear to me in the process that I am not alone. So I sat down with my computer and started getting answers so I could help others just like you.

So I have decided to start a series of blog entries on "why Do Small Businesses Fail" in the hopes it will help others out there and give a clearer picture of what it takes to run a successful small business. I hope you enjoy them and please leave me a comment as I always welcome them.

Part 1 - Begin with the end in mind! I can't tell you how many times people start a business without the proper vision. The meaning behind this saying is that at some point in your life in this new business you will do one of the following: 1. You will die (heaven forbid) 2. You will sell the business 3. you will fail 4. You will pass it on to your children 5. You will just close it down 6. You will build it up to a huge business and then sell it or keep it. I cannot express it enough how important it is to figure this out before you get going. I remember the first time I heard this I was very puzzled. I thought I am just beginning and already I am planning the end? It did not make sense to me. Today I totally get it and have for awhile now. How do you know where you are going if you do not have a plan to get there? This is as elementary as it gets yet so many do not even have a clue or understand this. Would you get on a plane without a destination? I doubt it unless you do not value your life so why do it with your business?

So how do we make a plan? Like I said above first lets figure out what you ultimately want to do with this business. Next let's set some realistic goals to achieve it and we must write them down. After that we will review our plan and last we will put it into motion. After we have done that now we can start to plan the actual business. In Part 2 we will talk about business plans and where to get one.

So what do you do if you have already started your business and did not do this? Well the best thing to do is stop what you are doing immediately and follow my steps above. It is never too late to correct your mistakes once you have made them even if your last business failed. By the way, failure is not the problem with small business, people are. We need to learn to persevere and push onward and do not let bumps in the road beat us down. "one more round" as Rocky puts it in his movies. Get up and keep going. You can do it.

Why do small businesses fail? You know the answer, because we fail to plan. begin with the end in mind and live a happier life. See you next time in space and go for it!

I will cry for you my friend!

Today I spoke with a friend about a serious tragedy in her life. We have not spoken in many years and I will not say what the tragedy was and is. She deserves her privacy. What I want to say to her is this:" I will cry for you so you don't have to." I couldn't help but tell you that as the pain and tears you have been through is too much for one person to bare. I want to help you so I give you this now. My eyes have filled up with water ever since we talked. I will now be the one who will cry so you can start to laugh again and make your life what you want.

What would you do if you were the friend, loved one or acquaintance of someone who was going through something horrific? What could you do? How would you respond? I found myself saying over and over again I am so sorry to hear that. I am sorry that happened. How many times did I say that? I felt so stupid but I did not know what else to say. So right now all I can say is I will cry for you so I don't have to say I am sorry! I am sure she has heard that enough times and I am sure she is getting nothing from it.

When we go through a traumatic experience in life we usually go into some form of shock and feel like we are in a daze. I believe when that happens God sends people into our life or back into our life for a reason. I am sure that is why we have reunited as friends. I am here to help her or she is here to help me as God works in mysterious ways.

My friend who we will call Maggie, needs our prayers and thoughts to help her heal and grow strong from this. I know there is something good for her here and I need help delivering it to her. What would you do if life became tragic suddenly? How would you function? Do you know what you would do when your life gets all turned upside down? The only thing I know for sure is I would turn to God and pray. Other than that I would do the best I can.

Maggie is doing just that and rightfully so. I do not expect more than that for her right now. I pray she figures a way out and up but she deserves all the room in the world. Maggie when I was done talking to you my heart melted and I shed tears for you. I cannot imagine what you are going through right now but just know someone cares. You are in my prayers and I am here to burden your load. If you are reading this, I ask you to say a prayer for my friend who needs your strength. Life is too short and we all need to stop every once in a while and be thankful for everything we have in our lives. We never know what God has in store(or whomever you believe in) but what we need to do in the mean time is be a friend to as many as we can while we are here.

Thank you Maggie for sharing and I hope you are not mad at me for sharing. I felt so moved to tell some of your story today in the hopes someone out there will heal from this. 

Defining wealth – How to live better

I have recently turned around a tough financial time in my life in a matter of about 3 weeks. As I now sit here I was thinking about why I got to where I did and why it is important to be where I am at now. In the book by Robert Kyosaki - Rich Dad Poor Dad, the author talks about how you define true wealth. He states that true wealth is how many days can you go without working? For most people the answer is simple and that is a week to two weeks. The average American household has about $1100.00 in liquid cash available to them and that’s it. Poverty is getting worse everyday. If you have $2200.00 in liquid cash in the bank, that puts you in the top bracket of wealth in this country. We are not saving anymore and the spread between the rich and the poor is growing daily. Do you know what happens when this number gets way out of reach? It’s called anarchy. Every great civilization  has fallen in time and it is usually do to an up roaring from the poor. Once anarchy and chaos set in then the collapse happens. Do not get paranoid, get smarter.

In the last three weeks I have paid off all my bills besides my house payment. I reduced $2800.00 a month from my monthly bills. In my business I reduced my monthly overhead by $55,000.00 a month. Think about that in terms of liquid cash. I had to get up everyday and keep paying on bills before I even put a dime in my pocket. It had gotten so bad I just about gave up before I realized I had all the power I needed to turn it all around. In the business I have a little more to do but in two weeks or less I will have it right where we need to be. Why is all of this important? Think about what Rich Dad said. Wealth is defined by how long you can go without working? We need to build in patience and pay for things with cash when we have it. I have done that for years until about last year when I took my eye off the ball. Maybe I may make more than you or she make more than me but our lives are all conducive. We tend to spend to the level we make. What we should be doing is save to the level we make. If we are going to reach our goal of real wealth then we will need to get rid of our bills and start putting liquid cash in the bank. We owe it to ourselves to become wealthy. It is our right and we have the power to make it occur. All we have to do is stay focused and vigilant. If tomorrow comes and I want to stay in bed, I can now stay in bed. We are the masters of our own universe if we set it up that way.

Now, what is your plan for getting started? Sit down and make a list of all the bills you have and what they are costing you a month. Then take one at a time and start paying off. If you need to make more money, then get going. Figure out how much and how long you will need to get a second job, or make extra income to get it all paid off. For more help on setting up a plan, go to my website and sign up for coaching. Good luck to you and start becoming wealthy!

Visit my website at : www.thecaneicorporation.com for more information on business and improving yourself. You can also view my meetup.com group at: http://self-improvement.meetup.com/219/

How to improve your communication skills

Improving your communication skills is the key to having fulfilling relationships. No matter what relationship we are talking about, having clear, honest and open communications will increase your chances of success in the long run. In order to improve your communication skills you must understand that you must also get good communication back from the other party. You do not have the option of force so what you will have to do is encourage and train. That other person may be a lousy communicator with others but with you they will be superior as you command good communication in your relationships. Let's look at how we can improve our communication skills effectively.

First, start with your demeanor and personality. We must put off a vibe so to speak that says we are an affective communicator. We must live it and breathe it to all we encounter. We need to improve ourselves in our confidence in communicating to others. You must understand why we want to improve our communication skills because we want to be understood. In order for that to occur we need exact instructions to others.

Second, speak clearly and effectively using examples if necessary. If you are writing, then write neatly and draw a clear picture for whom the written form is intended. Do not get complicated in your communication. Instead be clear, concise and firm. Remember, presentation is everything in communicating so become a great presenter. Let the person know you are communicating with that you are like a seasoned actor who draws in the audience. The more of their attention you grab the better. Most peoples attention span is thirty seconds. If they are not connecting with you and drawn in then you will have even less time with their mind. Your communication skills need to constantly be perfected so never pass up an opportunity to practice them.

Do not leave anything open to interpretation that you do not want left open. Go as far as you need with the person that you are dealing with to make sure that your point is well understood with out guessing. If you fall short then they will fill in the blanks and we do not want that! We want to be in charge of our own communications and we want to be heard as we intended the message. We have our own voice to be heard.

Get the other party to participate in the communication. The more active you can get the other side the better then you will know they are receiving what you are doing. All communication on your side with no response from the other is side should be scary to you. We want affirmation that they understand and that the communication is good. If there is are objections or questions we want to know now not later. Do your best to engage your audience.

Lastly, have a clear plan before communicating. The more organized your communication is the better. If your other party involved with the communication is confused because it is disorganized then we will lose all chance of accomplishing our goal. For instance, if we are communicating with our spouse about how they spend too much money and we lay out our communication talking about the types of products they buy and how expensive they are. Then the message may be to change up my choice of products and get a better value for the dollar in their mind. Then he/she may keep spending as much money but get more products for the same price may be the message received. Figure it out before you open your mouth. Having to rehash the same message will be irritating to your spouse and you will have little chance to succeed.

Improving your communication skills has to be habit forming. They need to be used at work and at home. Communication skills will improve over time depending how much work you put into them. Do not give up as eventually your correct message will be heard the way you want it to be heard. I hope I communicated all of this clearly. 

Visit my website at : www.thecaneicorporation.com for more information on business and improving yourself. You can also view my meetup.com group at: http://self-improvement.meetup.com/219/

Best ways to reduce stress

There are two types of stress in life. One stress is helpful and can drive you to peak performance and one stress will kill you quicker than you can imagine. I point this out as it is very helpful to understand the stress that you want to reduce. Reducing good stress is counterproductive. I own several businesses and am on the move constantly. I have several methods to reduce bad stress and a lot of times replace it with good stress. I also have worked really hear on correcting my mind set not to make everything so big and so final. "This too shall pass" my mom would always say and I believe it daily. If I do not take on all the world's problems I am fine. I do what I can do in my world and that keeps me grounded. I believe when you try and take on things that are impossible then you begin to get stressed out and overwhelmed. I am not insinuating by any means do not reach high. I am simply trying to suggest not to put yourself in a losing battle right off the back. We tend to stress when we feel defeated right from the get go. Take on new challenges that are smart and not insane.

When I first wake up I start by clearing my thoughts in my head. I get organized on what the day is going to bring me. I tell myself I will attack today with my best. I then thank God for another day in this life. From the time I wake up until I arrive at one of my offices, I work on my attitude. I also prepare myself mentally over the tasks I have to take on. I am then ready for my day. I often at some point in the day close my door and have me time. I like to just think and dream. I take a deep breath and let it out in a controlled manner. I let go of any bad thoughts and ideas I have in my head. They are not productive. I then re-challenge myself to perform better and reach new heights. I put good stress on me and let it drive me. I do not give myself an out and make sure I accomplish what I want and need. I then rejoin my day. I make a deal with myself daily I will stop myself when I feel myself getting worked up.

I also exercise in some way daily. Exercise is a great stress reducer. You do not have to run a marathon just get in 20 minutes or so and break a sweat. When I do not exercise I feel tense. I then put on weight and I get irritable. When I work out I feel awesome and oddly enough I feel a whole lot more stress free. I also meditate in my own way. I use reading as a form of meditation and also video games. For me those two activities focus my thoughts on only what I am doing and I always feel fresh after I have done them. I give my brain time off from real life if even for thirty minutes.

I stretch as often I can throughout the day. When I stress I get tight all over so little stretches here and there really help including my hands and arms. I usually take a few more deep breathes during stretching as well. I do all I can to be calm at all times.

My last stress reducer is what I call visualizing. When I am struggling through something or if I am so stressed out I cannot think I visualize what it will look like when I solve the problem. I need to see it before it happens so I can take comfort in the fact it will be solved. If you feel hopeless then you will continue to build stress. Sit down and see the resolve and work out the details ahead of time. You will be surprised how effective this will become for you.

These are just a few gems I use to reduce stress. I use whatever I can to keep bad stress away. I know it is fatal and I eliminate everywhere I can. You can eliminate a lot of stress if you start focusing on eliminating it. As I complete this article I feel the stress flying away from me as writing is also a stress reducer for me.

The link between money and happiness

Money is no different than anything else in life. You decide how money makes you feel. Tying emotion to it is decided by the individual. I do not think money buys you happiness unless you decide it does. I also do not believe that money is the root of all evil unless that is your mindset. I will explore the difference to both of these attitudes and what we can do to decide how we will feel about money.

Money since the beginning of time has come in many forms for many countries. Gold always seems to be the king of currency since forever. If you want the best example to figure out about the link to money and happiness this would be it. Gold is shiny and is heavy. It is a mysterious metal that is not just laying around everywhere. It is hard to get but makes many smile. We are emotional about gold as currency or as jewelry. The flip side is some people have no opinion about gold at all except that it is a necessary evil. As human beings we stimulate our brain to decide what money means to us. When we have it, we send a chemical response to our brain that excites us. When we are lacking it, we generally send a negative response to our brain. Either way the choice is ours. What would stop you from sending a negative reaction to your brain if you are lacking funds? Think about it, you have the option of that being negative or positive. You get to decide. Do not fool yourself about this. You have the power, not me, or the bill collector, or government. You are the one in charge of this.

When we have enough money, we say to yourself, “I am happy, I feel safe and secure and I can spend extra money!" When you are broke you say to yourself, “I am uptight, I am frustrated, and I feel insecure!" I am not suggesting that you ever jump for joy about being broke but you can have a much different attitude about it. You also have the right to attach negative thoughts and have negative attitude towards money. The choice is all yours. Money is not an object that has any more power than what you assign to it. Do not give up any power than you do not want to money. What needs to happen is that you first discover how you feel about money and then determine how you want to feel about it. Then you need to live it.

I am often surprised how people feel so controlled by money and come up with so many urban legends or mottos about money. These are usually passed down from generation to generation. You probably feel about money how your parents did. If your thoughts are healthy then you should keep them. If they are unhealthy then maybe you should reevaluate them and change them.

Visit my website at : www.thecaneicorporation.com for more information on business and improving yourself. You can also view my meetup.com group at: http://self-improvement.meetup.com/219/

Love yourself first for Valentine's Day!

I thought it would be fitting with Valentine’s Day coming up to give all of you a good reminder that you can’t love someone else until you love yourself first. This is so true that I am often stunned by how many people do not get that. How you love yourself first is this simple: Be happy where you are right now. Feel great about who you are right now and love being with yourself right now. You may want so much more for yourself but you have to start with a foundation of self love. Quit getting down and feeling guilty. So what you are fat! You are still beautiful and you can always lose weight. Who cares you can’t always communicate the way you want to. Know your words have power and that skill will need to be gained. No matter what the issue, love where you are now and start working on it. You are the best Valentine out there so you better start doing your job. Before you start looking for mister right or miss right who you will want to love you, love yourself now. I believe cupid will be able to work best for you if you do this. He needs something to work with and negativity about you isn’t useful except for destroying a great person. Happy Valentines to you early and congratulations on learning to love yourself first!

Visit my website at : www.thecaneicorporation.com for more information on business and improving yourself. You can also view my meetup.com group at: http://self-improvement.meetup.com/219/