There is only one problem with self-help gurus. They tend to be charismatic, outgoing, people with boundless energy, above average intellect, endless reserves of personal courage, the ability to network easily, and amazing communications skills. It's actually no surprise when they succeed. When you look around the world for people to emulate, try to find someone who succeeded using skills that you have or can develop. If you are Oprah Winfrey, don't try to be Donald Trump. If you aren't Steven Hawkings, perhaps you are J.K. Rowling. Donald Trump's "Kicking Ass" is much different than Dale Carnegie's winning friends. Read several gurus and then find your own path . . .
Friday, October 5, 2012
Friday, September 28, 2012
If companies want your business . . .
. . . they wouldn't put the job you used to do over in China. They wouldn't hire and illegal with a wink and a nod and a handful of bogus ID documents. They wouldn't replace your full-time position with a part-time position. They wouldn't favor short-term contractors over permanent employees. They wouldn't provide a raise that lagged behind inflation. They wouldn't let your resume languish in a vast database while they wait for an M.B.A. to fill a basic office work function. They wouldn't charge you 25% interest on a basic consumer credit card. If the business community has let you down, why should you continue to buy from them?
If you are flat broke and need to watch every dime, you might want to subject your purchases to some extra scrutiny. Why not buy from Goodwill? Why not try Salvation Army? Why not buy from the desperate guy on eBay who needs the cash to stave off foreclosure? Why not look for "Made in USA" on the label? Why not think about every purchase once or twice before you get to the cash register? Why not keep the money in your pocket? "They" can earn your business.
If you are flat broke and need to watch every dime, you might want to subject your purchases to some extra scrutiny. Why not buy from Goodwill? Why not try Salvation Army? Why not buy from the desperate guy on eBay who needs the cash to stave off foreclosure? Why not look for "Made in USA" on the label? Why not think about every purchase once or twice before you get to the cash register? Why not keep the money in your pocket? "They" can earn your business.
Sunday, September 23, 2012
Book Review: How Successful People Think
We may be flat broke now. Many people are. The United States faces major economic challenges and none of our leaders have figured out how to handle the challenges posed by globalism. But, we are resilient and we will come back. We will come back by learning more, doing more, becoming more capable, and pulling ourselves up by our bootstraps. But, to succeed, we'll have to think carefully and do the right things.
To learn more, it's important to seek out new ideas and learn from everyone especially thought leaders. I recently bought a book called How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell. The book proposes focused, intentional, thinking. Basically, people should make the time to think systematically about things and ideas. It's a powerfully simple concept. But, Maxwell breaks down the ways to think about something very usefully and provides some ideas about the benefits you should expect from thinking in a certain way. Maxwell addresses big picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking, popular thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking. When you learn how to think in these different ways, you will be adding a powerful tool to your success arsenal. This was an interesting book to pick up at my local grocery store, it will definitely nourish your brain. Check out this and other books by John C. Maxwell:
To learn more, it's important to seek out new ideas and learn from everyone especially thought leaders. I recently bought a book called How Successful People Think by John C. Maxwell. The book proposes focused, intentional, thinking. Basically, people should make the time to think systematically about things and ideas. It's a powerfully simple concept. But, Maxwell breaks down the ways to think about something very usefully and provides some ideas about the benefits you should expect from thinking in a certain way. Maxwell addresses big picture thinking, focused thinking, creative thinking, realistic thinking, strategic thinking, possibility thinking, reflective thinking, popular thinking, shared thinking, unselfish thinking, and bottom-line thinking. When you learn how to think in these different ways, you will be adding a powerful tool to your success arsenal. This was an interesting book to pick up at my local grocery store, it will definitely nourish your brain. Check out this and other books by John C. Maxwell:
Wednesday, September 19, 2012
Broke? Quit Buying Stuff
A wise old man once told me why North Carolinians were always broke.
"Sheds," he said. "We build these sheds on our property and then we have to buy stuff to put in them."
That observation doesn't just apply to people in North Carolina. Many of us are broke because we buy too much stuff. Maybe we collect stuff? I've got two blogs dedicated to stuff that I collect: watches and die-cast cars.
If we didn't buy so much stuff, we probably wouldn't be so broke. If we could cut back on the amount of stuff we buy, stop buying stuff we don't need, and only buy stuff when it's on sale, we'd have a lot more money.
"Sheds," he said. "We build these sheds on our property and then we have to buy stuff to put in them."
That observation doesn't just apply to people in North Carolina. Many of us are broke because we buy too much stuff. Maybe we collect stuff? I've got two blogs dedicated to stuff that I collect: watches and die-cast cars.
 |
| Didn't need it. Bought it anyway! |
If we didn't buy so much stuff, we probably wouldn't be so broke. If we could cut back on the amount of stuff we buy, stop buying stuff we don't need, and only buy stuff when it's on sale, we'd have a lot more money.
Monday, September 17, 2012
7 More Reasons Not to Get an iPhone 5
Someone posted 7 reasons not to get an iPhone 5 on my My Wristwatch Forums. I'm pretty much anti-smart phone myself. With the iPhone 5, I pretty much see
lose-lose situations all around. Here are my 7 reasons not to get an iPhone 5, plus a bonus!
1. Couch Sleeping. If you go to a restaurant with your iPhone 5, you can check the ballgame at will. Sure, you might learn the score, but there is a pretty good chance that you'll end up sleeping on the couch.
2. Low Testosterone. The iPhone 5 causes low-T. I'm sure that every time you ask an artificial woman named Siri for directions, your body will lose testosterone. You know where the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, Appalachians, and Rocky Mountains are. Be a Man! You are NOT lost.
3. Texting. The iPhone 5 lets you conveniently send and receive text messages any place and any time. 'Nuff said. Don't text me. You are bugging me. I'll pretty much figure that you are a Nigerian scam artist and ignore anything you send.
4. Crime. The iPhone 5 makes you more vulnerable to crime. The iPhone lets you listen to music, watch videos, and text when you should be looking for shifty looking maggots between the ages of 16 and 24. Ever hear of the "knock-out game?" If you can't hear due to earbuds and you are involved in something with a gadget, you'll never see what hits you. Without the iPhone 5, you'll be able to look around and, like Grandpa Simpson, say, "I don't like the looks of those teenagers."
5. They Make You A Prospect. Smartphones try to sell you stuff. The iPhone 5 is just another attempt to bring you into an "ecosystem" and sell you stuff that you don't need. Stuff like ring tones.
6. TV Works Fine. You can watch a movie on TV. You can get a 27-inch screen at Goodwill for less than $20. Why would you watch a movie on your phone?
7. They make you look rich. The iPhone 5 is the latest, greatest, gadget on the market. If you get one, your boss will think he pays you more than enough.
Plus, the iPhone 6 will be much better!
1. Couch Sleeping. If you go to a restaurant with your iPhone 5, you can check the ballgame at will. Sure, you might learn the score, but there is a pretty good chance that you'll end up sleeping on the couch.
2. Low Testosterone. The iPhone 5 causes low-T. I'm sure that every time you ask an artificial woman named Siri for directions, your body will lose testosterone. You know where the Atlantic Ocean, Pacific Ocean, Gulf of Mexico, Mississippi River, Appalachians, and Rocky Mountains are. Be a Man! You are NOT lost.
3. Texting. The iPhone 5 lets you conveniently send and receive text messages any place and any time. 'Nuff said. Don't text me. You are bugging me. I'll pretty much figure that you are a Nigerian scam artist and ignore anything you send.
4. Crime. The iPhone 5 makes you more vulnerable to crime. The iPhone lets you listen to music, watch videos, and text when you should be looking for shifty looking maggots between the ages of 16 and 24. Ever hear of the "knock-out game?" If you can't hear due to earbuds and you are involved in something with a gadget, you'll never see what hits you. Without the iPhone 5, you'll be able to look around and, like Grandpa Simpson, say, "I don't like the looks of those teenagers."
5. They Make You A Prospect. Smartphones try to sell you stuff. The iPhone 5 is just another attempt to bring you into an "ecosystem" and sell you stuff that you don't need. Stuff like ring tones.
6. TV Works Fine. You can watch a movie on TV. You can get a 27-inch screen at Goodwill for less than $20. Why would you watch a movie on your phone?
7. They make you look rich. The iPhone 5 is the latest, greatest, gadget on the market. If you get one, your boss will think he pays you more than enough.
Plus, the iPhone 6 will be much better!
Monday, August 20, 2012
Bringing a Product to Market: Florida's Forgotten Coast Calendar - 2013!
After reading The $100 Startup, I got motivated to bring a product of my own to market. I've coupled my talent for photography with Lulu.com to create a calendar documenting my time on Florida's Forgotten Coast. You can see a preview of the Florida's Forgotten Coast Calendar - 2013
Tuesday, August 7, 2012
Have a $100? Start a Business!
Even though many of us have been set back financially, even though many of us have lost jobs do to global competition, even though the deck can seem rigged, we still live in America. It's a free country. We can engage in commerce and start a business on a shoestring. We can harness the same Internet that globalized the world economy and use it to provide for ourselves and our families. It's really NOT that complicated. It's simply a matter of finding the intersection of our passions and what customers are willing to buy.
If you'd like a manual, a how to guide, to help you think about starting a shoestring business as a side job or main source of income, you have to check out Chris Gillebeau's book, The $100 Startup. It has great advice and success stories that will help get you started. You can read a complete review of the book here:
If you'd like a manual, a how to guide, to help you think about starting a shoestring business as a side job or main source of income, you have to check out Chris Gillebeau's book, The $100 Startup. It has great advice and success stories that will help get you started. You can read a complete review of the book here:
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)