Change

     One thing we can always be sure of is CHANGE!  It occurs around us every day.  In all aspects of our lives.  If it weren’t for change, that is if everything stayed the same, where would we get growth, expansion, and that upward movement that we needed in our business?  Anyone who thinks that they can continue to do the same things that they did 5 – 10 – 20 years ago and get advancement within their business (or their personal life) is only fooling themselves.

     That being stated:  there is purpose in my strange mindset.  We’re passing into the second quarter of 2018 and although I have tried to provide an interesting business topic on a weekly basis for this blog and a second blog post from the depths of my mind, with all other things going on in my life and that constant that I mentioned earlier (CHANGE):  I have decided to once again make adjustments to the blog posts.

     I will continue to make periodic entries to this blog as time will permit me to do so.  I’m hoping that it will be AT LEAST 6-9 posts per month.  However, these entries will come from the inner portions of my mind and be on varying subjects.  This will help me return to the original purpose of the posts to begin with.

 

     The topics will consider the various “quirks” that are floating around within my brain and I’ll try to express them in an unusual manner that will make you think about your own thought patterns.  From time to time I may also throw in a topic on some business aspect if I feel the need to do so, or I may just briefly include a comment on some program, software, or business opportunity that I think you might find appealing or of interest.

     One of my basic reasons for doing this is that I want to keep the blog running with topics that I personal find of interest, but that I think may also be of interest to my readers.  However, and this is the part that has put limitations on my time, I have also began to write some books that I am hoping to have published (probably in E-book form).  I am currently working on THREE books and a possible fourth!  This is becoming very time consuming and I want to keep them moving forward.

     The research alone on these projects is consuming many hours of my time.  And believe it or not, I also have a life with my beautiful wife that I DO NOT want to hinder.  That being said I hope you can understand the need for my changes and will bear with me as I make these necessary adjustments.  

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"If you can't adjust to change ---

you die!"

Marriage

     Here it is once again the 20^th of April.  As I wrote a year ago this date has many reasons for various people to celebrate.  For me this day especially on this year (2018) has a great deal of meaning.  It is my 50^th wedding anniversary.  I can hear many of you saying “Congrats” and I do appreciate your thoughts very much.  So I was thinking WHAT am I going to write about today?  And the subject should be very obvious:  marriage.

     Marriage is an institution that has been around since the beginning of human history.  When our Creator fashioned Eve and brought her to Adam he was emboldened to utter some of the most beautiful words that have been recorded:  “At last, bone of my bone and flesh of my flesh.”  And it was so stated that a man would leave his father and mother and stick to his wife and they would become one flesh.

     Many today have a distorted view of marriage.  They seem to think that it is no longer necessary.  They would rather live together and see “if things work out.”  That’s not making a true commitment to the union.  You are almost saying that you expect a failure in your union.  There are some who choose not to get married because they feel they are forced to do so by the government.  When two people are on social security disability they may lose some of their finances if they decide to marry.

     Others feel that there are too many “handicaps” to “dissolving” the union if they choose to part.  “It’s only a piece of paper!”  They decide it’s not needed for them to stay together.  But with that thought:  a driver’s license is only a “paper” document.  You don’t really need it to drive a vehicle.  But, IT IS needed to be legally recognized to drive.  There are many situations that a marriage certificate is needed to be able to gain some type of legal benefit.

     As I reflect back on the 50 years that I have had the enjoyment of being with my wife I must admit that there have been both good times and bad.  But the bad are so much easy to endure when you have someone by your side that you know will be there to help you when the going gets tough.  And they know that you will be there for them.

     I can’t speak for all people but I can speak for myself.  My marriage has been a wonderful joy within the days that I have lived.  I will also be thankful that I found that person who could spend these days with me and that we could create together the many memories that you have shared.  And my thoughts are that many who may read these words will find that “special” someone for their own lives.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"A good partner can help you

get through bad times."

Accounting

What is Accounting?

     The image of an accountant used to be a hunched over and bespectacled older man sitting in a dark room with stacks and stacks of paper.  That image could not be more outdated!  Now, an accountant is a savvy business professional who contributes substantially to a company’s bottom line.  Becoming an accountant is a smart choice for many (especially if you have a “knack” for numbers).  But, first you’ll need to know what accounting is, and more about understanding accounting practices.  You DO need to understand some accounting principles and terms, but we can relate them all from the business world to our everyday lives.

     To put it simply, accounting is about keeping track of our money.  Accounting is how businesses monitor income, expenses, and assets over a given period of time.  Accounting often is referred to as “the language of business” because of its role in maintaining and processing all relevant financial information that an entity or company requires for its managing and reporting purposes.  Accounting is a field of specialization critical to the functioning of all types of organizations.

     So, in our everyday life “accounting” is keeping track of our money!  Where does it come from?  Where does it go?

     Unlike the U.S. government or other world governments we cannot simply print ourselves more money when we run low (well, not legally).  These governments are now realizing that you CANNOT live off credit indefinitely!  Sooner or later there comes a time of reckoning!  We may find ourselves at this point when we are out of money — but there is more month left!

     Outside the government, the banking system is the only means of creating additional money (I will explain later).  However, now they have learned (I hope) their money IS NOT real and can lead to many financial difficulties if not handled correctly.

     Accounting is also a body of principles and conventions, as well as an established general process for capturing financial information related to an organization’s resources.  Accounting is a service function that provides information of value to all operating units and to other service functions, such as the headquarter offices of large corporations.

     Accountants learn about accounting and engage in a wide variety of activities besides the basic bookkeeping or preparing financial statements and recording business transactions.  Accountants also compute costs and efficiency gains from new technologies, participate in strategies for mergers and acquisitions, quality management, develop and use information systems to track financial performance, tax strategy, and health care benefits management.  Good accountants are vital to a company’s success.

     Good accounting in your personal life is necessary if you are to function within the boundaries of your financial means.  You need to know where you are financially, how you will maintain this position, or what is necessary to change your present circumstances.  You need to prepare and operate within a well thought-out plan of operation.

     Think of the comfort of having a plan in place for you, for your family, which could take the disaster out of an untimely event.

     Think of the power you will feel if you get easy-to-understand information on a regular basis so you can monitor your personal spending habits.

     So — quite simply put:  Accounting is a language:  a language that provides the information you need to understand YOUR financial position.

     In the business world, this information is provided by means of a (1) Balance Sheet, (2) Income Statement, and (3) Statement of Cash Flow.

     The whole purpose of accounting is to provide information that is useful and relevant for interested parties when making decisions regarding the company and its operations.

     The same should be true about your personal financial situation.  Your financial circumstances may not be as complicated as General Motors, Exxon, or some other large corporation; however, the principles of accounting should be used for YOU to UNDERSTAND where you are in your financial life.

     Now, DON’T let the accounting terms cause you a great set-back.  Within any profession you have terminology that is specific to that line of work.  You just need to basically understand what it is we are talking about.

When I mentioned:

            (1)  Balance Sheet:  It is a status report that shows information about the organization’s resources at any one moment in time: Its assets, liabilities and owner equity (stockholders equity).  For you this simply means what do you own?  What do you owe?  The difference is your net worth.

            (2)  Income Statement:  It is a report that shows the flow of revenues and expenses over a given period of time.  You might look at YOUR income statement as what money did you receive during the month and what money did you spend?

            (3)  Statement of Cash Flow:  This statement details the movement of CASH through the organization over a specified period of time.  For you this report would track your cash movements.  It would NOT necessarily agree with your “income statement” because you may make purchases on CREDIT or CHARGE ACCOUNTS and the actual “payment” (or cash out flow) would be a totally different figure.  (Let’s not get too tangled in the terminology at this point.  I think it will become clearer as we go along in understanding your financial picture.)

     However, I think you can understand the need for these three (3) specific reports to give you a clear picture of your financial standing.

So, Why Do We Need Accounting?

     Asking that question of an accountant is like asking a farmer why we need rain.  We need accounting because it’s the only way for business to grow and flourish.  Accounting is the backbone of the business financial world.  After all, accounting was created in response to the development of trade and commerce during the medieval times.

     Italy is our first recorded source for accounting entries, and the first published accounting work in 1494 was by a Venetian monk.  So you see accounting as an organized method for record-keeping has been around almost as long as the trade and business industries themselves.

     Another interesting fact is the knowledge and principles upon which the first accounting practices were established, have changed very little in the many hundreds of years that accounting has been in use.  The concepts of assets, liabilities, and income and the need to reconcile these areas is still the basis for all accounting functions today.

     The process for recording those transactions, and the many reports generated by the compilation of that information has evolved over the last two hundred years.  Thanks to the creation of computers, many of the bookkeeping functions that are vital to accounting, but somewhat repetitive are performed by data entry clerks, and the reports generated come back almost instantly.

     The same is true for our personal financial lives.  We must spend the necessary time to understand our position and financial condition, regardless of how simple or how complex our specific needs may be.

     As you can see, accounting will affect every aspect of YOUR life, for better or worse!

PS

     A great way to better understand your financial situation and needs and to especially provide some training for your children is through an extensive budget and finance program that parents and their children of all ages can watch together.  Check out this program:  Family Finance Video Master Class.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHFUL GEM

"If your road to success isn't there yet,

lay out your plan and build it!"

Surprises

     Surprises --- who of us does not like them from time to time?  Your wife’s face literally beams when you surprise her with a flower arrangement or some candy.  Especially when you do it for no special reason.  And when the boss gives you that unexpected bonus --- words cannot really describe the feeling you have.  I know, it doesn’t happen very often:  maybe never!  But if it did!  How about when the children do their homework, clean their room, cut the grass, or wash dishes --- ALL without even being asked?  Yes, some surprises are truly overwhelming, but nice just the same.

     However, there are seemingly more and more surprises today that are not really wanted.  You’re sitting in a fast food place eating with your family and suddenly a mad man rushes in and opens fire with a rifle.  Or your child is at school and one of their classmates has brought a weapon and suddenly attacks the teacher or another one of the children.  Or maybe not just one student, but a person opens fire to see how many he/she may kill or injure?  Imagine the horror of the woman in Florida some years back who was being interviewed on a television news program at the grave site of her recently deceased child.  Suddenly her ex-husband came into the scene and opened fire on her repeatedly.

     Many politicians, economists, religionists, and others have noted that since the turn of the 20th century, especially since World War I, the world has gone mad!  It’s hard to know what to expect from the people you meet on the streets each and every day.  The woman that pleasantly smiles at you as you pass on the street could be stealing her employer blind.  Or the man who proudly drops off his children at school each day could be beating his wife constantly at home or perhaps even abusing his children.

     You don’t have to try and “think up” situations that may provide these surprises.  Just turn on your television for any evening news report and you will hear the things that will make you sick at your stomach.  It’s almost getting to the point that you no longer want to hear the news.  Just when you think it can’t get any worse - - - IT DOES!

     We can blame our actions on others, on the system, or even excuse ourselves by saying “that’s just the way I am”.  But if we don’t start becoming responsible for our actions and doing the best we can to eliminate this injustice, we’re going to find ourselves with the biggest surprise of all --- the “man upstairs” --- the guy holding our “lease on life” is going to tell us the “lease” is up!  Where will we be standing when that event happens?

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"There are good surprises,

there are bad surprises,

we'll get them both when we least expect it.

That's why they are surprises!"

Child Self-Esteem

     I believe that today one of our most precious possessions is our children.  We need to consider how we treasure them and provide for their safety and well-being.  There was a time that I can remember in my life-time when children were guarded and looked after.  When we stop and think about it human children are probably the only species of creature who have to be cared for and watched out for for many years before they are able to care for themselves.  Others in the animal world have their young and they are almost immediately able to “get up on their own feet” and begin a process of training that will provide them the needed skills of survival.  We as humans are not like that.

     However, in today’s world it is becoming more the “common” thing that our young are abused, mistreated, neglected, and often looked upon as merely an “inconvenience within our lives.”  This is true in so many parts of the world. Where at one time the young were nurtured and cared for, not only by the parents, but by the entire community it has become the unpleasant surprise that even mothers will discard their newborns like an old, unwanted garment. 

     If you have ever considered a working position to help assist in this much needed area I would like to offer the consideration of becoming a child coach?  Today many children struggle with their studies at school, with their teachers’ expectations, with their friends and social skills, with their own behavior and attitudes, with authority, with their personal health, with their siblings and sometimes, even with their parents.  These are certainly things that break the hearts of loving and caring parents.

     Although, deeply loved by their parents, many children ARE NOT happy and life seems complicated and difficult for them to deal with.  They have to struggle to get up in the morning and go to school, to get involved in the very activities that will help them deal with their situations, or to even communicate their feelings to those who truly desire to help them cope.

     “Life affords no greater responsibility, no greater privilege, than the raising of the next generation.”  C. Everett Koop

     I’m NOT a medical doctor, a psychologist, or any other type of trained individual who has the skills to guide the adjustment of a young one.  However, I do believe that it is not healthy for a young person (especially a very young one) to go to any kind of therapy (unless it is absolutely a necessity) as their subconscious perceives this as a confirmation that their parents feel that “something is wrong with me” and “I need to be fixed.”

     Parents are the best coach for their children.  So the proper approach for a child coaching program is to include the parents within the scope of the training.  Thereby giving them the tools to assist and support the training and adjustments that the child is receiving.

     The “old school” approach was that when you had children you would “somehow” become this great parent and instantly receive all the knowledge that is necessary to raise that child within a proper environment and surroundings that will produce a well-nurtured individual.  However, parenting is a learned skill.  Unfortunately, most parents don’t have the time, or the money to invest in a degree in parenting.  But they still need to learn the psychological, educational theories and parenting tools that have been researched and implemented all over the world by millions of parents and have found to be extremely successful.

     “My father didn’t tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it.”  Clarence Budinton Kelland

     Happy parents raise happy kids.  When parents are happy with themselves and clear about their beliefs and values, this will be reflected by their children.  Child coaching has been around a long time.  It is basically known as personal development.  There is not ONE person who could not benefit from a constant process of growth and progress within their lives.  This is especially true of children.  They have not had the opportunity to gain much experience in life.  They are still vulnerable to the hidden snares of deception from those around them.

     Often it is only the building up of the child’s self-esteem that is needed to help them learn the process of coping with the anxieties of life.  The parents can be helped in this area also.  Sadly our young ones are often lead to believe that they are unlovable, they are unwanted, and that all of this is because of their own doing.

     As a society of adults we should have the fortitude to help raise a bright new generation of young ones who can be assured that they are completely capable of handling not only their own problems, but the problems that they will need to face in the future. This can be done if we begin now to take a personal interest in their advancement and in the problems that they are dealing with now.

     I think most of you can realize that when we went to school we didn’t have to worry with fellow students carrying knives or guns.  We didn’t have to consider that while we were sitting in our classrooms that perhaps we would never see our loved ones again.  Our thoughts were upon learning and not upon who would be charging through our classroom door within the next few minutes before the end of class.

     We need to do what we can to help our young ones today return to those days of peace and tranquility.  We need to help them deal with all the problems that have become so prevalent today.

     One way we can do this is by becoming a Certified Self-Esteem Coach for Children.  There is now a program available that can provide us with the training that we need to do this.  Whether we want to merely want to do this to help our own children or grand children or we want to begin a rewarding career within this area, the opportunity is available to us.  Please click the link above if you would like to learn more about this opportunity.

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"No one stands taller than when he

is on the shoulders of one who cares."

Just a Thought

     One day not too long ago I gave my son this long eloquent speech about the need to be more responsible in his life.  He had just turned 15 years and 9 months old and was about to get his temporary permit for driving.  After I had finished what I thought must have been paramount to a Pulitzer Prize acceptance speech, my son looked at me and asked, “Day, what the heck are you talking about?’

     Sometimes we become so concerned about “how” we’re going to say something that we forget “what” it is we’re trying to say!  I know I’ve done that, even when I sit down to write one of my articles. After I’ve put words to paper, I stretch back in my seat, take a deep breath and read what has emerged from my keyboard.  You read over a point and then that little voice inside your head says “What!”  It’s almost as if your fingers have been running across the keyboard at random and not with any of your control over the words that pour across the screen.

     When you’re giving instructions to someone, how often do you have to repeat yourself?  And how often, even after they have convinced you that they know exactly what you said, do you find the job has been done wrong or at least not exactly the way you wanted it?

    The problem is twofold.  First we often have a difficult time in explaining to someone what it is that we really want or what we want done.   We let them guide our requirements.  Does the following conversation sound familiar?  You’ve just taken your “pride and joy” to the printers:

     “I’d like to get this printed in booklet form.”

     “Oh yes,” the printer says looking over your papers.

     “What I’d like ---.”  The printer quickly has analyzed your needs. 

     “This would look great collated, saddle stitched, bound with an attractive vellum cover.”

     “Well, yea, that’s good.”

     Now don’t get me wrong.  I’ve used various printers and I’ve accepted many of the suggestions that have been offered.  But making the final decision has always been left up to me.  My point is we need to express ourselves better.

     The second point is we need to learn to listen better.  Really understand WHAT is being said instead of hastily jumping to the conclusion.  Remember conversation is a two way street.  Maybe the good Lord was trying to tell us something.  We have TWO ears and only ONE mouth.  Maybe we should practice listening TWICE as much as we talk!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Sometimes the only way to truly 

help someone is to LISTEN to them."

E-books are Promotional Powerhouses

    According to MY opinion (that and a couple of bucks will get you a cup of coffee?) e-book writing is one of the easiest and most profitable means to gain a part-time career and make money in the process.  The topics are so numerous that you would basically have an unlimited number of subjects that you could produce in written form.  Today let’s consider how you can use this powerhouse within your promotions.

      E-books are part of the new frontier of cyberspace.  They are a fairly new medium for sharing marketing information, ideas, techniques, and expert knowledge.  Each day the number of people accessing the Internet grows, causing the exposure of your e-book to increase incrementally. It's obvious why electronic self-publishing has become so popular so quickly.

     The publishing industry, I hope, does not intend to forever banish the printed word to the dustbin of history. Books in print have their own special qualities and merits, and the world would be diminished by their disappearance.  Sometimes you just want that joy of running your fingers down the binder of the printed book, holding it within your hands, and letting your eyes gaze upon that page for as long as you can.  But, before I digress too far.

     Having said that, let's look at what makes e-books so important and so unique. E-books have certain abilities and qualities that other mediums do not possess.

     For example, e-books are fairly easy to produce, and their production cost is inexpensive. Just think about it: you don't need a publisher, an agent, a printing press, offset film, ink, paper, or even a distributor.  You just need a great concept, the ability to write it or to hire a writer, and the right software.

     Additionally, e-books are easily and rapidly distributed online. They are also easily updated; they do not require a second print run. All you need is to go into your original creation and modify the text or graphics. Because of this flexibility, e-books can change and grow as fast as you can type.

     E-books are also immediately obtainable. You don't have to go to a bookstore or search through endless titles at an online bookstore. All you have to do is download it from a website, and presto! It's on your computer, ready to be read.

     E-books are interactive. This is one of the most unique and specific qualities that e-books offer. You can add surveys that need to be filled out, order forms for customers to purchase your products or goods, sound and video that draw your reader into the virtual world of your e-book, even direct links to relevant sites that will expand your e-book outward. The potential is virtually limitless.

     E-books have a particular kind of permanence that other mediums do not possess. Television shows and radio shows air once, and then may rerun a few times. E-books remain on your computer for as long as you choose, and they can be read and reread whenever you choose to. They can even be printed out and stored on the shelves of your traditional home library.

     Another wonderful quality is that e-books have no barriers in terms of publishing. You don't need to go through the endless process of submitting your manuscript over and over again, and then once you land an agent, having the agent submit your manuscript over and over again. Nor do you have to shell out thousands of dollars for printing a self-published book. All e-books require is a writer and appropriate software.  Figure out your market, write your book, post it on your website, and with the right business savvy, your audience will come to you.

     Finally, you have creative control over your e-book.  You don’t have to compromise with an editor or the publishing trends of the time. You don't have to haggle with a designer or wait for copyedited galleys to arrive by snail mail. You are in complete control of the design and the text.

How to Use E-books for Marketing and Promotion

     There are innumerable ways to use e-books to promote your business and drive quality traffic to your website. Once posted on your site, you can turn them into a daily course, which brings your customer back to read the next chapter. You can use them as a free gift for making a purchase or for filling out a survey. Put your e-book on a disc, and you will have an innovative brochure. Blow your competition away by inserting the disc into your sales packages.

     The most effective marketing products are those that are unique. Copyright your e-book, and immediately, you have a powerful tool that you, and you alone control, and can offer to the public. People will have to visit your site to acquire your e-book, which increases the flow of quality traffic and the potential of sales and affiliate contacts.

     Make sure that you keep your e-book current. Update it frequently as the market and trends change. Add new advice and techniques to show your prospects how your goods or services can enrich their lives. By constantly keeping abreast of new trends and techniques, you can continue to see profits from your e-book for years after your original creation.

     Another phenomenal advantage of e-books is that you can test their marketing potential without putting out hardly any cash at all. You can even produce an e-book one copy at a time, each time you receive an order, eliminating the need for storage and inventory. By this method, you can gauge the salability of your e-book, and make adjustments as necessary until the orders start pouring in. E-books allow you to learn about your market and customer habits and motivation over a period of time, without risking your precious financial resources. They also provide you with an invaluable way to gather marketing information, which you can use in many different facets of your business.

     Use your e-book to discover what the specific goals and problems are in your specific industry. Then figure out how to solve these problems, and publish an e-book with this invaluable information. This will increase the value of your business, upgrade your reputation, and get you known as an expert in your field.

     You can extend the value of single e-book by breaking the book down into chapters for a serial course, into special reports available on your website, or into audio or visual tapes. E-books can be broken down into several different promotional materials by accepting some of the articles and using them to promote your product. You can include a catalog in your e-book to promote all the products or services you sell. You can include a thank-you note for reading your book and an invitation to download a trial version of your product. Or you can include a form for your audience to contact you for further information or with questions, thereby building your business relationships and your mailing list.

     Using e-books in this manner helps to cut the cost of individually producing separate promotional materials. You can use a single e-book to entice new prospects and to sell new products to your current customers.

     No other medium has this kind of flexibility and ability for expansion. Think of your e-book like a spider spinning a beautiful and intricate web. Now go and create that web, and see how many customers and prospects you can catch!

     You may surprise yourself with the great advantages of E-books.  You may even learn to like writing them for yourself and FOR OTHERS!

PS
     Maybe you'd like a little assistance in getting your e-books produced.  Check out this great e-book on how to get yours written in only 7 days:  Write Your Own E-Book in 7 Days!

QUOTE TO CONSIDER

THOUGHTFUL GEM

"Let your heart bleed the words onto the page, 

then you will have a something worth reading."