Wendy’s Coach You To Success Blog

About Average US Households
Most American families have as many as thirteen debit, credit and store purchase cards. In fact, most households in the US receive one or more offers for credit opportunities each week! These offers sure sound good — transfer your balance from a card you have a large balance on to a new one or interest-free debt for half a year or more. You think, “I can pay that debt off before the interest begins” or “That balance transfer is free, so why not do it?”
It sounds great to think you can zero out a credit balance through transfer. You promise yourself not to use it unless you have to, but you end up charging new purchases to the zero balance card. Now you have two debts and can’t pay them on time. So you accept another offer and another transfer. You think this strategy will help and wonder why more folks don’t do this.
It’s sad but true that credit cards have collected $43 billion in late fees, over-limit penalties and transfer fees in 2004 alone! They really don’t have your best interest at heart. They want to make profit from your money.
Sound sort of familiar? Causing you to feel a little sick right now? Well, you are not alone at all. The US Federal Reserve indicated that 43% of American families spend more than their income by using credit. Clearly, if you spend more than your salary or paycheck, you go into debt.
About Minimum Payments
You may think that as long as you pay the minimum credit card payment on every card every month, you credit report will be great. In fact, you can get more credit cards. However, is this really good?
Sorry; the answer is a resounding NO!
Maybe you don’t know, but if you made only the minimum payment each month on a credit card with a balance of $4,800 at 17% interest, it would require 39 years and 7 months to get out of debt! You would have paid $15,619 and 2/3s of that would represent interest. You’d pay interest on food you ate for years or even clothes you bought that long ago when to charity, even computer or video equipment that isn’t even capable of use any longer.
Is It All Your Fault?
In 2004, a study indicated that older Americans used credit cards because of the high price of medical care and prescription medications. Along the same lines, anyone with a serious medical condition or medical emergency may find they are suddenly smothered in debt. With medical insurance spending caps, and 20% co-payments in many cases, plus deductibles and non-covered supplies and over-the-counter medications, an illness can really destroy a family’s budget.
We also find that many households are being hit by the increase in rates on adjustable rate mortgages (ARMs) as those rates reset. Because the With the federal reserve interest rate is increasing, ARM mortgage payments have gone up as much as 25%! If your home loan is an ARM and the monthly mortgage payment was $1200, it could go up as high as $1500 in one step!

So What’s Can I Do?
Some folks take out loans against home equity to pay off credit card debt. But then they have to repay that loan plus a possibly increasing ARM mortgage payment. And if that home is sold, a lot of what would be profit gets eaten up by paying off that loan. Another bad point is the fact that interest on home equity loans is not as low as for primary home mortgages.
Some people try credit counseling like those they’ve seen on TV or on the internet but find so many are not helpful and some are even scams. The legitimate credit counseling industry is backlogged with people seeking counseling as part of mandatory requirements for filing bankruptcy. The IRS, to add to the issues, is investigating 41 “not for profit” credit counseling services and, as of May 2006, let consumers know they were motivated by profit and not toward helping the credit consumer needing help. These types of investigations pop up continually.
There used to be a last-way-out through bankruptcy if you were truly stuck deep in debt. Now, most bankruptcies are caused by catastrophic medical bills, loss of job, or divorce. Congress legislated in 2005, enacting laws making it much harder to quality for bankruptcy. Now you must have credit counseling but may find it hard to access. Plus, lawyer fees and court filing fees have gone way up. The law also requires that more payments be made to the creditors than in the past.
Is There an Answer?
You will be happy to learn the answer is: YES, and it is really very simple:
Make more money and pay off your debt.
A second source of income is what you need and it needs to be one that you can work at when and where you wish. You need an income source that can fit into your life with all the family and social obligations you already have. A home-based business CAN change your entire financial outlook and allow you to pay your way out of debt quickly and easily. Once you have a handle on debt, you can run your business as a means of earning money which is not only easy but very satisfying and rewarding. You’ll want to accumulate wealth and maybe even reach the point you can quit your traditional job and focus on your home-based business as so many others have done before you. Today, people like you are earning money, ranging from small incomes to vast fortunes and all they use is a computer and telephone! You can do it too!
This idea’s time has come. Want to end the worries of debt and take charge of your finances and entire life in ways you never thought possible? Well, take a second and fill out the form below for free, no-obligation information.

Popularity: 59%

Is the American Dream Still Alive for Me?
Study the information below and think about it:
• Personal debt, not taking into account home mortgages, is an average of around $19k per family. In excess of 50% of that is in credit card balances, which, according to statistics offered by Ian Young in Debt Facts, has tripled since 1990.
• Today, more than 40% of families in America regularly spend more than their income each year. That big difference is paid for through debt. (source: Ian Young, Debt Facts)
• The average US citizen who is in mid-life is not rich, but is worth only around $40,000 including their home equity if any. The remainder of their property really belongs to the lending institutions financing debt. Personal savings are down from 8% of yearly income to, in 2004, less than 1%. This is mainly because of low interest rates causing poor returns on what savings people have and the fact that credit is so easy to access. (Ian Young, Debt Facts)
• Benjamin Stein from the National Retirement Planning Coalition states, “Tens of millions of Americans are seriously under-prepared to meet their financial needs in retirement.”
• Up to 40% of US citizens have no retirement savings at all.

Therefore, I must ask:
Is the American Dream still alive and achievable or is it only something of the past?
No matter what the rest of the world is like today, you are fortunate enough to reside in the US and are given the chance to go for anything you can dream.
For centuries, the US has been known as the “land of opportunity” and it remains so today to anyone willing to put the work into accumulating wealth. In the US, we can live a quality of life that so many others only dream of. However, the way to go about accumulating wealth has changed dramatically but the opportunities are better today than ever in history.

The New Way to Gain Wealth
We all feel a lot different in this post-9/11 world. We share an uneasiness at times, whether during the day or at night, which helps make us who we are, impacts what we do and how we live each day. America is still a wonderful land of opportunity, and only your fears and inner demons can prevent you from taking advantage of all the possibilities that are open to you. Do whatever you must to put yourself back into a pre-September 11th mindset, and set a course towards wealth accumulation. The opportunity is there for the taking, but you must be prepared to leave your comfort zone and put yourself out there.
Perhaps you worry about traveling, fearing another terrorist attach, or are hesitant to buys stocks in the market, or any of many other things may cause anxiety as you go about your day. No matter what your fears or concerns, they can keep you from doing things which could add value to your life and even your finances.
These feelings of unease can’t be seen or touched, but they sure can be felt, and many are held back from thinking they can truly do great things and become successful beyond their dreams. Perhaps it is more difficult to rise in the morning and feel the world is right. Maybe you think today is not the time to take chances in business or life in general because the future isn’t clearly revealed. But that excuse was always used, even pre-9/11.
In fact, the future has been uncertain always. That has to be accepted before you can break out of your shelter and move forward with confidence. You must take the steps to make the life you dream of and take the opportunity to live with no fear that it could all go away because of something outside your realm of control.

The Opportunity to Build Wealth Is Better Than Ever Before
Sure times may be difficult and you can’t build wealth exactly the way that worked in the past. The stock market and economy remain uncertain and the days where you could see fast profits from investments have passed.
Plus, you may be working really hard yet be surviving only from payday to payday, thinking opportunities to build wealth don’t exist for you.
But you really can change your finances and enter the “Land of Opportunity!
More than ever in history, people are building wealth. Even in a troubled economy and war on terror, even with high fuel prices, and job layoffs in every sector, there simply isn’t a better time to start your trip down the path to financial freedom. You’ll gain wealth through your own business instead of only a meager paycheck. Plus, you’ll be able to remain at home with your home-based business.
While less than 20% of American workers self-employed, this small percentage comprises up to 2/3s of all US millionaires!
We can learn one thing from this fact: it is far more likely to become financially independent when you work for yourself rather than someone else. You have more chance to build wealth, taking advantage of the American Dream, by jumping into the lucrative world of home-based businesses.
You Have Control
Why allow your future to be determined for you when you CAN determine your own future? Even more importantly, you can start now, before it is too late. Never has there been a more opportune time to start a successful home-based business and change your financial future completely.
Right now, stop the worries about living expenses and take that small step toward a secure future financially. Now is the time to learn how to generate a great income quickly to provide for you and your family into the future. Just fill in the form area below and I will send you all the additional facts.

Popularity: 55%

• One in each 11 adult females now owns their own business.
• Female entrepreneurs are growing new businesses twice as fast as males.
• Nearly $3.6 trillion (yes, that’s TRILLION) in revenues are made through businesses owned by female entrepreneurs today.

Those are some really astounding statistics now, aren’t they? These stats were taken from research generated by the Center for Women’s Business Research, a Washington DC organization, who studied this trend which is growing at supersonic speed.
Some folks call this a “revolution” and I believe that is exactly what it has become. The question is: are you missing out on the benefits of becoming part of this trend?
Female business owners — married, single, divorced, with or without children at home, even retired women who want to earn money — have become crucial to the US economic landscape. The US has over 9 million businesses owned by women and those businesses currently employ well over 27 million people, contributing $3.6 trillion to the US economy. And it’s not just in the US that this trend is happening; it’s a global trend today.
No longer is entrepreneurship and small business ownership limited to men in stuffy suits and ties. Today’s world and global economy are swinging open doorways for women more than ever before and women are, in numbers increasing daily, streaming through these doors to independent, exciting futures.
Entrepreneurship is allowing women to take control of a portion of the business world and many of them are doing so by marketing their businesses via the internet. It doesn’t matter where you are right now in life or what your past; it doesn’t matter what you level of education or even what jobs you had in the past. It does matter that you have drive and want to achieve great things.
Today, women are finding some amazing opportunities to begin businesses from the comfort zone of their own homes and build theses businesses in to huge successes which can meet their life needs, allow them to care for their family and even save for a comfortable retirement.
Women are diving into these entrepreneurial opportunities every day. It might seem scary at first, but you are so many great tools and resources available to help you along the way. The keys to success you must bring to your business are desire, drive, and passion.
Owning and operating a successful business from your home can help you get rid of stress due to financial burdens and lack of time to spend with friends and family.
Owning a business allows you lots of self-expression. It provides a sense of self-worth and accomplishment, confidence and contentment — and we all know these are things that money can’t buy.
Ladies, don’t miss out on this call to action. Take this opportunity to learn about the endless possibilities being an entrepreneurial woman can offer you. On the internet, women are needed to lead the way and all you must do is have enough initiative to become part of this growing trend.
Let’s look at some of the things you can do to start moving down the road to starting and operating your very own successful business.
• Select a business which can potentially provide you with monetary rewards necessary to live the life you dream of.
• Skip those business opportunities which end up turning into a job where you have to work 80+ hours per week just to make it. You want to earn money while still having time to enjoy life and spend time with friends and family — not become a slave to your business.
• Research in depth those people to whom you will be marketing. Learn to make they feel comfortable about you and the idea of working with you and learn to relate well to their circumstances, no matter what those are right now (that’s pretty easy, since you’ve probably been where they are right now)
• Develop and follow a marketing plan. Don’t start any business without some careful planning. Gain an understanding of what is needed for advertising and promotional resources, locate successful professionals to assist and mentor you where necessary in order to get things accomplished efficiently.
• Give yourself the chance to prosper before you give up. Most businesses start slowly but they can succeed if given a bit of time and effort. Let your business grow because seldom do successes occur overnight. Allow your business time to become established and known.
• Keep expenses at a minimum by working from home. Any business which can be run from home should take immediate advantage of that great luxury.
• Remain focused and stay persistent. Focus on each task and learn from each experience. Remain committed and find what works for you. Don’t repeat the same mistakes over and over and save yourself both time and money from these learning experiences.
• Build your business by using technology as a crucial tool. Stay on the technology edge by using computer, the internet, faxes, and telephones to promote your business. This technology lets you operate your business from anywhere, whatsoever, in the entire world — now that really is freedom, isn’t it?
I am offering you, right from this website, information about a great business you can operate from your own home. It is really changing lives — it certainly changed mine. Right here at this website, I am offering you information about a business that you can operate from the comfort of your own home that is truly changing lives, including my own. Join me in taking the initiative and changing your future, too.
Just fill in the form fields in the web form below and let me offer you with lots more information about this great business opportunity which has allowed me to live out my dreams.
It is can come true for you, too, but it is up to you to act now!

Popularity: 51%

Recently, a Gallup Poll indicated 57% of Americans would prefer to be self-employed rather than working for someone other than themselves. Every job has frustrations but self-employment has lots of advantages. The rise in outsourcing, layoffs, organizational mergers, and other surprises facing those in traditional workplaces, workers today want to take control of their future by working on a self-employed basis. You can no longer depend on a company to provide for you for 30 years and give you a pension. In fact, employees are no longer considered valuable assets but are replaced for cheaper resources as companies become profit-oriented at the cost of the employee. Why not become your own boss?
Let’s look at a few of the reasons you should consider self-employment:
• You set your own hours so you have schedule flexibility.
• You can earn while at home, beside the pool, at the beach, on vacation
• You will potentially earn a lot more money.
• You’ll enjoy satisfaction as you see your ideas become successes (instead of someone grabbing all the credit).
• You who you work with - and who you don’t work with.
• No more office politics.
What is required to be a self-employed success? Is it the right fit for me?
Are you will to take some risks?
Probably the biggest reason people delay from beginning their own business is their fear of losing a steady paycheck. One great way to deal with this anxiety is the old adage “Don’t quit your day job”. Right at first, it might be tough but you can choose to keep the security and benefits of your traditional employment while you get your own business going. In fact, millions have used this method to succeed. Or save money until you get six months’ expenses in savings and then begin your new career as a successful business owner without having the money worries as your focus complete on your money-generating business.
Are you creative and resourceful?
Building relationships and networking with others are key paths to success for self-employed business owners. Make yourself a list of people you know who could be helpful if as your enter the world of self-employment. Every single person you know is a possible revenue resource to your business. Get to know other small business owners in the community and join some local organizations. Go to job fairs to build contacts. Search the internet, look in the yellow pages and local papers, making lists of organizations, businesses, and people that may be helpful.
Are you a good listener? Do you observe details?
You’ll no longer be running off to the traditional workplace daily, so you’ll want to listen to everything happening in the community, the local area, and the general job market. Learn the trends and what people want and need. Knowing how to respond to these wants and needs allows you to become valuable and brings you income. By doing a good job, you’ll gain free advertising by word of mouth as people discuss your business. It’s a great way for small business to save tons in promotions.
You’ll also need to listen intently to clients. You’ll need to encourage clients to ask questions about things they don’t clearly understand. Plus, you’ll want to develop the listening skill of being able to “read between the lines” when a client is talking. Sometimes, their words are really revealing a deeper message you must be attuned to hear.
Are you an energetic, positive person?
A lot in life is about attitude. In corporate American, attitude will help you get what you want, let you convince people that you are a team player and that you truly care about your employer. When you become self-employed, you want to be energetic and hold a positive attitude about your own company. When you sound and project success and remain upbeat, you’ll find becoming successful to be easier and much more fun.
Are you self-disciplined?
People who are self-employed love to make jokes about that long commute from the bedroom to the computer. Every day the dress code is “Casual Friday”. The relaxed atmosphere is certainly a major benefit of enjoying home-based self-employment. But you’ll still have to set aside time for work and be disciplined about maintaining that commitment. It’s great to be able to decide how long before break time and what hours you’d prefer to work.
Do you enjoy learning?
There is no education requirement for making it big in your own business. Lots of successful folks don’t even have a high school education. You must, however, be open to learning new things needed to make your business successful. You might need to learn how to operate a new computer application, set up your accounting system, write professional-quality sales material, or other such skills which may be new to you.
You’ll be thrilled to learn that the internet can provide tons of help. You might consider taking some adult education classes at local high school or college venues; these classes are usually inexpensive, provide quality learning experiences, and offer flexible hours and even weekend classes. Once your business really begins bringing in the money, you can hire employees or professional services to take over some duties you feel are too time-consuming.
How Can I Get Started?
The very first step you want to take if you wish to start your own business is to do research and examine yourself. Identify strengths and determine the amount of time you can devote entirely to your business. What is in demand currently that you can provide? What type of business would you most enjoy owning?
I will help you every step of the way!
Just fill in the form fields below, and I will personally provide you with more information about this opportunity which has changed my life and lets me enjoy the freedom and income to live my dreams. I can’t wait to hear from you so you can join me as a successful self-employed business owner!

Popularity: 100%

Every happy parent considers their offspring to be the most important things in their lives. Children desire parents’ attention and today many moms or more dads than in past decades are choosing the rewarding path of staying out of the traditional workforce in order that one parent be at home for the children. Many families are finding this is the best decision they ever made.
There is a price to be associated with having one parent remain out of the traditional workforce outside the home — that second income is suddenly not part of the budget. It is good to know that the payoff of quality child rearing and extra family time can be well worth the sacrifice.
Depending on the income level you may be sacrificing, that financial loss can be huge as the years pass. Ann Crittenden calculates, in her book, “The Price of Motherhood”, that a couple who once earned together $80,000 per year could lose over $1 million in their lifetime income after having a child and the mother leaving the workforce to stay home.
And that doesn’t even address the retirement savings problems associated with the income reduction!
Regardless of how small or large the previous earnings, the long term impact on family finances due to choosing for one parent to remain home instead of working for income are big. Not only is there the loss of income, but there is often an associated loss of benefits like employer pension plans or health insurance, both of which are extremely important and valuable.
When making the choice to remain home for the children, few moms or dad realize the impact to their Social Security benefits from the Federal Government caused by ceasing to pay into the fund. With no income, the level of benefits for which a person qualifies for at retirement remains stagnant instead of growing.
It’s really terrible that there is such a financial impact of choosing to be a top-quality parent. It’s a lot of work to be a good parent and your family values the sacrifice. The nurturing benefits the children, their education and allows them to develop interests and hobbies that latch-key kids find unavailable. It can be lots of fun and help the entire family by avoiding many of the hassles working parents experience when juggling career responsibilities and children’s needs, appointments, and finding family time.

You are not by your self in making their choice. More moms and even some dads are choosing to get off the career path and remain home for the kids. The trend is growing as families determine to survive on just one income. The 2001 U.S. Census Bureau report indicated that 1998 revealed 59% of mothers of infants worked outside the home at a full time job; the number dropped to 55% two years later in the 2000 reporting cycle. Clearly there is a huge appeal in being there face-to-face to raise your children and ever more families are making that their goal.
There are many positive aspects of being a stay-at-home parent, but you do miss that earning ability. You probably worry about not being able to “keep up” by staying on the edge of technology and developing new skills and creative outlets, even if it is not in your forethoughts. You may wish there was a method to turn your time into income without losing that much need time at home.
There is a way to have the security of a second income and stay at home!
Our society is amidst a revolution as people decide the traffic jams and stresses of 10+ hour work days for both partners is just too great a price to pay in family quality. These people are finding that they can learn how to earn a very lucrative income right from their homes. You, too, can begin a home-based business, be there for the children, and enjoy the rewards and satisfaction of a profitable professional life too.
Having a second income without the impacts of childcare expenses offers a double benefit — it’s like making profit twice. Just consider a second the great things that you won’t have to postpone due to finances any longer, such as…
• Fun, family vacations
• Upgrading your home to fit your growing family or buying a bigger house
• Being able to afford to save for retirement years
• Building a substantial college education fund for the children
• Or whatever your heart desires but you can’t afford today
Yes, after building your own successful home based business, the scrimping can crease. You’ll still have time to hunt for bargains but when you want to treat yourself or your family, you’ll be able to do so without guilty feelings.
It’s true the work a parent does at home is very valuable. Salary.com, a salary research company, calculated what they thought a reasonable salary for a stay at home mom should be including childcare, accounting, transportation, cooking, household management, cleaning, laundry, shopping, and much more. The figure they came up with as $90,000 per year and they estimated that to be based on a workweek of 90 hours each week!
It is nice to know that working as a stay at home mother is valued at nearly equal to a six-figure salary, but no paycheck is going to magically appear in your hands. You’ll need to take action and make money for yourself. The way to do this, while maintaining your family time, is to start a profitable home-based business. You’ll be your own boss so you will be able to schedule and integrate your income-producing business activities with family needs.
Your home based business will allow you to have the financial security you’ve been missing. No more worries about potential job layoffs for you and you’ll be in a financial position to tide the family over if your spouse experiences a job loss. In fact, you can offer your partner the opportunity to pursue a different career or other chances that may have not been taken in the past because of fear of risking that single income.
Start earning money today to provide for your children and save for your golden years. Just answer the questions below and get all the facts about a home-based business that will let you begin earning for your family right away.

Popularity: 47%

Are You An Action-Taker or Only a Talker?

There are two types of people in the world — those who only talk and those who take action. Which type are you?

A decade or so ago, my friend made a decision which changed her life. She had the chance to spend one year as an exchange student in several different European countries. Her background certainly wasn’t that of a world traveler and her family was not rich enough to provide her long overseas trips. Really, I doubt anyone in her impoverished neighborhood had even dreamed of being able to take such a trip. The hand-to-mouth existence kept people too busy to dream of such world travel.

My friend’s first thought was to dismiss this idea because she had no idea what to expect. She had no command of foreign languages. Traveling to Europe for a full year would mean she had to quit her job, spend the savings she had struggled to squirrel away (a major achievement in her neighborhood!) and leave behind her friends, her family and step into an unknown future. At the end of her year of travel, she would return home without a job and without money to fall back on.

She struggled with her thoughts for some time but finally thought, “the worst that might happen is I find I don’t like traveling and arrive home early. I might never have this change again.” She told the school’s student counselor, “I want to sign up!” and she did.

Everyone thought she was going to back out or that she was nuts to go off to a strange land. But my friend got her small savings together and showed up for her airline flight two months later.

Lessons My Friend Learned

The trip across the Atlantic was a complete disaster. Right out of the starting gate, my friend’s whole group of 50 travelers were bumped and had to find other flights to get to Europe. She managed to book a later flight and had to wait 10 hours before leaving. She thought this was the first sign that she should have listened to everyone who said she was nuts to go off to Europe. Having developed a major case of jetlag, she finally arrived in Europe the next day. She arrived at her apartment and immediately went to sleep.

You know how stories begin with “a funny thing happened”. Well it happened the next day when my friend we exploring and found she really liked Europe. She found travel easy and got around just fine. She went to a travel agent and purchased a pass for Euro rail.

During the coming week, she visited several countries — all alone because most of the other exchange students were scared to go outside their initial country. Sure, my friend had some anxiety, but she made the conscious choice to overcome her worries and learn what was there to see and do. She explored far beyond the small world she had known all her life. She found European train travel to be easy and safe as long as she used her common sense. After her first week of stepping out of her comfort zone, she began going to a different country each week. She found a feeling of freedom, independence, accomplishment and success that she had never ever felt before. It felt absolutely wonderful!

During her year in Europe, my friend really had her eyes opened. She experienced culture she could never have gained access to otherwise. Different systems, different foods, meeting new people, she learned she was an adventurer with a real desire for knowledge. Plus, she would never have met the man who was to become her future spouse! The couple ended up spending a year running his restaurant together in Berlin, making it a huge success before the pair returned to the U.S. together. My friend reflected on the past two year during her flight home, realized her expectation of returning home completely broke had not materialized. In fact, she had more money now than she had when she left for Europe!

Clearly, there are lessons to learn from this. Never let anxiety and fear stop you. Nothing truly great comes without some risk. Fear stops 99% of people achieving success in life. This doesn’t have to happen — just decide what you really want and go get it!

You Need Must Realize

Success or failure in life is up to you. Of course, you can’t control every factor. The answer to those factors is to simply not worry about them, focusing instead on things you CAN control — you, your thinking, and your actions.

Points To Keep in Mind

* Always be looking for possibilities. Don’t discard an idea only because it is something new and different from your past experience.
* Never permit the fear of failing become your focus, even if it attempts to overpower you. Remember: Fear stops 99% of people achieving success in life.
* Accept that some risks are necessary. Prudent risk-taking allow you to become a success in the long haul, even if you experience a few stumbling blocks along the way.
* Again, always, ALWAYS look for opportunities.

Success is really about finding inner fulfillment, peace, satisfaction in life, emotional stability and serenity. To achieve this, you must take some risks in business as well as in your personal life.

You must step outside your comfort zone in order to achieve the success you desire.

A Few Pillars For Success:

* Failure to plan is planning to fail so plan your work, then work the plan!
* Strive for excellence by setting goals for yourself rather than accepting the goals set by others.
* Stick to your plan!
* Accept that life will present us with disappointments now and then — it’s just a fact of life. Don’t let these disappointments hold you back, overcome become stronger.
* Turn each experience, no matter if it is good or bad, into a learning opportunity
* Avoid regrets by living every day as if it were your last day on Earth.

Final Thoughts . . .

The world is full of talkers but there are not nearly as many doers. Are you a talker or a doer? Do you WAIT for success or do you want to MAKE success happen for you? Success will not come force you to accept it. But, if you act you can build success. Don’t be a procrastinator for another minute. Become a success instead.

Stop only thinking that you probably should make a change toward future success. It is now time to ACT ON THAT THOUGHT! Do something toward becoming that success. Start a home-based business is the simple first step required to become a success and earn financial security and freedom for you and your family.

You have to look out for yourself. Take control of your future right now. I’ll show you the way –starting right after you make the choice to become a success and make your life better by taking a simple first step. You will not be alone because we are right with you. Simply take a few seconds to fill in the web form and begin your path to success today because time waits for no one and the faster you get started the more time you have to become successful. Don’t just think about it; ACT RIGHT NOW!

Popularity: 46%

Every segment of the media talks about the Baby Boomer generation which is fast growing into the retired generation. These people are considered to be those who were born during the years 1946 through 1964 and have either retired already or are still in the workforce and considering if they will ever be ready to afford retirement without falling below the poverty level.

Another group of Americans, younger than the Baby Boomers are in the workforce today but face an entirely different set of circumstances than those in careers in past decades. These younger workers face a world where it is unrealistic to expect to be employed by one organization for 30 years and then retiring with the gold watch and sizeable pension. That work landscape has become a part of the past.

Then there’s the Federal Government’s Social Security plan which clearly states on their own websites that people retiring now and in future years should develop retirement plans which will generate about 70% of the income they earned during their working years in order to keep up a similar lifestyle. Yet, these same websites go on to say that, on average, Social Security will provide only an average of around 40% of a retiree’s pre-retirement income! So, unless these future retirees have very good investments and savings portfolios to generate substantial income, they are not ready to afford retirement with a similar lifestyle as they enjoyed during their working years.

According to the Government Accounting Office (GAO) estimates, a couple earning an average income who will have income of around $20,000 per year from their Social Security at age 62 should plan to have investments and savings totaling $500,000 or more in order to generate a yearly income during retirement of only $46,000 total! Yet, many couples today, even with lowered living expenses anticipated during retirement will hardly survive on $46,000 per year.

Do You Have $500,000 Of Savings and Investments?

It isn’t difficult to figure out that a couple can manage to live on less than $46,000 per year with proper budgeting. But, there’s some bad news you need to think about. In the September, 2006 issue of AARP Bulleting, Stan Hinden wrote that over 1/2 of the people polled who are working currently and are approaching retirement (the 55 and over age group) reported they had saved very little toward retirement; in fact, their household savings were $50,000 or less. How can these people possible prepare to afford retirement? How could this happen to so many workers nearing retirement age?

* Few, if any, workers stay at one company for their entire work career, a practice that was quite common in their parents’ day. Not only do workers change jobs today, many people change careers, perhaps more than once, for a variety of reasons such as better opportunities or downsizing or outsourcing of their positions. This means that few workers become fully vested in the 401K plans offered by those employers who still offer such options. The results are that rollovers and payouts become small or even zero for many who change jobs or careers.
* Some of our plans turn out differently than expected. Many people have had their savings eaten away by huge medical costs. Insurance doesn’t cover some lifesaving procedures and when a loved one requires help, whether your spouse, your child or your parents, anyone can find their retirement savings reduced to only a small sum.
* Change is a part of life. Companies change retirement plans, couples divorce, or a company buyout results in loss of benefits. Suddenly, instead of having a sensible retirement plan, these future retirees find themselves having to attempt to catch up with these changes of plans.
* Everyone wants their children to enjoy a quality education including a university or even post-graduate education. Suddenly, parents find themselves taking loans against retirement plans such as 401Ks in order to manage the increasing cost of college tuition.
* Some people find their retirement plans changing as they become caregivers to elderly family members and must go from a nine-to-five career to either working from home or not working at all.
* Some future retirees simply have allowed their poor budgeting and spending habits to result in credit card debit. It can be impossible to save when paying off high interest debt.
* Some future retirees work as hard as possible their entire lives, live on a strict budget, yet still find there isn’t anything left to save toward affording a comfortable retirement.
* To top all these facts off, the purchasing power of money has not kept up so that raises in income are quickly eaten away by increased expenses. People are struggling to get from paycheck to paycheck..

In previous generations, a worked wanted to be faithful to one company, building a career for their entire work life. The company pension plan was incentive enough to get people to even continue in jobs they hated. They knew that once they grew old, the company’s pension would take care of them.

Today, the trend in companies is cost savings and that includes cuts in retirement benefits. There often isn’t a company pension to help in these retirees “golden years”. Reduction in health insurance benefits for retired workers make paying medical expenses a major worry for people seeking to afford retirement. People who can obtain insurance (many find they can’t qualify due to pre-existing conditions) find the cost of premiums, deductibles and co-payments for themselves and their spouses too costly to afford. Any Medicare benefits do not include any dental or reasonable vision care so retirees need to buy their own or pay the out-of-pocket cost of these expenses.

Retirement is lasting longer as people live longer. The future retiree suddenly has to begin worrying if they will live longer than their money will last. Some future retirees will live well into their 90s or even 100+ years and become sick and poor because their retirement funds have run out.

Companies are converting employee retirement funds into “cash balance plans” where employees are given lump sum settlements upon retirement which totals the money in the retirees’ pension plan or 401K. Then the retiree has to figure out how to invest to build their pension.

Unless a person becomes an investment expert, how can a person ensure these cash lump sums are wisely invested? Where and how does a person find trustworthy advisors? Well, there really are experts out there, but finding one you can trust can be difficult, especially with all the other worries associated with pending retirement.

Really, no current retirees or future retirees can feel entirely secure!

This paints a pretty scary picture, doesn’t it? Will you be able to afford retirement or will working the rest of your life be your only survival mechanism?

But there is some good news for retirees and future retirees: Those who take charge of their lives right now can choose what their retirement years will be like! There IS an answer!

It simply doesn’t matter if you remain home to care for children, the family or elderly family. It simply doesn’t matter whether you live in a city, village or rural area. It simply doesn’t matter how much you already have saved toward being able to afford retirement. You can build a business that only requires the Internet and a telephone and you can even keep up with your business as your travel.

Professions who have already succeeded at building their businesses will teach you exactly how to get out of the rut and into the fast lane to affording the retirement of your dreams. You simply won’t believe as quickly your life can be turned around completely!

Stop worrying about an uncertain future financially and economically. Start right now and take the first simply step toward a life you will control, enjoy and start thinking of the retirement dreams you wish to build with your own business. It is so easy to get started; just fill out the following form and get all the facts.

Popularity: 47%

When we are praised for work well done, we take credit for it, but when our work is criticized, we often pass the blame. That’s the way of the world and this exists in families, corporate sectors, governments of civilized countries, and even in home businesses that involve the entrepreneur and staff. While everyone likes to take credit, none wants to take the blame when things go wrong.

It takes great courage to admit that we have erred if we really have. It’s easy to blame staff and menial workers, but if conscientiously we examine our role in messing up, we will realize in what way we have erred. And when ultimately we’re done with blame game, we blame God for making something wrong happen. In his book, ‘Believe in God Who Believes in You’, author Robert. H. Schuller talks of human tendency to blame God for road accidents and bridge collapses, when all we should blame is ourselves for driving recklessly, or the builders for using inferior quality building materials.

When a cosmetologist Dona launched her organic cosmetics, even society women thronged at her boutique. She hired and trained staff who were able and competent at their job and who rendered excellent service. Their competency made Dona complacent and she’d often go partying leaving the shop that spanned one single floor in her home at the hand of her able staff. However, when a client’s skin reacted adversely and she threatened to sue Dona, all Dona was to fire the staff responsible. Wasn’t it Dona’s responsibility to supervise every product and prescribe treatment according to a client’s needs?

When a business grows in leaps and bounds, it’s natural to get complacent, especially when you have able staff around. However, when you are on the top, the only way is back to the bottom onto square 1! If you want to remain at the top, you cannot just exist, but be in constant flux to recreate, to innovate and strategize.

Susan loved packaging and packing gifts with beautiful gift wrappers. In the 80’s she started a small boutique where she’d make gift wrappers and personally wrap them. She packed gifts to resemble wine and perfume bottles, pillows, chocolates etc. Her unique gift of wrapping presents brought many clients to her door-step. She soon recruited other gifted women like her to assist her. Nancy a young university student had a brilliant idea-why not paste hand-crafted cards bearing the presenter’s name, instead of using ready made complimentary cards?

Initially Susan was wary of Nancy’s idea, as it would involve additional expenditure, but when Nancy was given a ‘go-ahead’, she was amazed to see Nancy creating cards out of eco-friendly cards, fresh leaves, twigs and all! Susan later held an exhibition selling Nancy’s idea in a separate counter. Although Nancy worked only part time for fun, she decided she’d give this business her full attention. Susan and Nancy soon became business partners!

It is imperative that you don’t leave everything to your staff, however able they may be. You have your name etched in your company’s letter pad and any credit or criticism will reflect on you, not your staff. When your staff renders quality service most likely they will be appreciated for the extra effort, but when they goof up, you will have to bear the brunt.

When your staff is open to your ideas, you should be open to theirs as well. Nelson converted a part of his porch into a space selling plants, seeds, gardening equipments etc. When his business blossomed, he began recruiting staff to arrange flowers, mix compost and prepare manure. One staff Keith however, would be busy chipping away twigs and logs, while others slogged. In a fortnight, he created several name plates made of twigs, and containers out of logs to accommodate plants!

Nelson noticed Keith’s creativity and rewarded him handsomely, simultaneously exhibiting his creative products as well. Nelson had his porch exhibiting pretty wood work like name plates, candle-stand, photo frames, picture frames where dead flowers and leaves were stuck after being preserved and even polished wooden ornaments. From one thing, Nelson proceeded to a related field, making his porch resemble a creative eco-friendly shop!

Appreciate talent and be a guide to those faltering. You will learn a lot by appreciating other’s potential. Everyone makes mistakes. In life, there are no mistakes, only lessons to be learned, but ensure that your mistakes are not costly ones. By being tolerant, you will only retain staff and assure their loyalty. However, ensure mistakes aren’t repeated and be there to personally supervise staff. If you do need to take a break, ensure you have some partner to assist you in your job and impart all the necessary training and knowledge to this staff. Mentor someone who is interested in your job, so that tomorrow your memories will linger in the world! Take responsibility when things go wrong and give credit where it’s due!

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 85%

We are living in exciting times. There are immense opportunities and avenues to make our lives a success. Creativity and innovation are back in fashion. Or were they ever out of fashion, in the first place?

If we do things in the same old way, we will get the same old result. We have to break the mold and chase new dreams. We have to think of new ways to do things and to be creative. Creativity is not restricted. There is a fallacy that creativity is restricted to the arts alone. Or creativity means some great and monumental achievement or change. Business success is as much a result of creative thinking as music or sculpture. After all you are an artist carving out your business ideas. Everyday work environment can be a wonderful place to spawn creativity and innovation. It is an accepted fact that more decisions are taken near the water cooler than in the office cabins. The informal atmosphere plays an important role in such decision making. There is an opportunity to be creative in an open, interactive and informal work environment. This eventually impacts positively on productivity.

There are hundreds of ways of doing things. Some enhance our output whereas some simple act as speed breakers. Business acumen rests in separating chaff from the Bran. I have often observed that in many instances, creativity is associated with expensive and lavish expenditure. In one of the offices, a beautiful office with antique furniture, which cost a bomb, was articulated as creativity. Yes, it may have been creative but how did it contribute to the success of the organization? Business creativity means those endeavors which enhance productivity, profitability and success of the organization. They are not mere eye candy or artistic pursuits. Not art for arts sake.

Creativity need not be a lonely activity which individuals indulge in for pleasure and personal satisfaction. It is a wonderful idea to get all your personnel together for a brainstorming session, from time to time. You would be surprised as to the number of creative solutions people come up with. It is also easier to develop on an original idea and give it shape and identity. Most of the business fails to harness the latent creativity of their workforce. If managed effectively, it can save thousands of pounds for the company and also enhance productivity.

One needs to think differently to survive in the globally competitive environment. A good blend of creativity and innovation are essential to push growth and productivity. Thinking out of the box is no longer a management mantra; it is an essential part of business success.

Collaboration and collective thinking are the new buzzword of an interconnected world. The social networks of the Web 2.0 era have made interactivity and shared vision universally applicable. People from different walks of life, with diverse and varied background can now contribute to collaborative venture. The opportunities thrown up by the internet must be creatively used to propel ones business to higher level of productivity.

There is no place for complacence in the modern world of competitiveness. Either businesses embrace new technology wholeheartedly and use it for enhancing profitability or face extinction due to the fierce competition from adversaries. Continuous improvement in processes, an innovative problem solving approach and creative solutions to old world problems are the only ways ahead for successful companies. For those who are willing to learn, the rewards are an enduring success. For those who don’t, it is an uphill task ahead. The businesses of the future have no other option.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com.

Popularity: 78%

Creating a shared vision statement and molding a mission statement from it is all very fine, but the proof of the pudding is in the eating. Just a desire to succeed is simply not enough to propel you to success. You have to work towards your goals in a sustained, regular and focused manner. Running a business is not always a pleasure. There are times when you feel like giving it up and folding your operations. The ups and downs of a busy life do take their toll. We would be in a fools paradise if we think that the path to glory will be strewn with roses sans the thorns. What does one do then to overcome the lows of business life? There is no magic potion which I can recommend for this ailment. But you can mitigate the situation with the two pillars of success, passion and action.

What is passion? The dictionary has many meanings, of which I have selected the most appropriate for the occasion. “An irrational but irresistible motive for a belief or action”. Is passion irrational? If so, does it have a place in business? The answer is an emphatic yes. Life itself is not very rational. There are events occurring in our lives which have no reason or rationale. Unfortunately we have no control over these life changing or even life threatening events. What can be said if a person suddenly falls a victim to cancer? Or is involved in a car accident. The randomness of events and rapid changes in our environment can be baffling. If anything the only thing permanent is change itself. It is the same with businesses. There are external factors which impact on businesses. Changes in government laws, a sudden crippling storm like the one which hit New Orleans, shortage of raw material can all became threats to existing businesses.

It is therefore necessary to have passion to counter the irrationalities of life. Passion is beyond reason. It propels one forward despite the odds. It gives super human courage to overcome difficulties. To me it is a unique gift which is a part of every great personality. Anyone who has achieved phenomenal success in his life has been passionate. Sometimes, true success comes from breaking the mold. Since what they do is unique and different, they face criticism from the general public. Under the circumstances it is passion alone which drives them to push ahead against all odds.

The other aspect of business success is action. I have often seen people who are extremely articulate, who can think out of the box and are extremely creative. But when it comes to action, they fall short. Getting on with the job is the most difficult part of any program or plan. Sometimes the question is where to begin? My advice is to begin anywhere, to just do it. Once you are on your way, the momentum will keep you going, at least for some distance. We have to overcome inertia and start the engine of our business. Once started we have to steer, drive and reach our destination. Action is a continuous, routine and everyday process. Success cannot be achieved in fits and starts. I have seen many businesses fail because of inconsistent and casual attitude of the owners. One has to keep at it day in and day out. Consistent and continuous efforts are a must to propel a business towards success. I will even go to the extent to say that the business goal may be modest but if there is persistent action, success will follow. The most important ingredient of any successful venture is a generous dash of action. Now, go ahead and get going.

Wendy Stevens, Nashville, TN, as a single mom vaulted to the top of the Direct Sales Industry in 8 months. Wendy is a former 3-time Division I All American Lacrosse Player, NCAA Division I National Champion and Division 1 NCAA Head Coach. Wendy is one of the top 1% earners in the entire direct sales industry. As Marketer, Trainer and Speaker, Wendy is in demand nationally. She earned 7 figures in networking marketing. For information on Wendy, visit www.coachyoutosuccess.com

Popularity: 80%