Posts Tagged ‘success through a positive mental attitude’

Life is not perfect. Neither are Toastmasters contests. Perhaps, a few are perfect; however, I have not attended one of those yet. Perfection as defined by the organizer and perfection as defined by observers and participants may differ.

Just as Ed Tate, 2000 World Champion, reminded us that speaking requires a “debrief.” Toastmasters contests require a “debrief” as well.

What if:
1. Your chief judge does not arrive. No notice, no excuse, just no show.
2. Your Sergeant of Arms and 3 judges arrive 15 minutes or more late.
3. You have a combined area contest and you have zero paperwork from the contestants in one area.
4. The stand in for one area governor does not arrive until 20 minutes late and does not bring any of the forms with him.
5. There is a protest against one of the speakers and against one of the judges.
6. A car dealership meeting room was selected for the contest. The public address announcements are quite annoying and distracting. Even though the dealership did their best to turn the sound off in the meeting room, it was still quite obvious.

Oh NO. What if all of these things happen in one evening?

Background of preparations before the contest.
1. Toastmaster, table topics, food, timer, vote counters, judges, contest chairs all received multiple emails throughout the weeks preceding the contest with detailed instructions including the contest location and time to arrive.
2. Contestant names were all verified and listed in the program accurately.
3. Certificates of participation were beautifully printed and ready in advance.

Contest day – what went right. . .
1. All contestant paperwork was completed prior to the contest and neatly arranged by area and category.
2. Trophies as well as second and third place certificates were completed and ready for the winners names.
3. The contest room was prepared and arranged in advance in an appropriate manner.
4. Dignitaries were properly acknowledged.
5. The contest team was absolutely amazing about picking up pieces and banding together to assist in making it as smooth and “stress free” as possible for the contestants.
6. Judges, contestants and supporting team roles were all briefed on their duties.
7. Food and beverages all arrived on time and in sufficient quantity.
8. Last second adjustments were made and all roles were filled with qualified personnel.
9. Timing lights and back up cards arrived and were operating.
10. Proper paperwork for judges, counters and timers was available and distributed in advance. Judges certification was verified and documented.
11. Room was filled to capacity and sufficient programs were available.
12. Contestants were not seated by judges and everyone was able to see and hear.

By all logical standards, every possible preparation was completed in advance. So what went wrong? How could the chaos have been prevented?

Instead of emailing the key volunteers, phone calls could have been made until the volunteer was actually spoken to directly a week in advance of the contest. Apparently some people do not open their emails or if they do, they do not read them. Go over the location, arrival time and importance of arriving on time; receive a verbal commitment that the volunteer will in fact arrive on time.

Read the entire rulebook word for word and ask a top district officer if there were any possible questions. Perhaps even hold a face to face meeting with each key volunteer a week prior to the contest. Does this seem like overkill and treating mature adults as children? Perhaps. Who knows where the fine line is drawn on delegation of responsibility. My error was expecting volunteers and contestants to open and read emails and not giving sufficient follow up for confirmation.

All paperwork for the other area could have been requested more insistently in advance and personally physically obtained in advance if necessary.

Extra judges could have been recruited and available on a “just in case” basis. The judge disqualification was handled smoothly prior to the contest without any mention of names or personalities. The contestant disqualification followed the Toastmasters rule book to the letter, thanks to a detailed last minute chief judge.

An additional tip which was received the night of the contest was to prepare clear plastic strips with the names of all contestants pre-printed. The appropriate labels could then be affixed to the certificates for the second and third place winners and affixed to the bottom of the trophies for the winners. Regardless of how attractive the handwriting of the contest chair, area governor or division governor, this would give an attractive professional representation of the winner’s names. The suitability of this suggestion depends on the quality of the pre-printed label.

Good news. The contest appeared much smoother to the audience than it did to the area governor in charge. The contest was completed in its entirety with an equal playing field for the presentations.

Oh yes, it was a learning experience for myself as the presiding area governor. What to do, what not to do and what could have been done differently or better has been duly noted and internalized Learn, grow and do better next time.

Your most important sale is always to yourself. If you have been involved in sales training, motivational seminars or even reading mindset books, you have heard the phrase, “I am sold myself.”

Point of consideration – Whether you are selling a product or service, interviewing for a job or asking someone for a date, you must first convince yourself that you are worthy. Granted, you may stammer and hesitate when you ask the object of your affection to go out with you; however, if you do not believe in yourself, why should they believe in you?

During my years as a single lady, especially with the last name “Love,” I have encountered a wide variety of “come on lines.” The demeanor of the man ranged from shy to confident to absurdly arrogant. One of the most unique was Don A. He confidently walked into the doorway of my office at March Tire and stated his purpose, “Are you the owner’s wife?” “No,” I replied. “Are you anyone’s wife?” “No,” I stated with an amused grin. “May I sit down?” Confidence means being courteous but getting to the point of the conversation. We enjoyed each other’s company for many years.

Interviewing for a job requires you to be confident of your abilities and confident of your capability of successfully mastering the duties of the job. Be prepared to present examples of prior successes as they relate to that specific position. Answer questions honestly and clearly. There are more candidates than positions available during a challenging economy. Don’t waste your time or the interviewer’s time by not being prepared.

Selling a product or a service requires a positive mental attitude, knowledge of your product and belief in the product. It does not mean that you have to know every tiny detail of your product. It certainly does not mean that you immediately start expounding upon every bit of knowledge you do possess. Very few people, certainly no one that I know, want to be pressured by a hard sell approach. When someone accosts me with an “I will not take no for an answer” attitude, I am immediately searching for the nearest escape route. Used car salesmen, insurance salesmen and even some network marketing salesmen are reputed to be so pushy and forceful that people avoid them.

Treat others the way you wish to be treated. What type of presenter appeals to you? Personally, I prefer that someone show genuine interest in me and in my needs. How do you do that? Ask questions and actually listen to the answers. Most people love to talk about themselves. When you are confident and possess a positive mental attitude about life, you can more easily shine the spotlight on others. Asking questions about their interests and how you might help them, builds rapport. What problem can you solve for them? It is not about what you have to sell, it is all about how you can serve them and help solve their problems. You will never know exactly what problems exist unless you ask questions and listen to the answers.

Being willing to focus on the needs and interests of others is a mark of confidence in yourself and a mark of respect for others.

Exactly the same principles apply whether you are selling a product or service, interviewing for employment or seeking a date. Be confident in yourself and what you have to offer. Demonstrate genuine interest in the other person and what problem you can solve for them. Build a relationship. High pressure is a turn off. Confidence is a turn on. Caring is a positive.

Hire Elaine Love to speak to your next event. Hire Elaine Love as your personal coach and mentor. Go to www.Elaine4Success.com or www.ElaineSpeaks.net to continue the conversation. Let me know how I can assist you.

Are you dumping buckets of emotional ice water on yourself?  Of course we do not intend to provide massive quantities of negative input to ourselves, but that is exactly what we do when we commit the 3 deadly sins: making excuses, blaming others or being the victim.

Be careful which thoughts you are allowing free rent in your head?  The more you think, feel and speak negative ideas, the more negatives you will attract.  It is commonly accepted that we receive more of whatever we give our time, energy and focus.  Think about it.  When was the last time you were in a real funk and had your negative “Debbie or David Downer” thoughts perk up your attitude?  Unless you are a sadist or a masochist, that answer is probably NEVER.

Logic says if you want to feel good, and most of us do, then you must think and feel positive.  Creating and maintaining a positive mental attitude is essential to your success plan.

Dr. Wayne Dyer, noted philosopher and personal development guru, started his career as a college professor and therapist.  In one of his lectures he said, “If you have my cell phone number, and I hope you don’t, you will hear the following message, ‘You have reached the cell phone of Dr. Wayne Dyer. If your message is designed to do anything other than make me feel good, hang up and call Dr. Phil.’”

Many times I have been tempted to place that message on my voice mail.  We all want to feel good.  My mission statement declares the intention of “…improving the lives of everyone I touch.”  The goal is not only to feel good personally but to make others feel good as well.

The best way to feel good personally is to remove all of the excuses.  Remove all of the “yeah, but . . . “statements from your life.  The “I can’t do that because . . .” or the “Well, that will never work for me” statements are simply dumping buckets of emotional ice water on ourselves.  Self defeating statements or limiting beliefs pour in the doubts and remove all hope of success through a positive mental attitude.  Self limiting statements drag you down and undermine confidence.

The second deadly sin against ourselves is blaming others.  “It was my parents fault; they didn’t love me.”  “I was the oldest child or the youngest or even the middle child.”  “It’s not my fault I was born in a depression.”  Blaming your parents, your siblings, your boss, the economy or even the dog catcher does absolutely nothing positive to restore your confidence or self esteem.  Get over it.  Take responsibility for your past, your present and your future.

The third deadly sin against your self is playing the role of victim.  “Look what my parents, my boss, my spouse, or society did to me.”  Seeing yourself as a victim of circumstances will dump bucket after bucket of emotional ice water on your head.

Look deeply into your self talk, your feelings and your words.  Are you committing emotional self destruction?  The devastation caused by excuses, blame and victimization is 100% within your control.  You control your thoughts, feelings and words, or at least you can control them.  Make a decision today, RIGHT NOW, to start saying only positive things to yourself.  Develop and maintain a positive mental attitude.

Create a success plan based on positive, empowering statements to yourself and about yourself.  You are the only one who can create and continue only positive thoughts and feelings for yourself.  You may not be able to control the world economy, but you can certainly control yourself.

Book Elaine Love to speak to your next group meeting or book Elaine Love as your personal coach.  Go to www.ElaineSpeaks.net or www.Elaine4Success.com.  You can purchase products or join my workshops at www.ElaineSpeaks.com.  Think positive.  Remove all excuses, blame and victim thinking.  Create an effective success plan.

Financial challenges abound in this turbulent economy.  As individuals, we can not control Ireland’s default of $100 billion or the impending crisis for Portugal, Italy, Spain and the other countries in the European Union.  Far too many of us are holding our chin high to keep our head above our personal rising financial waters.

Stop!  Breathe! There is an excellent segment in every economy.  There is hope!  No matter how bleak it may appear on our financial horizon, stop and look at what we do have instead of what we might not have.

Step 1 in any success plan is to employ entrepreneurial thinking.  An entrepreneur is by nature an optimist and a visionary.  We, yes I am an entrepreneur, see opportunity rather than disaster.  Over half of the companies in the Dow Jones Industrial Average started in an economic downturn.  Yes, there is hope in this economy right now.

Control what you can!  The one thing you absolutely have in your control is your attitude.  No one controls your thoughts, feelings and words except you.  When you maintain a positive attitude and speak with genuine positive expectation, positive things happen.  Wealth creation strategies start with your own thoughts, feelings and attitude.

In an earlier article, I wrote about the “Gold Dust Attitude.”  Even though the economy was drowning, going down for the third time, one salesman maintained a “Gold Dust Attitude.”  When asked, ”How is Business?” he always replied, Business is Great.  There is gold dust in the air.”  Amazingly, for him, business improved constantly and there was indeed gold dust in the air for him.  It all started with his “positive mental attitude” and expectation of positive results.

Even if things are not golden for you at the moment, what do you have to lose by changing to a positive mental attitude and deciding to establish a gold dust attitude?

Whether you are viewing your personal life, your career or your tennis game, a positive mental attitude gives you a significant advantage.

You can not control the financial situation of other countries; however, you can control yourself.

Your subconscious does not know if you are telling it the truth or fiction.  Keep telling it positive thoughts long enough and you will start acting in a positive manner as well.  A positive mental attitude coupled with positive actions will always product positive results.

The contrast is also true.  Negative thoughts and lack of action produce negative results.  You choose.

For myself, I have chosen a “gold dust in the air attitude” and I expect golden results.  Come join me.

Book Elaine Love to speak to your next group meeting or book Elaine Love as your personal coach.  Go to www.ElaineSpeaks.net or www.Elaine4Success.com.  You can purchase products or join my workshops at www.ElaineSpeaks.com.  Think positive.  Think “Gold Dust in the Air” as your success plan.

Golden leaves of fall have drifted down from the Aspen trees and scurried across the roadways and mountain trails chased by the cool fall breezes. Each day those breezes seem to bring a few degrees more chill to the air. Soon my Colorado landscape will have snowflakes drifting down to cover the golden leaves. The mountains already wear a cloak of white.

Nature paints a beautiful landscape from the brilliant hues of the wildflowers in spring and summer to the golden hills of fall and the pristine white of winter. As much as I appreciate natural beauty and love to hike through the beautiful Colorado countryside, it resembles life on Someday Isle – beautiful but certainly not productive or profitable.

Draw a parallel between the seasons and your financial situation. There have been times when the lush green of summer mirrored the lush green of cash in your bank account. Oh how we enjoyed those fertile times. Ideally, at least ten percent of those treasured earnings were carefully invested for the future. Just as the squirrels and ants store up for the long winter months, so we should also. Unfortunately, it is all too easy to expect those lush days to last forever.

During my days as the owner of a property management company in a major ski resort, this “spend today and not worry about tomorrow” attitude prevailed. Anyone who relates to business in a ski resort knows that the snow represents white gold. Money flows in quite nicely during ski season. In early April the snow tapers off and the income disappears as quickly as the snow flakes in the warm sun.

In the late 1980’s there was very little, if any, income in April, May, June, September and October. July, August and November might be slightly better than zero. Four months of ski season income needed to also cover the other eight months. Those who spent lavishly during the four months and did not provide for the other eight months were frequently found desperately scrambling by September or before.

Using the ski resort as an example, income is exactly opposite of the seasons. In financial terms the lush income represents the lush green of summer. The barren income period would be the financial winter.

Anyone who has a seasonal business, a commission only income or a “feast or famine” income, MUST establish an emergency reserve fund. Ok, no you do not have to plan ahead and prepare for your financial winter season. You either prepare now or expect to beg for assistance later. In our current economic turmoil, those who did not prepare are scurrying like the fall leaves by blowing right and then left or round and round in circles.

According to Paul Zane Pilzer, economic advisor to two presidents, there will be more millionaires created between 2006 and 2016 than at any prior point in the history of the world. This money does not go away, it simply changes hands. The new wealthy will be the ones who understand their financial seasons and take appropriate action. There is excellent opportunity in every economic situation if you maintain a positive mental attitude and use entrepreneurial thinking. Use the resources at hand, including your mental creativity.

Examine your financial situation and draw a parallel with the seasons. Resolve to use your entrepreneurial thinking and achieve success through a positive mental attitude and productive action.

Need some help? Book Elaine Love to speak to your group or book Elaine Love as your personal coach. Go to www.ElaineSpeaks.net. If you are a person of immediate action, go to www.ElaineSpeaks.com and purchase products. There are many resources available at www.Elaine4Success.com. Don’t be left out in the barren financial winter.

Are you living on Someday Isle? Someday I’ll do this or someday I’ll do that. Palm trees waving in the breeze and the gentle lap of the waves against your bare feet in the warm tropical sand sounds like paradise. Sitting in the sunshine in the sand may be paradise for a vacation but unless you are independently wealthy or enjoy being a vagrant, it is not a long term solution.

Wake up! Work smart and focused right now and you can enjoy a life of paradise later. You have heard the old expression of “pay me now or pay me later.” Equally applicable is “work now and enjoy later” or you will be working longer and enjoying less in your senior years.

What is the problem? What is holding you back from achieving everything you desire and deserve? Are you afraid? Afraid of failure? Afraid of rejection? Afraid of success?

Just as the annoying pop up advertisements appear on your computer screen, fear pops up in our lives. The question is not IF fear will pop up but HOW WILL WE HANDLE IT?

1. Use the ostrich method and hide your head in the sand and pretend that it doesn’t exist. Denial (I remember the first time my son Doug said, “de Nile is not just a river in Egypt.”) Far too many people use Budweiser, Merlot or Jack Daniels to hide from their fears. Others choose Cocaine, marijuana or whatever is the latest and greatest mind numbing chemical. Even though the ostrich is the lesser of the avoidance methods, none are solutions. Don’t take my word for it, ask anyone in NA, AA or a multitude of other 12 step programs.

2. Blame someone else. The blame game tears at you from the inside out. Relationships become endangered species or even become as extinct as Tyrannosaurus Rex. Blaming someone else for your woes not only never solves a problem but it also causes more problems. Jim Rohm, famous business philosopher, declared that when you take full responsibility for your life is when you graduate from childhood to adulthood. Blaming others ranks high on the “poor me, feel sorry for me” scale but does not even exist on the success scale.

3. Taking responsibility for every thing you do and every thing you did not do becomes step one toward a solution. I’m not saying to beat yourself up over past actions or omissions; face them, accept them and resolve to do better in the future.

4. Be solution focused. Ask solution oriented questions.
What can I start doing now to make the situation better?
What factors are in my control to start making improvements?
What do I need to start doing or stop doing?
What am I ready, willing and able to do to start the recovery process?
Be honest with yourself. Take action.

Someone challenged me once to hike the Inca trail in Peru with a backpack. Even though I had never been backpacking in my life, it was an intriguing challenge. The fact that my entire back was fused plates and screws was another challenge. Walking and climbing did not seem like a major obstacle, until I was faced with a rope bridge. This bridge appeared to be about the length of a football field. Several hundred feet down was rushing water and major boulders. The foot bed of the bridge was strands of rope a few inches between strands and one single rope on each side for a hand hold. Tipping the heavy back pack could easily result in losing balance and tumbling down into the certain death below. Oh, did I mention that I am uncomfortable with heights. The time had come to choose – move forward over the bridge or retreat to the safety of solid ground and quit. Face the fear, conquer it by crossing the bridge and continue the journey or admit failure and quit. Step by trembling step I crossed.

Your challenge may be starting a business, getting married or overcoming an addiction. Regardless of the challenge or incident you are facing, you have choices. You may not be able to change what has happened to create this dilemma or the fear it caused, but you can do something positive about your fear.

At this moment the United States economy and most of the world economy is in turmoil. We can’t change the past or what others do to manipulate events beyond our control but we can make wise choices on how we choose to handle our personal present situation and thus our future. We can take responsibility for our past and future. We can make wise choices going forward. We can act in spite of fear.

http://www.erie.gov/health/mentalhealth/mental_health_services.asp is a link for additional help in handling fear. Taking solution focused action is always preferable.

Book Elaine Love to bring a positive hopeful message to your organization. If you are seeking a more solution focused attitude for yourself, book Elaine Love as your coach. Go to www.ElaineSpeaks.net and leave me a message. Visit www.Elaine4Success.com for solutions.

Where is your head? What are you thinking?

Recently I received a telephone call from a lady who said she was optimistic and doing fine in one breath and in the next breath lamented her financial and marital situation. It is bad enough when others throw emotional ice water on us, but the worst internal chill actually occurs when we throw the emotional ice water on ourselves.

Examine your thoughts, feelings and words. Are your words contradicting each other? The old “fake it until you make it” attitude sets up a conflict between your words and your reality. It probably also generates a conflict between your words and your thoughts or feelings. When you say something you do not believe, you run a significant risk of having your subconscious mind saying, “No, that is not true. You have not achieved any of that. . .” Unless you are an extremely good actor or actress, your mental and emotional vibrations will transmit the discrepancy. Yes, put your experience and presentation in a positive light, but always tell the truth. Anything other than honesty will come back to bite you sooner or later.

Resolve the inner conflict in order to bring your feelings, thoughts and words into alignment. You can not control all of the emotional ice water flowing from outside influences into your world; however you have significant control over the quantity of emotional ice water you douse upon yourself. Self mastery is step one in your success plan.

Step back and analyze the cause of the conflict. In the case of the lady who telephoned, she said, “I’m fine.” Right words. When the words were uttered in the middle of sobbing, it did not ring true. Not every case is quite that obvious. She did not even believe she was fine. She later confessed that she was scared, lonely and uncertain about her financial and social future. Instead of concentrating on everything which was positive in her world, she was dumping buckets of emotional ice water on her present and future.

One of the best ways of eliminating personally generated emotional ice water is to focus on the positive factors in your life. There are two methods which I have found very successful.

Keep a success journal and write down every success you have ever enjoyed in your life. Keep it handy for reference any time you hit a hesitation point. Read it each time you feel the cool breeze of the impending emotional ice water blowing in your direction.

The second method is to start every morning the moment you open and focus your eyes by writing at least 5, and I recommend 10, things for which you are grateful. This starts your day with a positive mental attitude.

Take the “fake it until you make it” attitude. If you declare that you are making $40,000 per month as many internet web pages do, be prepared to justify the claim. If you are making that amount, great. If not, consider revising your statement to say, “My goal is to be making $40,000 a month.” Your thoughts, feelings and words can accept that statement as true as long as you really accept that as a goal for yourself. You will eliminate most if not all of your personally generated emotional ice water and achieve success through a positive mental attitude by resolving the conflict between your words and your thoughts and feelings.

Emotional ice water flows into every life. At least choke off the flow of the self-generated emotional ice water by focusing on a positive mental attitude and aligning your thoughts, feelings and words.

For personalized tips and techniques for controlling the quantity of conflict in your emotional state, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com.

Events are perceived in a triangle pattern.

First person has their view of the facts; they have their perception of the truth. Person two has their version of the truth as they see it, which is different than the first person’s version. Outside observers have a third “truth” from their vantage point. The center of the triangle contains the actual truth.

As you observe these four different perceptions of truth, reflect on the incidents in your life. As you do your best to step out of your individual impression of the truth, seriously attempt to view the situation from the perspective of the other person. No, it does not mean you are making one of you right and the other wrong; you are simply attempting to understand their view.

If each person truly attempted to understand the way another viewed each situation, we would foster less hostility and controversy in the world. There is a powerful little book in my private library. “Getting to YES, Negotiating Agreement Without Giving In’ by Roger Fisher and William Ury presents answers to resolving situations before they become deadlocked.

Why do conflicts escalate to the point of irreparable deadlock? Could the answer be that we unintentionally, or perhaps intentionally, refuse to consider the viewpoint of others?

Think of yourself as dragging a sack weighing several hundred pounds around with you 24 hours per day. Your shoulders ache, your back hurts and your arms feel like they are being pulled apart at the joints. All of these aches and pains can relate to carrying the guilt, anger or tension contained in that sack. Why carry it when you can step back, attempt to change your view of the events and release that burden? Even though you are not physically carrying that sack, the net result is the same if you are mentally and emotionally carrying it.

“Life is change. Growth is optional. Choose wisely.”
-Karen Kaiser Clark

Who has the power to start the process of releasing the mental Atlas load? You do. Ok, you say nothing will change until the other party does the same. True, there will not be total harmony and resolution without both parties participation. Someone has to start the process. Even if they do not release the weight, if you do, then your shoulders and soul feel the breath of fragrant air and comforting sunshine. You see, you are not releasing the burden for their sake; you are releasing it for your own benefit.

Emotional ice water does flow into your life. Conflict does occur. Changes happen.

It is not a matter of “if” these things happen, it is a fact that they will happen. Cultivating a millionaire mindset means focusing your time, attention and energy where it will be most productive. Carrying grudges, tension and drama divert your focus from the positive things in your life. The best success plan is to focus on positives. One of those positives is creating harmony and understanding.

Simple steps to peace of mind.
1. Attempt to view the situation from the point of view of the other person
2. Look for resolutions rather than locking into your personal point of view.
3. In the grand scheme of life, how important is this one incident? Sometimes we lock in on something which truly is not that important to us.
4. Release the burden from your soul so you can concentrate of productive matters.
5. Forgive yourself and others.
6. Celebrate all of the positive things in your life. Be grateful for what you have. Time is precious. Relationships can be fragile but some, probably most, are to be treasured.

Handle life’s little dilemmas differently and your smile will glow a little more brightly and your relationships will amazingly glide a bit smoother. Successful people maintain a positive mental attitude. Their influence and workplace attitude are more congenial.

Who knows, your face may even show less wrinkles. Personally, I would consider that a marvelous side benefit of less stress. You will acquire more success through a positive mental attitude than you ever will by locking in on to your point of view.

Less emotional stress, less trauma and less frown lines – sounds like an emotional success plan. For more positive approaches to conflict and tips and techniques for a more profitable, productive and happy life, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com.

Someday Isle

Picture calm waters, swaying palms and a gentle ocean breeze; you are resting on a peaceful island.  Sounds like paradise.  Dreaming of paradise seems like a wonderful way to spend your time.

What are you doing right now with your time?  If you are spending endless hours dreaming of Someday Isle, your life is quietly slipping away.

What else is on your “someday I’ll” list?  Have you examined your priorities and promised yourself that you will spend more time with your family?  Promises to spend more time with the kids, attend all of their school activities and even follow up on their homework assignments frequently slip off the priority list and drift off to “someday I’ll.”  After all, you have responsibilities.  You have your career, your household duties and your golf game.  You really plan to spend more time with the family; you just run out of hours.

Giving back of our time and talent to the community frequently drifts down the priority list to the bottom or even off the list completely.  We give it lip service and promise ourselves that next year we will do better.  Next year seldom arrives.  Next year’s community service is also on “Someday I’ll.”

Have you given lip service to improving your income, getting out of debt, or restoring your credit rating?  Maybe you are saying to yourself, “I just don’t have the time to research all of the options.”  “I know I need to research how to get out of debt and get my credit rating up but by the time I get home from work, I’m just too tired to deal with it.”  “If I go to a debt reduction firm, half of my money goes to them rather than paying down my debt.”

These are all valid thoughts.  Nothing changes until you take action.  If not now, when?  Just as dreaming your life away may be pleasurable, but unproductive, so is procrastinating about important details for your future.  Putting off handling your financial future will be damaging to your retirement years.  Once time is gone, it can not be retrieved.  Every day you put off taking action is one less day you have to recover.

Let’s put it in terms of your physical health.  If you know smoking, high blood pressure or excessive weight is shortening the life of someone you love, wouldn’t you try to help them?  Of course you would.  I don’t mean to nag but at least speak lovingly to them.   Tell them you want to enjoy their company for many more years.

If you can do this for someone you love, why not help yourself and your family when it comes to your finances.  There are low cost solutions.  Help is available.  Just like the loved one with health issues, nothing positive happens until someone takes action.

Living on Someday Isle does not solve problems, it only postpones decision day.

For more tips, techniques and genuine help, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com.

Job laid you off?  Can’t find another job?  Tired of looking for a job?  Maybe starting your own business is the answer.

79 million people will start a home business in the next three years according to this recent report in Forbes magazine.  American forefathers left England and came to America to build their businesses.  The entrepreneur has always been the backbone of America.  Edison, Jefferson, Washington, Franklin, Ford, Carnegie, Rockefeller, Gates and so many others were all entrepreneurs.  Every one of them started and developed their own business.  Why not you?

Why start your own business?  You control your income potential; you do not have a boss setting a salary or bonus cap on your earnings.  You set your own hours; no one tells you what time to arrive, take your break, take your lunch or what time to leave at night.  You no longer have to ask permission for a day off or a vacation.  Your duties are also your decision.  Sound good?

Even the beautiful petals of a rose and the heady perfume of its soft fragrance have a down side.   A rose bush has thorns.  Owning and operating your own business requires work.  Yes, I know.  Bummer.  The price you pay for all of those wonderful benefits is the responsibility of accomplishing all of the tasks necessary to make a business successful.

Decision one requires that you do something you know.  Either you already possess the necessary knowledge to be successful or you start learning.  Unless you already know exactly what you want to do, it is time to start assessing factors.

Before I started Mountain Castles Property Management, I asked questions and listened until I discovered a niche which needed to be filled.  Steamboat needed a property management company specializing in single family homes.  They wanted to rent homes on a yearly basis, a vacation basis or an executive basis.  An executive home does not rent; however, it must be cared for during the owner’s absence.  In some cases, the home needed attention even during the owner’s stay.

My knowledge was grossly insufficient in property management.  Reading books, attending classes and working for another property management company provided the training.

Decision two requires writing a detailed business plan.  What equipment, facilities, and supplies will be required?  How much will it cost?  What is the income projection?  What advertising will be used to achieve that income?  What about office staff?  The list goes on and on.  Prior planning avoids being blindsided by expenses.

Be optimistic but add a dash of realism.  You will not start out earning 20,000 income per month.  You will have unexpected expenses.  One of the jokes in building a new home is that it will take twice as long as expected and cost twice as much.  If you do not plan carefully, starting a new business can follow that same scenario.

Accurate record keeping is essential.  If you have a question about keeping a receipt or not, write every detail on it and file it where you can find it.  The IRS loves paper.  The steps to start a small business are quite simple and direct; however skipping any of them is not an option.

1. Find a niche doing something you enjoy
2. Either already posses the knowledge or acquire it
3. Write a detailed business plan which includes every potential cost or situation
4. Implement the plan.  Knowledge without action has far less value.
5. Keep a very positive mental attitude and keep moving forward
6. Celebrate every little success on the way to the big successes

The steps to start a small business are not difficult.  In a tough economy, starting small business may be easier than finding that magic job.

For specific, individual help, join me at www.Elaine4Success.com.