HAPPY INDEPENDENCE DAY OR UNHAPPY 4TH OF JULY?

I would like to wish everyone a happy 4th of July, and please let’s not wish each other happy independence day.  No, I am not anti- government nor am I anti- America. I love this country and have no plans on leaving (unless I have no other choice). I am however, anti ignorance.

We are ignoring the fact that we celebrate something most of us do not have. INDEPENDENCE.

 I have a question.  Why do we celebrate Independence Day when so many of us are not independent? In fact we are more dependent now than we have ever been.

Many of us will disagree and state we are in a better situation than we were over 237 years ago. Again I understand why an individual would say that. The challenge that I have with that is we were convinced we were independent; actually it is often stated this way “America celebrates her independence with the observance of the 4^th of July.” America is independent, but many of the Americans are not. We are led to believe we are independent. The worst kind of dependence is a hidden in plane site. What do I mean?

If we as a nation think that we are independent because we're constantly convinced while ignoring the facts , the forces we depend on (Government, Corporate America & Media) need to do little to control us. If we were to ever wake up and accept the fact that we are not independent but, totally dependent,  we can only blame ourselves because the information was there for us to see the whole time.

How did we get this way?

There are two types of control most widely used in history.

Control by force

Control by deception

 Control by force (when America was under British rule) is easy to see and difficult to overcome but, it can be overcome (thus why we celebrate Independence Day).

 Control by deception (the form of control we experience today) is easy to overcome but difficult to recognize. Why? We really believe we are independent. We cannot accept the fact that we are dependent even though the truth is staring us right in the face.

We have traded one form of control (forced) for another form of control (deception). We went from knowing we were dependent to accepting we are independent while depending on the individuals telling us we are Independent (Government, Corporations and Media). No one or ethnic group are exempt.

 This happened to the original americans (Native Americans) now living on reservations. This happened to the original immigrants (going from settlers to British rule to Corporate america). This happened to the Original Slaves (imported from many nations, forced into slavery, gained emancipation demanded acceptance into Corporate America). We can continue with the examples but I think you get the point.

Independence is true freedom. Freedom from prejudice, injustice and control. (you don't have to believe me but, ask yourself this question, why do we hear no news on some of the most wealthy families on the planet? (Rothschilds, Duponts and the Rockefellers plus many others).  

Have you ever wondered how there are more people that are not born in America living in America experiencing more Independence than those of us born in America?

The answer is quite simple. Most of the people coming from other countries to America left a Government  controlled by force. When they get to America, many of them don't trust anything or anyone, learn the rules, do the research and do what the Independent people do thus achieving their independence.  After their independence is achieved they, in many instances appear to look down on the Americans that were born here. Why?  They know we are not independent, and wonder why we don’t know it.

If you disagree that is fine and I understand but, answer this question? What is independence?  According to dictionary .com independence is ….freedom from the control, influence, support, aid, or the like, of others.

• We must ask ourselves are we free from control? I don’t know but, do you control how much income you generate thus controlling your outcome? If the answer is no then you are not free from control of others.
• Are we free from influence? I don't know but, do you go to the nearest news or web outlet and get your information and treat that one unproven source as gospel or do you look for the source of the information, compare and contrast multiple resources as we were taught in school?  If the answer is the first one then you are not free from influence.
• Are we free from support or aid? I don't know but, do you expect an entity, group, or individual to assist you in any way shape or form with your retirement, health care, schooling or…(you fill in the blank). If the answer is yes then you are not free from support or aid of others.
• Do we have financial independence? I don't know but, Can you maintain or increase the amount of income without working? if the answer is no then you do not have financial independence.

 why is this important? Because financial independence is the only form of independence that will lend itself to total independence.

Whoever has control of your income, influence, support and aid has total control of your outcome. This is something to think about while enjoying the 4^th of July festivities.

Happy Independence day to America and Happy 4^th of July to us Americans, the dependents that blindly believe we are Independent.

You discovered your reason why and it is not big enough, now what?

In the blog titled” Is your reason “Why”, big enough……………..”

We discussed key points to focus on to ensure we would do the necessary work after the W2 day ended. 

We all realize that many times our reason why is big enough to start but, it may not be big enough to allow us to overcome our subconscious mind. As my mentor says “your reason why has to be bigger than your excuse for why not”. 

How do we win the battle to overcome the excuses for why not? Let’s take a look at some legitimate excuses.        

                                                                                                    

• Not enough time.
• Work life balance
• Not enough energy

Before the problem can be solved, the cause of the problem needs to be addressed.

Why don't we have enough time? What are we doing with our time? Is there time we are wasting on non productive activities, ie watching TV, playing games on our favorite social media, conducting non productive phone calls (gossiping and catching up on the TV shows we did not record).  Once the cause of the problem is addressed, we can work toward a solution.

Schedule time to commit to working on our business and when we are done for the day we can reward ourselves with the non productive activities.

Work life balance is a tough one (so I will apologize in advance); there is no easy solution without sacrifice.

One of the biggest challenges facing many of my clients is being the driver for their children. Sports, recitals and numerous activities are monopolizing the parents time. The children are in multiple activities spanning 5 to 6 days a week, not leaving much time for anything.

Let’s have our children pick one activity and stick with it for a season. This will teach them discipline and responsibility. My children remember our family activities more vividly than me attending an event they were participating in. Let’s schedule time to do things with our children vs. running them all over town watching someone else interact with them.

Planning date nights are crucial as well. With proper planning we can have our cake, eat it and sale it too.

“I am tired” is a common reason we use for not working on our business. 

Here is the million dollar question. If we are tired now, how tired will we be 10 years from now?  The simple solution is to suck it up and do it anyway; however the problem may not be so simple. If the fatigue is chronic then going the see a doctor is the first suggestion.

What are we eating and at what time are we eating it? Are we getting adequate rest, are we exercising?  Who are we hanging around? Do they give us energy or do they suck the energy out of us.

 Associate with people who are in life where we want to be. People that are heading in the same entrepreneurial direction are up lifters and this is a great energy boost.

Once we find the reason for being tired we can then work toward a solution to grow our business.  

Many of our excuses can be overcome with evaluation and proper planning. There are many excuses in addition to the ones listed. What are some of the excuses you have encountered and how have you overcome them? Thanks for sharing. 

Is your reason why big enough to effectively operate a business while maintain a full time job?

Simple yet effective solutions to a complicated question.

There are many great blogs about the” how too”, in starting and working a business while having full time employment.  We are aware of the many general reason(s) why it’s a good idea. The aspect I would like to touch on is the mind set behind our personal reason why.

I recently attended a business workshop in DC and there were many useful tips and great incite on what the government representatives and contractors where looking for from business owners wanting to get into the contracting industry. The one constant theme emphasized was the fact that after the sequestration deadline, there were going to be more cuts.  Government as well as commercial entities were going to be affected.

 So what does this mean for us? It means more layoffs and more people cashing in 401 Ks to start businesses.

There is some advice for those individuals fortunate enough to survive sequestration and the cuts to follow, while maintaining a side business. The mindset needs to shift.

Why does the mindset need to shift? If our mindset does not shift, we will end up like many of our fellow co-workers and counterparts, unemployed, competing against thousands looking for work. 

The mindset also needs to change because in every great economic downturn, opportunities were created and wealth was generated. From the great depression of the 30’s to the rescission's of the 80’s and yes even today, there are many examples of how seizing the moment instead of running for shelter have changed the lives of thousands of business owners. If we are to carry on the great tradition of "game changers movers and shakers" we will need to focus on creating employment and not searching for employment. If everyone is looking for work and no one is creating jobs, sequestration will be the least of our worries. 

We need a mindset that speaks to innovation, creation and resolution. We need the entrepreneur mindset.

Entrepreneur -  a person who organizes and manages any enterprise, especially a business, usually 

with considerable initiative and risk.

2. an employer of productive labor; contractor.

I was taught successful entrepreneurs had many things in common but, the one thing they all had in common was definiteness of purpose.

Definite - clearly defined or determined; not vague or general; fixed; precise; exact:

                   a definite quantity; definite directions.

 Purpose - the reason for which something exists or is done, made, used, etc.

                    2. an intended or desired result; end; aim; goal.

                    3.determination; resoluteness.

A definiteness of purpose brings us to our personal reason why.

Why after working 40, 50 and in many cases 60 hours a week for an employer, would we subject ourselves to rigors of running a business? There are many reason why we would take on such a task. Each reason as unique as the individual claiming it.

Once we answer our personal reason why, then and only then can we begin to have a definiteness of  purpose. 

Our reason why, will be the spark or catalyst that cause us to want to make a decision. That decision will come about because we want a change. Change in opportunity, change in income, or change in lifestyle. 

After the reason why is determined, we need to test the reason. Test the reason?  Yes, test the reason.

The question to test our reason why, is as follows: 

"Is my reason why, bigger than my excuse why not".

While most reasons why, will cause us to make a decision very few reasons why, will drive us to action.

We all have reasons for eating healthy and exercising and many of us have decided to change our eating habits and start exercising but, over 85% of us have done nothing to change our diet or start exercising.(remember the new year’s resolution).

Will our reason why, pass the test?  Most of us go to work at our job because of need. After the work day on the job is done, a daily commitment to operate and run a successful business will have to take place.

There will be many legitimate reasons, distractions and excuses to just go home and not work on or in our business.  Is our reason why, strong enough to overcome those reasons, distractions and excuses not to work on or in our business? If the answer is no, then our reason why is not big enough.

Our reason has to turn the want to be an entrepreneur in to a need to be an entrepreneur. My mentor told me “when a want becomes a need that is when we will succeed. If our reason why does not cause us to need to run our business we will in effect have a hobby and thus treat it as such.

So what do we need to do again?

• Have the mindset an entrepreneur. 
• have definiteness of purpose. 
• Have a reason why 
• Test our reason why

Did I mention this happens in addition to working a job and living our lives. 

My reasons why are listed below:

• To leave legacy for my family
• To help others realize and reach their dreams.
• To have control, capitol and creativity (things my job did not give me).

So the Trillion dollar question is ?

Is your reason(s) why big enough? If so, what are they?

There are two ways to look at the new tax law changes.

A time to forfeit from fright or forge ahead with fight.  

 The American Tax Payer Relief Act (ATPRA) was passed and there remain many unanswered questions. One answer we all know for sure is most everyone’s taxes will increase.  Small business are not exempted from the revenue taxing arm of Congress. We will scramble to get into tax compliance, with what seems to be a retroactive tax increase. Good, bad, right or wrong there is enough blame to pass around.

 This is not a discussion on the specific tax hikes or employees taxes vs. the business taxes. This is not a discussion of which side is correct. Those topics plus many others have been discussed at nauseum and they're circumstances we cannot control. It would be in our best interest (and the interest of our businesses) to discuss the one thing we do have control of and that is how we react to the American Tax Payer Relief Act (ATPRA)

Neither Congress nor the IRS cares how we feel about the subject (if any of us  disagree with their decision). The decision was made based on what seemed to be in the best interest of “we the people”.  

How we choose to respond to ATPRA can have a major impact on everything we do from now on in our businesses. 

We are fortunate enough to have choices (no matter how limited they may seem). Below are some possible reactions:

• Not start a business because it appears to be a waste of time.
• Shutdown existing business for fear of audits and complain about how the IRS put us out of business.
• Run our business according to the IRS regulations and complain, not focusing on growing our business.
• Run our business according to the IRS regulations and realize the opportunity and excel in business.

Not start a business.......

It is understandable to see how business ownership would be looked at as a waste of time with all the rules, regulations and apparent obstacles to keep us from reaching the prize if you will. I have heard my mentor say this many times. “you are going to work anyway, it might as well be towards your dream” and I agree.

Shutdown existing business for fear of audits........ 

fear is a natural reaction to the unknown or being removed from ones comfort zone. Fear can be instrumental in saving one’s life and fear may also be detrimental to ones future. The acronym I associate with fear is False Evidence Appearing Real. 

Run our business according to the IRS regulations and complain….

In many respects this one is worse than quitting. It’s like going through the motions but not really working toward a goal. The focus is in the wrong place. The focus should be on the growth of the business and not the road blocks. A divided focus creates fragmented results at best.

Run our business according to the IRS regulations (realize the opportunity and excel in business).

Yes there is an opportunity for massive success. It is all in the way we look at it.

• Stumbling block or Stepping stone
• Crisis or Challenge
• Roadblock or Raised pedestal
• Obstacle or Opportunity

The ATPRA could play a role in reducing our competition to half the numbers. There are many business owners choosing alternative points of view other than seeing and seizing the opportunity, creating room to expand our businesses. These are the times where business owners over come the perceived obstacles and persevere, offering more proof that even during difficult times entrepreneurs rise to the occasion and defy odds. We can look at this as a time to make and be a part of history, or we can look at is a time to be victimized by events in history, either way we have a choice. 

The goal is not to create a false reality but to offer a alternative perspective. There are not many things that we may know for certain concerning the ATPRA until the damage is done, however we can be certain that our reaction of choice will determine if we forfeit from fright or forge ahead with fight. Can you think of any additional advantages for us as business owners with the passing of the (ATPRA)? 

Are life’s challenges hindering your business success?

How working quietly through adversity can make you an overnight success.

 

I am sure we have heard the term overnight success?  Before I reached understanding I thought an overnight success was someone that reached star status just by rolling out of bed without any effort. I reached the conclusion because I never heard any of the successful people discussing hardships, disappointments or challenges. Since I never heard them discussing their problems, I did not think they had any. It just seemed everything came easy for them.

Upon reading numerous success principle books (Slide 68 is a great book) I realized over 60 % of the content was over coming hardship failure and disappointment. Successful people realize focusing on negative situations magnifies and attracts more negative situations.

Whatever we focus on we accelerate and attract to us. Reminds me of a quote:

“ …fear and courage are fighting for control, the one we feed will win”

Whichever emotion we constantly tie into will manifest with abundance.

The more we feed the negative outcome or circumstance with our attention the more we will bring those negative situations to our doorstep.

We should not allow challenges affect the way we operate while running our business. Emotions are energy and that negative energy should not be near our clients, vendors or partners. People can sense when we allow a negative situation to dominate our thoughts.

 So how do we handle negative situations and events?

Relax and ask the question “what am I to learn from this”
Have a lessons learned session. Go over what could have led to the circumstance or situation. Develop procedures and processes that will lead to action to minimize the chance of re-occurrence.
 
Write a list containing 20 ways to resolve the problem. 
 Coming up with solutions will become more difficult towards the end but, don’t quit. It may feel like those things are not possible to accomplish, but keep writing. The exercise is a great tool to sharpen problem solving skills.
 With your lists in hand seek council.
Your mentor adviser or some you trust that has your best interest at heart. You are not in this alone someone has been through this before. Success leaves clues; if you don’t have a mentor or an adviser, look for one.
 
Don’t share the problem or resolution with anyone other than your council. 
Not everyone we know have our best interest at heart. Sometimes well intended advice from people that have not had success getting through what you are going through could lead us in the wrong direction.
Not everyone on our side is cheering for us.
 
Do not make the issues portable.
Leave the issue challenge or difficulty in room or office discussed with mentor or confidant. Remember our clients and customers do not need to be exposed to that type of negative energy, they deserve our best service and attention. We do want them to come back don’t we?

We attract and magnify what we focus on. If we focus on the problem and not our clients and customers, we will lose them and appear to be complaining grumpy business owners. We would serve our clients and customer’s best, conducting ourselves like the duck. On the surface appear to glide across the water while all the work and struggle happens under the water. Should we conduct ourselves in this manner we will likely find ourselves explaining how we were not an overnight success.

Are we choosing to over spend for services?

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How services we pay for are robbing us of our money and our time.

  I read a quote from Mr. Robert Kiyosaki , author of Rich Dad Poor Dad,  “there are two types of people, the people you owe and the people that owe you.”To me the quote meant the following:

• We are both customers and service providers.
• We are both clients and consultants.
• We pay to have our needs met and we get paid to meet needs.
• We are both consumers and suppliers
• We are both buyers and sellers

We value our time and many of us make great attempts to control our spending.

While there is no single recipe for business success, I think we can agree that changing the way we think and conduct business can positively impact our outcome in business. What do I mean?

The statement “there are two types of people, people you owe and the people that owe you” is a different way to look at how we conduct business. From my perspective a simple business objective is to have more money coming in (people that owe us) than money going out (people we owe). How can that be done?

We have a level of control over the services we pay for and the services we are paid to render.  Time management plays an important role in our level of control.

We pay for services to free up our time and we perform services ourselves to save money. 

If there were a way to not overpay for services and give us more time to earn income, I am sure we would jump on it, wouldn’t we?

Surprisingly the answer is no. Why, because we are more focused on saving money than saving time to earn more money. Generally, services we over spend on are the services that we perform ourselves to save money.

I observed this fact as I was rushing to press my clothes in order to finish working on a blog.  I thought to myself if only I had more time, then I would not have to rush. At that moment it dawned on me. Just take the clothes to the cleaners. 

After I pressed my outfit I was very curious to see how much I was currently overpaying to press my clothes. I discovered a cleaners would charge me $60.00 to press a week’s worth of clothing (pressed not dry cleaned, $240.00 per month for both Shirts and suits).  It took me an hour per night to press my outfit.

The cleaner’s hourly wage for my shirts would be $12.00.

Let’s say my hourly wage is $60.00 including built in profit. ( (Hourly Salary + Direct Expenses/Hour + Indirect Expenses/Hour) / Profit % = Hourly Rate

video to determine your hourly rate)

Performing the same service at my hourly rate would cost me $300.00 per week……. $1200.00 for the month.

After looking at the numbers I discovered that I would gain 5 hours per week (20 hours per month) and have the potential to eventually increase my income by $960.00 Per month. ($1200 – $260).

Obviously this does not work for everyone in every situation; however I am certain there are services we are performing ourselves that are stealing our time which we can afford to allow someone else to handle at a lesser hourly rate. The difference in income to savings may not be as large, but over time it can make a huge difference and with due diligence in determining the hourly rate I believe we can find areas to save time, make money and not over pay for services. I am eager to know of discoveries made by others. I am hoping further light may be shed on other task we can afford to allow someone else to service at a lower rate.