Creating Wealth That Lasts !

LIVING FROM A PLACE OF PEACE!

2010-10-19T16:29:00.002-04:00

I was awake at 3 AM this morning and could not get back to sleep. I tossed and turned and finally got up at 3:30 AM and went to my office. Took out my bible and started to read Isaiah 46 to 51.

The scriptures came alive. We see that we can trust in God completely in all things, especially when we see Jesus as the suffering Servant. HE did it all for us. At the cross, HE proclaimed “it is finished”!

What wonderful Good News. “It is finished” encompasses not only our salvation but victory in our health, relationships, finances, and any area where we previously struggled. We have been given enormous, never ending Grace.

In this chaotic world that we live in, we need not be in fear. Fear is not of God. “Be of good cheer, I have overcome the world” Jesus tells us. May we fully grasp all that Jesus has provided for us!
He is our Peace!

UPDATE FROM JACQUES

2009-11-30T09:05:00.002-05:00

I have not posted any new blogs over the last months due to an influx of work that has kept me very busy.I was advised today that someone else has been using my blog address and I want to make everyone aware. I would appreciate your input if this happens again.

Over the last months, I have had a strong desire to get closer to the Lord. Making him a priority is crucial for all of us. I believe 2010 will be a life changing year for alot of people.

Regards, Jacques

STAYING FOCUSED IN AN UN-FOCUSED WORLD!

2009-08-25T00:12:00.000-04:00

Chaos seems to be abounding everywhere. Fear and uncertainty are all around us. What to do? Stay focused with what the Lord has called you to do!

Every century has had turmoil and seemingly insurmountable obstacles. With today’s technology we are made instantly aware of what is happening all around the world. This overload of information can make even the most stalwart of us feel overwhelmed.

A suggestion-stop the information overload! How much news can each of us handle and how much do we want to know anyways? Balance is needed more than ever.

What has God put in your path to do? Focus on that. A stay at home Mom? Business person? Working a 9 to 5 job? Life is made up of mundane activities, at times, but that is the stuff that life is made of.

In Ecclesiastes, the Word tells us that for a man to enjoy his work in his lifetime, this is a blessing. We tend to live in the past or the future. We all need to learn to live in the present and enjoy life one day at a time.

Focus on your family, spouse, career, neighbors, church -activities-the regular stuff that life is made of. Stay focused on your life and your purpose.

This will not only keep you focused on what is important but you will develop a peace in your life knowing that what you are accomplishing is meaningful in God’s eyes.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

DISCERNING THE TIMES!

2009-08-24T00:12:00.000-04:00

We are getting into the Fall of the year and, even though it’s been very hot lately, (not complaining!), we know that the seasons are changing. We expect it and are not surprised.

Have you also noticed that the stock market also has changed unexpectedly in October of most years? Why this is only the so called experts will have the answer! For us out of the loop, we need not be taken by surprise.

If you have read my prior blogs, you know that I am not a big fan of the stock market. I believe that this has been manipulated over and over again and the people running this don’t seem to be losing money-they can count on the government to bail them out!

I also believe that the stock market is a tool that keeps people in FEAR. Is your Faith in the stock market or in GOD? The times are changing and they will keep changing at an accelerated pace.

As we progress into the future, we would be wise to realize that changes will occur in more rapid ways and that we need not respond or be in fear. We are heading into unprecedented times and for those of us who have Jesus as our Savior and are really following him, we have the assurance that everything works out for the good for those that BELIEVE!

Discerning the times requires that we know and have confidence in HIM who controls the times and seasons. Do you?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

LIVING FOR THE MOMENT!

2009-08-21T00:12:00.000-04:00

My wife and I will be celebrating 40 years of marriage in January of 2010! At this point in our lives, we have lived through raising children, seeing them through school, enjoying grandchildren, surviving the ups and downs of marriage, health challenges, you name it-the stuff that life is made of.

We have learned to enjoy life moment by moment and to cherish the little things. At times, if we are not careful, we find ourselves living in the past or being too concerned about the future and we miss TODAY!

Today is really all we have. Let's enjoy today and be thankful that we have been given another 24 hours. Whatever challenges you may be facing at this time, take the time to look around and learn to enjoy the process.

I celebrated my 58th birthday in July and I plan on living a long and prosperous life and to do that I must enjoy the moments as they come my way. How about you?

Enjoy your day!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING?

2009-08-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

Our expectations have alot to do as to what comes into our lives. I have learned not to focus on the news, as it is usually negative and that will affect my thought process on a subconcious level.

If we allow negative to come in, it filters our perspective and we will not be expecting positive results. I don't mean that we should be unconcerned about what is happening around us, but we should not focus on it.

I have learned that by expecting the best and believing for the best, I am "calling those things that be not, as if they were". We can all control our actions and thought patterns by making a conscious decision on a minute to minute basis.

Things to avoid: Television, newspapers, and negative people! If you have negative family members-avoid them! By expecting good things to happen to you, you are developing a frame of mind that can handle most anything that life throws at you.

You become focused on the good of every situation that comes your way. Tragedy may come but you know that " all things work out for those that believe!"

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

LIVING A BLESSED LIFE!

2009-08-19T00:12:00.000-04:00

Do you feel you are living a blessed life? If you are alive you should! We all tend to get focused on the business of life and do not stop to smell the roses. I just got back from a business trip to Orlando, Florida and I had the best time traveling there and back to Maine.

My flights were on time, no waiting, beautiful weather. Everything was near perfect. A blessed trip! Little things make a whole lot of difference if we take the time to appreciate them.

Even when we are undergoing life challenges: health issues, family issues, economic issues, you name it, we can still be living a blessed life. As a Christian, I appreciate what Jesus has done for me and continues to do. HE is the same, yesterday, today, and forever!

Be thankful for the food on your table, a nice day, your family and spouse, your job or business. Being thankful is a key part to living a blessed life.

Are you thankful? You must be living a blessed life!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

PEACE ROBBERS: PART I

2009-08-18T00:12:00.000-04:00

Ever been irritable? I have and not just once. If you learn to un-clutter your life and keep things simple, you will be amazed at the transformation that occurs.

Today’s economy is geared towards getting people to buy, buy and buy some more to stir up the economy. What happens? We buy too much stuff. In my neighborhood this summer, it seems that every other house is having a garage sale. Selling their stuff!

Don’t be a compulsive shopper who has to have the next new or better “thing”. Clutter robs your peace, especially if you bought in on credit.

Don’t be a hoarder or a miser. Learn to give things away and your money to worthy causes or charities. This takes your eyes off of you and on to other people. You can be a blessing in someone else’s life and you don’t need to be giving away a lot. A smile, buying an ice cream, listen with an attentive ear-get the picture?

Live below your means. Every get a 10% raise, OK maybe a 5% raise and immediately you have figured out how to spend it. Not good. You would be amazed on how little you can live on if you watch your spending. 10% tithe, 10% savings, and the rest can be used for living expenses.

Get out of Debt! This is actually the # 1 robber of peace. Stay tuned for more!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HANDLING STRESS!

2009-08-17T00:12:00.000-04:00

I have talked previously on how watching negative news can fill us with worry and fear. We can be stressed from a variety of sources: work, family, health, finances, children, etc.

If you want to find people with no stress in their lives-go to the nearest cemetery! Some stress is necessary in our lives but a lot of stress can have negative consequences.

Thoughts on handling stress:

1. Exercise for at least 20 minutes every day. The best way to get stress out of our bodies and mind.

2. Eliminate negatively from your life. Negative news, negative family, negative friends, etc.

3. Don’t make value judgments about people or events. You are putting emotion into an event that does not need emotion. Disconnect your emotions from the event.

Keep a light heart. See the good in all situations, if you look hard enough you will find it. Learn to laugh more. We tend to be too serious about life’s issues.

Live in the moment. Forget the past, you cannot change anything. Don’t live in the future, it is not here yet.

Enjoy the simple things- a good meal, a sunny day, your spouse, children, etc. Practice being thankful.

A thankful heart is a joyful heart!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WORRY AND FEAR: ENEMIES OF SUCCESS!

2009-08-14T00:12:00.000-04:00

Ever worry too much? What you worry about seldom happens and you cannot change anything by worrying. It drains your energy and keeps you focused on the negative side.

If you are in the habit of watching the news and reading newspapers, you will find that you will worry about all sorts of things that you have no control over! They never talk about good stuff on the news only the negative. What to do? Stop listening!

Believe me if something really bad happens someone will let you know. We can only control our actions and, therefore, focus on what you can do.

Fear is also a destructive emotion. We can be cautious but fear is the opposite of Faith. When you are operating in fear you cannot be in Faith!

Fear will keep you paralyzed, Faith will move you into action. Worry and fear are focused on the negative. Faith is focused on the positive. This does not mean that you have your head buried in the sand, it means that you expect good things to happen.

Today people are obsessed with the economy. We need to realize that economic cycles happen on a regular basis-up and down. This is nothing new. This too will pass. Nothing every goes up forever. We are undergoing a correction and then we will again see an upsurge.

Worry is wasted effort, fear is faith on negative steroids!

Don’t worry-be happy!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TOO TIRED FOR LIFE?

2009-08-13T00:12:00.001-04:00

Sydney Harris once said “ A winner paces himself; a loser has only two speeds: hysterical and lethargic.”

In today’s fast paced lifestyle, it can be easy to run on empty. Too many things to do and not enough time. I am a firm believer in taking good supplements on a daily basis and this is crucial for our long term health and stamina.

If you find yourself fatigued on a regular basis you need to reflect on what the long term consequences can be. To operate at your optimum, you need to be refreshed and energized.

I used to run long distances on a regular basis and I found that I would get to a certain point and thought that I would have to stop because it got so difficult. I found that if I could push through I would get a second wind and go much farther than I ever anticipated.

Alertness and fatigue occur in about 90 minute cycles just like hunger does. If you are aware of this, you will realize that this is a cycle and you can get through it. Extreme fatigue can hit you after lunch or after work and this can last up to 2 hours.

You need to plan for this and not give up. Consider the following:

1. Drink plenty of water. This will help to flush out toxins.
2. Breathe deeply and sit up straight. This increases the air capacity in your lungs.
3. So some quick exercise. Push ups or a shor walk work wonders.
4. Use short naps. Remember short! 15-20 minutes.

You’ll be surprised at your energy level!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHEN ARE YOU AT YOUR PEAK?

2009-08-12T00:12:00.000-04:00

With everything that you normally have to do on any given day-they are times that you are at your peak and times when you are not. Consider the following:

1. You have about three hours of peak performance.
2. Five hours of good performance.
3. Six hours of feeling as if you are operating on six cylinders instead of eight.
4. Two hours of complete exhaustion.

People are different. For some- peak performance is in the morning, for others afternoons or evenings. Where are you?

Once you know where your peak time is you are in a better position to plan the following:

PEAK TIME ACTIVITIES:
1. Business writing.
2. Decision making.
3. Negotiating.
4. Work related reading.
5. Report writing.
6. Studying.

OFF PEAK ACTIVITIES:
1. Bill paying, errands.
2. Meals, personal phone calls.
3. Exercise
4. Informal discussions
5. Shopping.
6. Housework.

You can add or subtract from the above, but are you getting the picture?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BALANCING YOUR PERSONAL TIME AND BUSINESS LIFE!

2009-08-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

B.C. Forbes once said “ The business of life is not business, but living”. How true. Most of us face a challenge when trying to balance life, work, business, family, hobbies, etc.

One thing I have learned is that we have to schedule our personal time just like we do business appointments. When you are living a satisfactory, successful life your business and personal hours are closely intertwined but we have to learn to focus on business and personal activities at the appropriate times.

Don’t drag stress and worry from your work to your personal life and vice versa. By separating both, you’ll find that job-related worry and stress levels can be reduced as much as 90%, leaving you more time and energy for personal activities like spending quality time with your friends and family.

If we don’t watch out business time priorities often seem to take precedence over personal time priorities. One reason we all work hard is to have time with our families and do those activities that we like.

Your personal time should be more important-if you want a balanced life. By nature, I am a workaholic. I like to work. There are always emergencies at work but, hey, life is going by while we are all handling emergencies!

Jobs and businesses come and go-but you only have one family, wife, kids! Make time to enjoy them.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TAKING CONTROL OF YOUR TIME!

2009-08-10T00:12:00.002-04:00

Who doesn’t need more time? It seems that there is always more to do than the time we have. We all have 24 hours per day and to be truly successful we need to eliminate unneeded tasks, chores, duties, etc.

People will make demands on your time and if you are not disciplined you will find that you are letting other people control your time! There is no excuse for not putting a priority on your time.

Everyone has a phone at home or a cell phone. Have you ever been busing doing something and the phone rings- you answer it and an hour later you are still trying to cut off your friend. When the phone rings it does not mean you need to answer it, it just means someone is calling!

If you are doing something important-don’t answer. Believe me if it’s important, they will call back.

If you must know who’s calling-get an answering machine or caller ID and you can decide if you at least want to answer.

This also applies to answering emails. I have several email accounts and believe me they can get clogged up real quick. Check it twice per day. Most of it can wait.

Choose a set time every day to return calls and email messages. You’re the boss right!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

KEEPING CONTROL OF YOUR TIME!

2009-08-07T00:12:00.001-04:00

Thoughts on keeping ahead of the curve concerning time:

1. Arrive early and never late.
2. Be on time all the time.
3. Be ready before you leave the house.
4. Leave your car keys in the same place-easy to find.
5. Ignore the phone and doorbell when getting ready.
6. Fill up your gas tank at the end of the day.
7. Add at least ten minutes to your drive time, when driving to an appointment.
8. Carry at map at all times or GPS system.

By doing the above, you are becoming a no excuse person. Planning ahead is very important I have friends who are never on time and I mean never. I have learned that if I need to meet them somewhere, let’s say at 3 PM. I will tell them 2 PM and then they will be on time.

Your time is non negotiable. You cannot get back time that is lost. It’s gone! Make the best of the time you have and use it wisely.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

FINDING TIME!

2009-08-06T00:12:00.000-04:00

We will never find time for anything-we need to make time. If we consider the time we have on a weekly basis, we need to be good stewards of our time. We need time to sleep, eat, wash up, take care of our stuff, spend time with family, and work!

All of this takes time! How do we manage everything? Very carefully. We need to eliminate activities that are not productive and actually steal our time. One of the biggest- TV time. What a waste. I like to watch Christian programs but this too has to be limited.

Most of everything else on TV is basically garbage and not worth your precious time. If you don’t take control of your time, time will control you.

You maintain control of your time when you:

1. Plan your activities and objectives each day in advance.
2. Prioritize your daily activities.
3. Start on time.
4. Show up on time.
5. Refuse to get sucked into confrontations.
6. Eliminate interruptions.
7. Separate your emotions from the events that occur around you.
8. Maintain a positive, can do attitude.
9. Plan your work, then work your plan.
10. Complete your day by prioritizing your activities for the next day.

Get started today.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

EXCUSES ONLY LEAD TO FAILURE!

2009-08-05T00:12:00.000-04:00

People today think that breaking agreements is normal. As a result, much of their lives and relationships are conducted in the context of broken promises.

There are no good excuses. (Unless you die!) Excuses by nature are detrimental to your success, wealth, and well being. You can automatically avoid the necessity of making excuses for failure by keeping your agreements.

Follow these simple guidelines:

1. If you say you will call-call!
2. If you agree to an appointment-keep it!
3. If you tell someone you will get back to them on a certain date-do so!

Promise only what you can deliver. You are telling people a lot about your character when you keep your promises and agreements. You are telling people that you can be trusted and that you respect their time.

I have learned through hard experience that people who cannot be trusted to keep their word are not worth having in your life. These are people who drain your energy and waste your time.

Be a person of your word!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU KEEPING YOUR AGREEMENTS?

2009-08-04T00:12:00.001-04:00

Are you doing exactly what you say you are going to do? An agreement can be made with yourself, others, or with a group. Failing to keep an agreement, even with yourself, can have lasting repercussions in both your personal life and in business.

People today do not keep their agreements! It’s an epidemic! People are not people of their word. They are people of excuses!

Most excuses that people give are minor. A commitment is more important than a minor inconvenience. No wavering-no excuses. It’s a commitment to yourself!

Your ability and willingness to keep your commitments are a direct measure of the level of control you have over your life.

If you want to win, you must be able to meet your commitments in the face of excuse producing obstacles. Determination is all that is required to remove most obstacles and we do this by placing a priority on our commitments.

People who do not keep their commitments are not in control of their lives. They cannot be trusted and will not rise to positions of leadership.

Keeping your agreements will increase your self confidence, as you will not be bothered by excuses. You will make things happen!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MAINTAINING YOUR FOCUS!

2009-08-03T00:12:00.001-04:00

To increase your effectiveness you must increase your focus. How do we stop our mind from wandering and going off in different directions? Written goals, objectives, and activity lists are one way.

Our mind will want to go off and daydream if we let it. Our flesh does not like to concentrate and work, it wants its own way and, if it does get its way, you will accomplish little if anything.

Focus is the process of keeping your thoughts, attention, and energy totally on the task at hand. By learning to maintain focus, at your own personal speed you will accomplish the most in the least amount of time.

Discipline is all that is required to maintain your focus and focus is the key to getting the important things done.

Your mind is an obedient servant-it will do exactly what you tell it to do, provided you tell it and your actions prove that you mean business.

But like a spoiled child, if not controlled your mind will take you off in random directions. Your mind is great at making excuses or finding reasons for not starting or sticking to a project.

Discipline means that you choose to operate in the no excuse and only action mode
Eventually discipline will become a habit, and when is does your ability to accomplish will run on automatic pilot without your needing to resort to excuses for inaction.

Choose to stay focused!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BEING DISCIPLINED!

2009-07-31T00:12:00.000-04:00

Discipline is nothing more than the process of focusing on any chosen activity without interruption until that activity is done. Discipline is something you do and not something you have.

To become what others refer to as a disciplined person required only that you “do discipline” over and over again as a conscious act until it becomes a habit.

Discipline is all of the following:

1. The process of total time control.

2. The ability to stay focused on your chosen action path without detour, distraction, or interruption.

3. The ability to keep all agreements with yourself and others without blame, excuses, or caving in to obstacles.

4. The ability to show up on time, every time.

5. The ability to complete important personal or business projects on schedule, even on budget.

6. Ability to keep your mind, body, and emotions in balance, no matter what’s going on around you-even if it produces fear, anxiety, embarrassment or guilt.

7. The power to keep going forward when everything around you seems to be pulling back.

Discipline generates trust and confidence in yourself and attracts trust and confidence from others. The constant act of discipline magnifies your power to accomplish things.

Are you disciplined?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

EFFICIENCY VERSUS EFFECTIVENESS !

2009-07-30T00:12:00.000-04:00

Efficiency is the process of staying busy at all times, with no idle moments. Effectiveness is the process of producing the maximum results in the minimum time, with the minimum effort.

Efficiency, therefore, is not the key to getting more done. Have you ever had a day when your\ were so busy you didn’t get anything done? The feeling is a trademark of efficiency-lots of action, but lack of results.

The objective is to produce results with minimum time and effort, not maximum busyness and hard work. We all need to learn to work smart!

By transforming efficiency into effectiveness you will discover the following:

1. Every action has a purpose.
2. Interruptions are consciously eliminated.
3. Rushed motion gives way to rational movement.
4. Unbalancing surprises become a thing of the past.
5. You are seldom caught off guard.
6. Your life is planned, stress free, and seldom behind schedule.
7. Excuses for being late are left behind.
8. Deadlines are met.
9. Your life and your time line are under control.

Not all of your daily activities are of equal importance. Your mission is to organize and prioritize all activities into a working plan. You then work your plan from the highest priority activities to the low priority activities, until all are complete or you run out of time at the end of the day.

However, it is the number of priority activities that you complete that is important and ultimately determines your level of success. Use the 20/80 rule to prioritize your list of what is most important.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

THE 20/80 RULE!

2009-07-29T00:12:00.001-04:00

T
To increase our effectiveness this is a good rule to follow. Ever hear of it? 20% of the activities that you could choose to spend your time on will produce 80% of the results you are after.

Conversely, 80% of your possible activities will produce only 20% of the results you are after. This should get your attention. Just 20% of your activities will take you on the path to reaching your goals, whatever they may be.

The key is to identify the 20% of activities that are necessary and that are a priority. Once this is done, you need to spend the majority of your time and energy on those tasks.

It would be a waste of your time, talent, and energy to spend time on anything not in the top 20% of the activities on your list, at least until that 20% has been totally completed and that’s the point.

Applying the 20/80 rule also reduces the stress that often occurs when you feel like you are getting behind or just aren’t producing enough results for the time and effort you are expending.

With the application of the 20/80 rule, you will have learned to compress time-to accomplish in one day what previously would have required you two, four, or even ten days to accomplish.

Think about it and prioritize!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU LISTENING?

2009-07-28T00:12:00.000-04:00

A good listener is more appreciated than a good talker. That is because a good listener always allows people to hear their favorite speaker: themselves!

Being a good listener is not an accident. Some things to consider:

1. Always look at the person who is talking. Anybody worth listening to is worth looking at.

2. Lean forward as you are listening. This forces you to concentrate on what is being said.

3. Ask questions! This lets the talker know that you are eager to hear what he has to say.

4. Stick to the speaker’s subject and don’t interrupt. Don’t change the subject to something you are interested in.

5. Use the speaker’s words: you and your not me, my, and mine.

These are nothing more than common courtesy. This will pay off for you as you are listening. Hey, you might just probably learn something!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU AGREEABLE?

2009-07-27T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you want to be skillful in human relations this is a must! Nothing will help you more in your lifetime than learning to be agreeable.

Any fool can argue and disagree with people but is takes a wise main to agree-particularly when the other person is wrong.

Get yourself in a frame of mind and attitude of being agreeable. This doesn’t mean than you disregard your morals or put up with something you know is blatantly wrong, it’ s how you approach the matter and that person.

Let people know which points that you agree with them on. Do not tell people that you disagree with them unless this is absolutely necessary. If you don’t agree with them it doesn’t mean that you have to argue with them.

Admit it when you’re wrong. The average person will lie, deny, or alibi! Don’t argue! Nobody wins an argument.

You will run into people that are fighters-they are looking for a fight. Refuse to fight with them. Keep your mouth shut, as much as this may be difficult.

Remember: People like those who agree with them, people dislike those that disagree with them, and people don’t like being disagreed with.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MAKING PEOPLE FEEL IMPORTANT !

2009-07-24T00:12:00.000-04:00

1. Listen to them: Refusal to listen to people is the surest way of making them feel unimportant and of rating them a nobody. Listening to them is the best way to make them feel important.

2. Applaud and compliment them: When they deserve it.

3. Use their names as often as possible: Call people by their names as often as possible and they will appreciate you for it.

4. Use their words: You and Your, not I, me, mine.

5. Acknowledge people who are waiting to see you: If they are in line or you are talking to someone else, make sure you let them know that you have seen them. You are putting them first.

6. Pay attention to everybody in a group: Not just the leader or spokesperson.
Good points to ponder!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BEST WAY TO TALK TO PEOPLE!

2009-07-23T00:12:00.001-04:00

What is the most important thing people want to talk about? I, me, my, mine= me, myself, and I.

Talk about the other person. You can’t go wrong. Most people when they are in a conversation are focused only on themselves. You need to be actively focused on other people and make them # 1.

If you give up the satisfaction you get from talking about yourself and focus on the other person, you will find that you will have more influence.

People love to talk about themselves and you should let them. That’s how you become a better conversationalist.

Most of us are not effective when talking with others because we keep busy thinking and talking about ourselves. The thing to remember is that it is not how you like your remarks and subject, it is how your listeners like them.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

UNDERSTANDING PEOPLE: PART I

2009-07-22T00:12:00.000-04:00

Success in life involves getting along with people. It’s amazing how many smart, hardworking people lose out in life in jobs and businesses due to the fact that they have little or no people skills.

Understanding people and human nature simply involves recognizing people for what they are-not what you think they are nor what you want them to be.

People are primarily interested in themselves and not in you! The other person is 10 thousand times more interested in himself that he is in you. And vice versa! You are more interested in yourself than any other person in the world.

Men’s actions are motivated by self thought and self interest. Do you find this too harsh? You don’t have to be embarrassed by this, it’s just human nature.

Knowing this should help you in your dealings with other people. The focus is on the other person, not on you. I have found that all I need to do to start a conversation is ask the other person how he is doing. Normally, 30 minutes later they are still talking!

This is a key of life. Be more interested in other people than yourself if you want to succeed!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HUMAN INSIGHTS FOR SUCCESS: HOW WE RETAIN INFORMATION !

2009-07-21T00:12:00.000-04:00

We retain information the following way:

1. 10% of what we read.

2. 20% of what we hear.

3. 30% of what we see.

4. 50% of what we see and hear.

5. 70% of what we say as we talk.

6. 90% of what we say as we do a thing.

How would the above apply to you? I do a lot of reading. I should be reading out loud. How about you?

Looking at the 90%, we should all be talking as we are doing a task that we want to retain information on. This applies to all aspects of our lives!

I am attempting to upgrade my computer skills. What I plan on doing is to talk to myself as I am learning a new program. If you are teaching someone, have them verbally repeat what they are doing.

I hope you are enjoying these short tidbits of information that we all need to internalize.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HUMAN INSIGHTS FOR SUCCESS: HOW WE LEARN!

2009-07-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

The following are insights all of us need to be aware of. We learn the following way:

1. 83% through sight.

2. 11% through hearing.

3. 3 ½ % through smell.

4. 1 ½ % through touch.

5. 1% through taste.

Does the above surprise you? As a parent, this is sobering. It’s not what we necessary say that is important; it is what our children see us doing. If you smoke and tell your children “don’t smoke” guess what?

We learn predominantly by seeing. If you are a businessperson this means that your employees will learn more by observation; especially observing you!

We normally think that hearing is the most important. That is why some of us talk more than we should. A visual presentation therefore, will be much more productive.

Keep this in mind the next time you want to learn something or you are teaching something.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SAVING AS A WAY OF LIFE

2009-07-17T00:12:00.000-04:00

Whether you are a W-2 employee or a business person it makes sense to develop the savings habit. Consider the following:

1. Auto and Home Insurance: You will be surprised at the difference in rates if you do your homework. I have saved thousands over the years by comparing every 1-2 years.

2. ATM fees: There is no reason to pay these. Find a bank that reimburses these fees. I have.

3. Don’t pay for a checking account. This is foolish.

4. Negotiate, negotiate, negotiate! There is no final price until you say so!

5. Watch for sales. I was going through a Walmart the other day and saw summer shirts for $3. I bought three!

6. Pay less at the grocery store. Use coupons. Coupons you may say! Yes! Plan ahead. Don’t buy name brands, you pay more for nothing.

7. Utilities. Adjust your thermostats summer and winter. This can decrease costs by 3-5%.

8. Only use basic phone service and use a calling card for long distance.

9. Limit eating out. You’ll save money not only on food but on clothing. (You won’t be gaining unnecessary weight!)

10. If you have a mortgage, pay an extra 10% every month. This is equivalent to paying an extra months payment.

Money saved is money earned.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME PART IV

2009-07-16T00:12:00.000-04:00

Let’s review the different ways of producing income:

1. Employment: Earning money in a job, working for someone else.
2. Self-Employment: Making money working for yourself.
3. Business owner: Producing income with a business system.
4. Investor: Producing income with money.

Ideally you need to have at least two of the above in operation to be on a sound financial footing. No category is better than the other, just different.

I have chosen to build businesses, as this works best for me with my interests, aptitude, character, and temperament. The world of business is focused on taking a calculated risk and requires financial literacy, and leadership. It utilizes the principle of leverage and brings economic freedom.

The best way to learn business skills is to start with a solid multilevel business model. A company that has been around for at least 20 years and is doing over a Billion dollars worth of business per year. There should be no need to inventory any products and you should be able to recoup your initial investment in a few months.

What you will learn in this type of industry is priceless regardless if you commit to this on a long term basis. Look at it as an education that does not require you to go back to school. You will be working with mentors who will guide you along the way.

There are also Internet businesses that have good potential. However, this is like walking into a mine field. There is a lot of hype and scams. You must do your due diligence.

Just remember, there is no free lunch and ever y successful business venture will require lots of hard work and persistence and the efforts are well worth it.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME: PART III

2009-07-15T00:12:00.000-04:00

Real wealth building begins once you are out of debt. Believe me living debt free is the best thing you can do. A lot of financial gurus will tell you to borrow money to build assets, using other’s people’s money. I don’t agree. Most people do not have the financial expertise to fully understand the down side to borrowing money to build assets. Just ask all the people who borrowed to buy real estate as an investment and now are losing their properties.

An investor defines an asset differently from a lender. To investors, an asset produces income or its earnings are reinvested and increase in value. A lender defines an asset as anything you own, such as equity in your home. Liabilities to an investor are things that produce negative cash flow.

That is why your home is actually a liability. Your goal is to minimize the cost as much as possible. Once your home is paid off, you still have taxes, insurance, utility costs, and maintenance costs.

The lender considers your home an asset because it is generating income for him!

Paying off a debt early is like getting a return on that money.

So what type of assets should you be looking for? It has a lot to do with your tolerance for risk. There is an abundance of books, videos, and websites available that discuss mutual funds, real estate, and all types of businesses.

If you look at the stock market it is not hard to see that the so called experts have no clue either. To me the stock market is like going to Las Vegas. The house has all the upside. My opinion.

Real estate? A lot of people have become millionaires in real estate and some still do and will do. For me, I don’t have the patience for this.

My choice is building businesses and leveraging the power of people. More to come!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MULTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME: PART II

2009-07-14T00:12:00.000-04:00

If you want income that is not totally based on your performance you need to move to Level Two, which involves income that works for you!

Let’s review the priorities for income:

1. Tithe/offerings.
2. Saving
3. Living expenses
4. Asset building.
5. Seed for investing
6. Foundation wealth

Level Two concerns asset income. Income from an asset that produces income for you. First of all let me stress that your home is not an asset. Why? Because it is draining finances from you. I did an entire blog on this earlier this year. I will not get into more detail on this.

You cannot develop assets if you have not saved. Before developing assets, you need to have 3-6 months of living expenses put aside to weather any type of economic challenge you might face, such as the loss of your primary income.

Asset development can include investments, managed income, and income not worked for. Developing Level Two income requires focused attention to the following:

1. Eliminating all consumer debt.
2. Acquiring assets-things you own that create income:
a) Businesses
b) Real Estate
c) Stocks, bonds, mutual funds
3. First priority is income coming in after all expenses.
4. Appreciation is secondary.
5. Replace employment income.
6. Insure acceleration of capital

We need to leverage something. Some people leverage real estate, some money, some people, some businesses. You need to choose something to leverage. Consumer debt is negative leverage. You are the one being leveraged against.

These will be discussed in more detail. Remember:

1. Pay God.
2. Pay yourself.
3. Pay everyone else.
Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MUTIPLE STREAMS OF INCOME: PART I

2009-07-13T11:28:00.000-04:00

I have talked about this before but I feel it is important enough to revisit. In today’s economy we can safely say that business as usual no longer exists. The entire world’s economy has been adjusted and I believe on a permanent basis. The old rules no longer apply.

No longer can anyone expect to work 30-40 years for an employer and expect a nice pension and appreciation. Can we really rely on the U.S. government for Social Security?

It behooves all of us to take control of our lives and not leave anything to chance.

My personal belief is that retirement does not have a lot of merit. Granted we may want to slow down our activities involved in working as we grow older but I do not see retirement referred to in the Bible.

Our lives evolve and we may be doing something different in our latter years but we still need to be productive and active. Repeated studies have shown that people who retire with no goals, activities and some type of work usually die early.

So what am I getting at? To live a long and productive life we need multiple streams of income.

The first level of income is income you work for. That’s a start. Most people start at this point at some time in their work career. What does this type of income provide:

1. Ability to tithe and give.
2. Ability to build a savings plan.
3. Pay living expenses.
4. Provide for asset building.

Notice that there is a priority in using the income that comes in. Tithing and giving come first. This might be a new concept for you and I will cover this on another post.

Income you work for can also include being self employed income as well and can be further defined as non-leverage income. When you don’t work, you don’t get paid.

If you work at a labor intensive job, it becomes very important to develop multiple streams of income before you get older.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP: PART II

2009-07-10T00:12:00.000-04:00

6. Good stewardsare passionate about faithfulness, persevering through the bad as well as the good times.

a) I Corinthians 4:2: Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

7. Good stewards perform their work for the earthly owners “as unto the Lord.”

a) Ephesians 6:7L With goodwill doing service, as to the Lord, and not to men.

8. The only motivation good stewards need to perform their task is to please the owner.

a) Hebrews 13:16-17: But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased. Obey those who rule over you, and be submissive, for they watch out for your souls, as those who must give account. Let them do so with joy and not with grief, for that would be unprofitable for you.

A steward is one who protects and adds value to the assets placed under their care by the owner. Stewards manage people, property, and resources which belong to another. A steward serves the owner and is accountable to them for the trust which the owner has placed in them.

1. God created everything and is the owner of it all.
2. Man is given responsibility to steward what God has created.
3. Because we were created in God’s image, we are expected to manage His resources in exactly the same way the Lord would manage them Himself.

Are you getting the picture?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT IS STEWARDSHIP: PART I

2009-07-09T00:12:00.001-04:00

1. Stewardship is knowing the difference between being the owner and being an overseer.

a) Genesis 1:26: Then God said, “Let Us make man in Our image according to Our likeness; and let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.

2. Good stewards protect and grow the owner’s assets with passion, commitment, and faithfulness.

a) Luke 19: 16-17: Then came the first saying, “Master, your mina has earned ten minas.” And he said to him, “Well done, good servant; because you were faithful in a very little, have authority over ten cities.”

3. Promotion is determined by how we manage the small things we are entrusted with.

a) Luke 16: 12: And if you have been faithful in what is another man’s, who will give you what is your own?

4. Good stewardship is built on the foundation of trust and integrity.

a) Proverbs 11:1: Dishonest scales are an abomination to the LORD, but a just weight is His delight.

5. Stewards welcome evaluation and accountability, and understand these will make them better stewards.
a) Luke 19:15: And so it was when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded those servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained in trading.

How are you doing so far?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

THOUGHTS ON OWNERSHIP AND STEWARDSHIP!

2009-07-08T00:12:00.001-04:00

The following is adapted from ‘Making Cents”.

1. We are stewards. God is the owner
a) The earth is the LORD’S, and all its fullness, the world and those who dwell therein. Psalm 24:1

2. We are called to stay busy, occupying until HE comes.
a) And he called his ten servants, and delivered them ten pounds, and said unto them, Occupy till I come. Luke 19:13

3. We are to be found faithful.
a) Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful. I Corinthians 4:2

4. We will be held accountable.
a) And so it was that when he returned, having received the kingdom, he then commanded these servants, to whom he had given the money, to be called to him, that he might know how much every man had gained by trading. Luke 19:15

Are you an owner or a steward?

Jacques
Creating WealthThatLasts

BE-ATTITUDES FOR SUCCESS: PART II

2009-07-07T00:12:00.001-04:00

More thoughts for success:

6. Faithfulness: Faithfulness confirms to others that you believe in God’s purpose for your life.

a) 1 Corinthians 4:2: Moreover it is required in stewards that one be found faithful.

7. Believing: Be absolutely certain of the possibilities.

a) Mark: 9:23: Jesus said to him, ‘If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.”

8. Attitude: Any circumstance, problem, or situation you face will never determine success or failure, but your attitude toward it will.

a) Philippians 4:6: Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.

9. Focus: The smallest amount of extra efforts can separate the high achievers from the crowd. The difference is focus.

a) Proverbs 4:25-27: Let your eyes look straight ahead, fix your gaze directly before you. Make level paths for your feet and take only ways that are firm. Do not swerve to the right or left, keep your foot from evil.

10. Goals: Establishing goals will give your focus a target.

a) Isaiah: 32:8: But the noble man makes noble plans, and by noble deeds he stands.

Take these to heart for true success!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BE-ATTITUDES FOR SUCCESS: PART I

2009-07-06T00:12:00.002-04:00

I can’t take credit for the following but they are awesome:

1. Challenge: Challenges are necessary for growth:
a) Psalm: 105:19: Until the time that his word came to pass, the word of the LORD tested him.

2. Commitment: Commitment never asks how. It’s what you default to no matter what happens:
a) Ephesians 6:13-14:..and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then.

3. Choice: It is through choice, not chance, that our destiny is determined:
a) Deuteronomy 30:19: I call heaven as a witness today against you, that I have set before you life and death, blessing and cursing, therefore choose life, that both you and your descendants may live.

4. Purpose: Those who know why they are doing something always outperform those who know how:
a) Psalm 138:8: The LORD will fulfill his purpose for me, your love, O LORD, endures forever.

5. Desire: We need to be passionate about it.
a) Psalm 37:4: Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.

GREAT STUFF AND MORE TO COME!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

EVERYBODY NEEDS A FRIEND!

2009-07-03T00:12:00.001-04:00

I have spent a few days talking about the power of networks. How do I meet people you might ask? People are everywhere if you haven’t noticed. At the checkout line, at your workplace, in church, at the mall.

We tend to be so busy that we are only involved in our little world of work and life. Saying hi, offering a helping hand, offering a listening ear are ways to engage other people. We don’t need to have any hidden agenda other than to be friendly.

I have developed lasting acquaintances with using the above. Going about our daily lives and being aware of people around us. God has a way of placing people in our lives. We need to be aware and available.

Have you graduated from college or university? They all have alumni clubs that allow people to keep in touch. How about industry associations? What work or profession are you involved in. For years I was a member of the local Lion’s club. I met a wide variety of business people through this organization.

Hobby clubs. This list is almost endless. You name a hobby and there is a high probability that there exists a club where people meet and share ideas.

Get involved, reach out, you will be glad you did.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT A NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS CAN DO FOR YOU! PART II

2009-07-02T00:12:00.001-04:00

1. Networking can help you help others. You have unique gifts, experiences, contacts, etc. that can benefit someone else. Be open to share. Young people need mentors. A lot of organizations are looking for volunteers.

2. Networks can provide job security. As you expand your network, you have people in the know who can advise you of potential job openings or business opportunities. You can have a formal or informal network to advise you of possible jobs. When is the best time to be looking for a new job? When you already have one. You should always be in the looking mode and interviewing. You will meet new people and will be expanding your network.

3. A network can make you look good. Harvey Mackey once said “Your car just drives you to work, your network can make sure you have a job to drive to”. Keep in touch with the members of your network. Send cards, make calls, send emails. Find out what they are doing, maybe you can be of benefit to them. Keep your information current.

4. Networks expand your financial reach. You can barter services for items that you might need. You can obtain expert advice. You are made aware of trends and changes in the market place.

What have you learned over the last two days? You should be expanding your network all the time! For your benefit and the benefit of others.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT A NETWORK OF RELATIONSHIPS CAN DO FOR YOU! PART I

2009-07-01T00:12:00.002-04:00

1. Replaces your weakness with strength. With Facebook, Linkden, Twitter, etc we can connect with people of like interests and get input into any type of information we seek. We can develop long term relationships as well. Join the group that has the experts you need.

2. Provides immediate feedback so you don’t have to make needless mistakes. Your network can identify what’s unclear or confusing or simply wrong. Your network can be your sounding board to learn what works and what doesn’t.

3. People in your network can lead you to people in their network. Other people might have leads or know people that can help tackle your particular need. People are usually quick to help if they realize that you value their opinion.

4. A network can help you any place in the world. How many people in your network live out of the country? We are in tune into our little world and people living on another continent might have a different perspective on things. Colleges and universities have students from all over the world. A good place to network and meet new people.

5. A network can provide you with new experiences and knowledge. You will find that people have diverse interests and you become exposed to new ideas, businesses, hobbies, etc. You are expanding your life experiences.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

RELATIONSHIPS CAN SAVE YOU FINANCIALLY!

2009-06-30T00:12:00.001-04:00

Now, I am not talking about people bailing you out or providing finances, although that can happen. I am talking about having relationships with a variety of people that can provide insight, encouragement, ideas, support, motivation etc.

What types of people: pastors, friends, business associates, co-workers, teachers, family members, etc. Let’s take a look at reality, in today’s economy:

1. Talent will not save you. A lot of talented people are unemployed.
2. More training and education will not save you.
3. The government will not save you. Buy helping you, they usually enslave you with new taxes.

Having a network of people that you can tap into for wisdom and guidance can provide a life line to you in a time of need. Also you can also be a lifeline for someone else.

A recent study of successful people revealed that they had a large network of peers that they turned to for advice in a wide variety of areas. They knew who to call for specific information and who they could trust to be upfront and sincere in their advice.

How about you? How are your contacts? Would you know who to call if you needed advice quickly for a particular problem that your are facing?

It’s never too late to start cultivating relationships, even if you feel inadequate in dealing with people or are shy and quiet.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SURVIVING IN TODAY’S ECONOMY OR ANY ECONOMY! RELATIONSHIPS!

2009-06-29T00:12:00.001-04:00

The changes in today’s world are happening at an alarming rate. The news seems to go from bad to worse. What to do? Stop looking at the news is a good start. There are a lot of things out of our control but there are things we can control.

We can control the books we read and the people we hang around with. We all go through seasons in our lives-some better than others but all offer us wisdom if we can learn from them.

I have had different people come into my life and then leave. Some were meant to be short term relationships and some lifetime relationships.

A mistake I have made is to not nourish those relationships with people that have contributed into my life. We all have challenges and sometimes we lose track of what is important and neglect those things that are really important.

Relationships are important and we need to take time for these. You need discernment in this area! There are some people that are leeches and take from you and do not contribute. Be quick to recognize these and flee.

There are people who pour into your life and they nourish your spirit and contribute to you in a lot of ways. These are the keepers. You also have something to contribute to others. You have life experience in some areas that can be of benefit to others who will need guidance and support at some point in their lives.

Over the coming days I will be discussing relationships and how they intertwine in our lives and how integral a part this plays as our lives unfold.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TEACHING YOUR KIDS FINANCIAL LITERACY-PART II

2009-06-26T00:12:00.001-04:00

Work is a good disciplinarian. It teaches you how to value your time, make commitments, get up when you don’t feel like it, smile when you don’t feel like it, and value the money that you are earning.

My son started working at a very young age doing lawns in the summer and removing snow in the winter. He had a paper route and did this 6 days a week for years, in 20 below degree weather!

When he was 16, he started working at a gas station and worked there all through high school. He also played sports in school while working.

My wife took my son to the bank at an early age and had him put his money in a savings account. When he graduated from high school he had over $6,000 saved.

We did the same with our daughter. She babysat, took over her brother’s paper route and worked in a nursing home while in high school. She also played sports and was involved in her church youth group at the same time.

Both our kids worked while going to college and they both graduated with good grades and have good careers at this time. The big bonus: they graduated debt free!

We where diligent in teaching them about tithing, saving, and not getting caught in the credit card trap. Pay cash, pay off all credit cards in full at the end of the month, and save!

Teaching your children a good work ethic and taking care of their money is crucial. It does not matter how much money you make if you cannot manage it. Life has enough challenges without having to be stressed by finances.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TEACHING YOUR KIDS FINANCIAL LITERACY-PART I

2009-06-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

I have a B.S Degree in Business Management and none of the courses I took in college ever discussed handling personal finances. If the majority of the people in the United States are in debt and have a poor financial picture, do we expect the so called experts to have it all together?

I have learned from bitter experience how to get out of debt and stay out of debt. I now have the responsibility to teach my children. This I have done.

When do we start and what do we do? First of all our children learn from what we do and not what we say! Your actions speak louder than your words. Do you talk about finances with your children? Are they aware of the bills that need to be paid?

For your children to learn about the proper handling of finances they must be aware and informed. Let’s start with having an allowance. Is this the right thing to do or is it a form of welfare? I have read a lot on this and I will share my personal experiences.

When my kids where at home we were always in some form of debt. We started out by giving a small allowance to them and then gradually, as I started to learn about getting out of debt, I stopped.
There are always chores to do around the house and they were required to do these as part of the household (not being paid). This included taking care of their rooms, taking out the trash, washing the dishes, etc.

We did pay them for some chores: snow removal, cutting the grass, washing the cars. This was a way for them to EARN money. They tithed on this, put some in savings, and had some to spend.

Some people allow their children to spend all the money they get whether it is earned income or gifts. This gives a wrong picture. They are learning to spend money as soon as it comes in.

Your children must learn to save and put off needless expenditures. More to come!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

FINANCES AND FAMILIES!

2009-06-24T00:12:00.000-04:00

Be careful! If you don’t want to jeopardize your family relationships, don’t get involved in any financial issues with them.

A family member asks to borrow money. What do you do? Lend it, charge interest or not? For me, I would give the money and not expect it back. It’s a gift. Why?

Every time you see that family member, they know they owe you money and so do you. What happens if they can’t pay it back? See what I mean. It can get very complicated.

Everyone faces financial challenges at times and it is good to help out but sometimes people need to get a second job, even if it’s for a short period of time.

My experience has been that I have helped people who really did not want to help themselves. I had an uncle (since passed away) who I really liked. Life of the party but a drinker. He used to call to get money because of an emergency and I found out quickly that he was not going to pay it back-ever!

Some financial pundits advise of getting a legal contract with relatives to make sure you get paid. My advice-don’t. If you don’t have the money to give, say so and save yourself the headaches of borrowing money to lend to a relative. People do this all the time.

Be a giver! Be wise in your giving! If you do give money to a relative, tell them to return the favor to someone else!

Jacques

BEING CONSERVATIVE WITH YOUR MONEY!

2009-06-23T00:12:00.000-04:00

I don’t know about you but at this point in my life I have realized that there is no such thing as something for nothing and getting rich quick. As they say, easy come-easy go.

If you have put aside some hard earned money, you should be conservative and protect your principal. Look at the stock market and all the pundits who knew all the answers! They are still giving advice like they know what they are doing.

If you are risk averse, consider the following:

1. CD’s: Even with the low rates of 1.5% to 2%, you are protecting your principal.

2. I am presently using a credit union that has a special plan that if you keep $25,000/mo. in your checking account they are paying 4.9% interest. They have a few requirements -like using a debit card 12 times per month and having a payment subtracted automatically from your checking account but the payout is good.

3. Money market deposit accounts: These are savings accounts that are federally insured and have check cashing privileges. They usually have a competitive interest rate but could have some monthly charges so you do need to check around. The advantage of these is that you can take your money out at any time.

4. Treasury bonds: Series I savings bonds offer a fixed rate of interest plus are adjusted for inflation. You can defer taxes on these for up to 30 years and they are exempt from state and local income taxes.

You can sleep better at night with the above!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW BANKS RIP US OFF!

2009-06-22T00:12:00.000-04:00

If you are a banker, please don’t get offended. It’s just that at times I feel that we are paying the banks to use our money!

I had a friend of mine who had a savings account in a bank and did not use it for a period of 2 years. He had several hundred dollars in it. Would you believe that after 6 months, they had started to charge him a monthly fee of $5/mo because he was not using this account. He paid $60 a year! Do you think he is still using this bank?

Ever had a check bounce? How about a $30-$40 dollar charge for insufficient funds and maybe it was not your fault. Never write a check if you don’t have the funds to pay it. What’s involved when you send a check in the mail?

1. The bank gets the check and sends it to a central location, where it is sorted and sent to a branch of the Federal Reserve Bank.

2. If the check is good it is credited to the bank it was deposited with.

3. The check is then sent to the bank which it was drawn from.

That’s why it takes so long for a check to clear.

What about ATM charges. What a rip off! Sometimes people are charged up to $5 per transaction, even if you only took out $20. This is big business for banks. I am presently using the services of a credit union, which credits back to me any charges I incur when using an ATM.

Maybe I should be getting into the banking business? Hey, if I fail the government will bail me out!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

LEASING Y0UR WAY INTO DEBT!

2009-06-19T00:12:00.001-04:00

Has a car dealer tried talking you into leasing a vehicle? There is NO good reason anyone should lease a vehicle-period!

Leasing is another way to rent what your paychecks can’t purchase.

Leasing requires some type of upfront payment ( dealers tell you don’t need anything up front, put you don’t get the low payments if you don’t). You pay all maintenance and repairs, a mileage stipend for every mile you drive over the lease agreement, and at the end of the lease you don’t own the car and you have to pay an additional amount if you want to buy it.

Does it sound wise to you to be leasing a new vehicle every two to three years? Why not buy what you can afford, keep it for at least 10 years ( depends on your yearly mileage), and put away the money that you would be spending monthly on a car payment.

People are worried about the decline in the stock market and through away money on car leases!

Leasing a vehicle for three years that costs about $23,000 would run you $13,500 ( assuming you get the security deposit back). But you don’t keep the car at the end of the lease. Financing for three years costs about $26,000 but at the end of the loan period you have a vehicle worth about $14,000.

Another definition for leasing “You, too, can drive a car you can’t afford”.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

DON’T INCUR NEEDLESS DEBT!

2009-06-18T00:12:00.000-04:00

I drive my cars to at least 100,000 miles and if I can, my goal is 200,000 miles. Now I might not have the new, jazzy model that everyone is driving or the new convertible that the men in their 50’s are all driving with gold chains around their necks and earrings!

But guess what? I don’t have a monthly car payment. I bought a 2002 Mercury Sable that had 25,000 miles on it. I do a lot of driving in my business and I just past the 200,000 mile mark. Still runs good and looks good too!

I have a friend who bought a pickup truck for over $50,000 and his monthly payment is just under $1,000/mo. No way! It’s money down the drain. Vehicles are depreciating assets that depreciate very fast.

If it comes down to putting in $1,500 of repairs in your present vehicle versus buying another vehicle for $25,000, ask yourself which is the smaller number and you have your answer.

Here is what a consulting firm recommends about keeping your present car or buying:

“New car payments are the decisive factor. Even though the new model has a much greater trade in value after four years and you save money on repairs and maintenance, the monthly car payment more than counterbalances the other factors.” In other words, the car payments eat up any savings you’d have.

Since a car is not as asset but is taking money out of your pocket, even if it is paid for, it makes sense to take good care of it-inside and outside. I have ridden in other people’s cars that were so filthy that I would not even want a pet in it.

Again, don’t try to impress friends with a new vehicle. It’s too expensive.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT TAX BREAK?

2009-06-17T00:12:00.000-04:00

The experts will tell you NOT to pay off your home mortgage due to the tax benefits and they will all tell you to take any extra money ( that you would use to pay off your debt and invest it).

They all seem to use the classic “invested at 10% for 30 years and you have a million”. I don’t know about you but I haven’t able to find a safe investment that pays consistently 10% a year. The exception is if you have your own business, but that is another story.

At this point in my life I want the peace of mind of having a home that is paid off. You cannot put a price tag on peace of mind!

The longer you are paying on a home the more interest you pay and the more it is costing you. Whatever your present monthly home mortgage is, let’s say $800/mo., when your house is paid off, you now have $9,600/yr. available to you for other uses.

Cash is king. Tax breaks are one thing but cash makes all the difference.

A must have goal is to own your home outright before you get to your retirement.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU HOUSE POOR?

2009-06-16T00:12:00.000-04:00

I’ve talked about this before but it bears repeating. A house is not an asset. An asset is what puts money in your pocket. Is your house putting cash in your pocket? You are paying taxes, utilities, insurance, ect, all negative cash flow.

Real estate agents will tell you that a home will appreciate in value. Maybe over a LONG period of time. The recent real estate bust should tell us something.

Most first time home buyers overbuy. The qualify for a small or no down payment ( which they think is a good idea), but they don’t realize that they are actually financing more which means a higher monthly payment and more interest paid in.

They say that your mortgage should not be more than 28% of your monthly income. As an example, if you make $45,000/yr. your monthly mortgage payments should be no more than $1,050/mo.

Get real, who can afford a $1,050/mo. mortgage payment while only making $45,000/yr? When you factor in income taxes, credit card payments, and all other expenses-such as food, no way they can maintain that payment.

There is no room for error. You don’t eat out, you don’t buy anything else, and you hope you do not lose your job. Take about stress! The American dream can quickly turn into the American nightmare.

My next blog will discuss the sensible way to buy a home.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SENSIBLE HOME BUYING!

2009-06-15T09:51:00.001-04:00

Now that you realize that you home is not as asset, what is it? It’s a place to stay and call home! You need to stay someplace right?

Remember that all banks will tell you that you can afford a bigger home. Don’t take the bait. If you are married and both husband and wife are working, buy a home that one of you could manage if the other lost their job.

Points to ponder:

1. Make sure you have cash reserves before buying a house and keep that cash on hand. Don’t spend it on expensive furniture. Believe me when I tell that circumstances will arise that will require that cash and you will be glad you have it.

2. Buy a home you can live in for several years, not a starter home with the thought that you will be looking for a bigger or better home in a few years. A house that you plan to live in for at least 10 years.

3. When calculating you home mortgage, make sure you make room for savings, credit card payments, and all other misc. expenses.

4. Be diligent in the home buying process and don’t make foolish decisions because of the excitement of buying a new home.

5. Don’t buy to impress your family and friends.

6. If you have no peace within, don’t buy.

7. Don’t buy because the seller is saying a thousand other people are looking to buy it. It’s not the only house for sale!

If you do your homework and plan ahead, you will have a place to call home that will not be a source of stress. That’s right, a home and not an asset!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

STAYING OUT OF DEBT ON YOUR WEDDING DAY!

2009-06-12T00:12:00.000-04:00

Most young couples starting out usually have some type of college debt and they still feel obligated to have a lavish wedding for their friends and family. I heard of a young couple with $250,000 combined debt for college loans who spent $30,000 on their wedding and put all of it on credit cards.

They then asked for cash gifts from the attendees at the wedding! If potential guests expect you to go into debt so they can have an open bar and a full buffet, they are not worth inviting. What sense does this make to start a married life buried under so much debt? Maybe they should charge admission!

If you are the parents of two young people thinking of getting married please interfere early and provide them with a sensible alternative to more debt.

This is the time of year for weddings and some of the people being invited to weddings are being told to buy gifts from certain retailers and are being given choices on what to buy. Some have even been told to put some money for the newlyweds in some type of retirement amount.

Both of the above scenarios show how far off the mark today’s society is! Go in debt or buy, buy, and buy.

If you are getting married for the right reasons, you don’t have to impress anyone and you don’t have to get into any debt!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

THE REAL COST OF CREDIT!

2009-06-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

Want to hear a sad but true story. We have a young man in his late twenties earning $100,000 a year with no house payment. He buys a luxury car, spends $2,000 a month eating out, and has $30,000 in credit card debt. The debt is all for non essential items: clothes, furniture, vacations, etc.

Guess what? He is laid off, can’t make his car payments or credit card payments, he declares bankruptcy and moves back in with his parents. He had no savings to whether his unexpected storm.

People have a problem with spending!

Did you hear about the man and his girlfriend who were living in cardboard boxes? The guy goes into a McDonald’s and buys a $1 item and winds up winning 1 Million dollars. Fast forward one year. He buys a motorcycle, a ring for his girlfriend, three homes, and files for bankruptcy.

Again we have spend, spend, spend! He could have banked his money and lived off of the interest.

I heard of a lady who had $150,000 in credit card debt on over 30 different credit cards. She was earning $50,000/yr. How could she do this? One credit card purchase at a time. Needless to say she had to file for bankruptcy.

If you ever have to go to bankruptcy court you will not find people happy to be getting rid of their debt. You will find teary eyed, scared individuals that are afraid that people will find out how big a fool they have become. It’s no laughing matter. It’s a serious and sad matter!

I am not out to heap condemnation on anyone. I am trying to get people to wake up to the fact that there is no free lunch. Somebody has to pay!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW DEPENDANT ARE YOU ON CREDIT?

2009-06-10T00:12:00.000-04:00

“No man’s credit is ever as good as his money.” Edgar Howe, author.

Let’s see if you could pass this experiment. Take all of your credit cards, put them in an envelope, and put the envelope in your freezer. Do this for two months. Ouch!@!@!

What’s the point you may ask?
1. To practice paying for what you want with cash or a check.
2. To show you how much you can save when you stop using credit to live beyond your means.
3. To prove that with a credit card you spend more.

A study done at a university entitled: Leave home without it, showed that people who bought with a credit card where apt to pay up to 100% more on items that they bought.

When people buy something using a credit card they rarely think about whether or not they have the cash on hand or in a bank account to pay off the entire amount they are charging.

Let’s say that you are going to the mall to buy a $30 dollar pair of sneakers (which are on sale) and you have $35 with you. You buy the sneakers and have $5 to buy a small lunch (shopping makes you hungry!).

Let’s say instead of going shopping with cash you go just with your credit card. Same item to purchase; the $30 sneakers on sale. While you are in the store they just happen to have a special which is buy two and get the second half price. That’s an extra $15 you where not anticipating spending but your saving $15 right? Wrong , you now have another $15 in credit card debt.

If you are strong enough and determined to get out of debt, try this experiment.

You will be glad you did!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

A GOOD DEBT IS NOT AS GOOD AS NO DEBT!

2009-06-09T00:12:00.000-04:00

Credit can become evil when consumers become so over reliant on credit cards that is clouds their common sense. In my part of the country, it appears that one out of ten families is losing their cars and one out of ten is losing their homes!

Often times it’s not that they can’t afford the debt it’s because they overbought. Too much car or too much house for what they really could afford. I cannot stress enough how debt is the master that has no pity, mercy, or empathy.

A lot of today’s financial mess has been caused by easy credit and no self control. Debt allows people to buy what they don’t need with money they don’t have.

Spending money you haven’t earned leads to ruined marriages, spoiled kids, and a broken spirit. Most people are forced into bankruptcy due to job loss, major medical bills, and divorce with no financial reserves available. If they had had cash on hand maybe they could have weathered the storm.

The only good debt I can think of (if there is such a thing) is for a home and a college education. And then only in moderation. You can get a modest house and a good education at a state university.

Be true to yourself and you won’t have a broken spirit.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

N0 COSIGNING FOR ANY LOAN, EVEN FOR YOUR KIDS!

2009-06-08T00:12:00.002-04:00

I am not kidding. If your child needs to go buy a car (can’t afford to pay cash) and the bank won’t loan them money why should you? They have to learn the hard way.

If you live in a city they can take the bus. That’s right-take the bus. People today are buying their kids cars when they graduate from high school. When I graduated from high school, I had a friend who came from a family of 23 kids. What did he get for graduation? As suitcase! Hint, hint-time to move out!

When you cosign here are the facts:

1. You are being asked to guarantee this debt. If the borrower does not pay the debt-you do!
2. You may have to pay up to the full amount if the debtor does not pay. You may have to pay for late fees or collection costs.
3. The creditor can decide to collect directly from you without going to the borrower.
4. The creditor can use the same collection techniques against you that they would use against the borrower.

If you feel that you really must cosign for your kids consider the following:

1. Make sure you can repay the loan yourself.
2. Try to limit your liability with the creditor. They may be flexible with the loan.
3. Ask to be notified in writing if the borrower fails to make even one payment.
4. Make sure you get copies of all paperwork including payments and balances.

Cosigning may not seem like a big deal but it could ruin your credit forever!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

PRACTICAL IDEA FOR SAVING ON GIFTS!

2009-06-05T00:12:00.001-04:00

Have you ever received gifts that you either did not need or did not like. What to do? Re-Gifting!

1. When you receive something you don’t need or don’t like, use it to bless someone else. Just remember who gave it to you and don’t give it back to them!
2. Re-wrap any item you are re-gifting.
3. The gift should be in good shape. Re-gifting doesn’t mean getting rid of junk.

Does this sound like penny pinching to you? It shouldn’t. What would you normally do with a gift you don’t need or want-put? You put it in a closet and forget about it.

Keep in mind that any gift you get, whether it was bought, homemade, or re-gifted should be accepted with grace. Ralph Waldo Emmerson said: “ He is a good man who can receive a gift well”!

Give, you'll be blessed!
Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHEN IS ENOUGH ENOUGH?

2009-06-04T00:12:00.000-04:00

Do you have one or two T.V.’s, maybe three? How many DVD players? One or two, three cars?

We all stress ourselves out at one time or other for stuff that maybe we really don’t need after all.

“ A man is rich in proportion to the number of things which he can afford to let alone.” Henry David Thoreau

Sometimes we get obsessed with saving enough for our retirement, kid’s college, a rainy day, etc. This can be a lack of Faith or fear of lack. If you look at what you have in your home, I can guess that you have much more than your grandparents or even your parents ever had.

In 1999 a man named Bob Thompson sold his Michigan based asphalt and paving company for $422 million dollars. Do you want to know what he did? He shared $130 million of that with his 550 employees and some of them became instant millionaires. He could have easily walked away with the whole amount and nobody would have said anything. He had “higher values”.

So, how much is enough? Are you spending all your time working and you don’t have time for anything else including your family?

“The things that will destroy America are prosperity-at-any-price…the love of soft living, and the get-rich-quick theory of life.” Theodore Roosevelt.

Put your money and the pursuit of it in perspective! If you set priorities for your time and money, you will have a prosperous future and you WILL have enough.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

STOP BLOWING YOUR MONEY!

2009-06-03T00:12:00.001-04:00

Common definition of disposable income: The amount of income left to an individual after taxes have been paid and that is available for spending and saving. Disposable income may either be spent on consumption or saved.

Commonsense definition: Money you burn and later regret!

I have seen people trade their perfectly good car every two years because they want the newer model. Worse, they trade in the vehicle to get the new one. Talk about burning your money for your ego.

Don’t be pressured by peers or family. It’s your money and who are you trying to impress really? Who cares what they think? Most probably you are the last person they are thinking about.

1. Only one third of workers have any idea of how much money they need to retire.
2. The average social security check benefit for retired workers is about $900/mo.
3. Social security benefits represent 38% of the income of the elderly.

Where are you? Choose to save now so you don’t have to make bad decisions in the future. If you live a simple life style and are not trying to impress your neighbors you will find that you really do not need that much income to live comfortably on upon retirement -providing that you are debt free.

Every year that you procrastinate about your saving priorities is another year that you put your retirement on the back burner. By the way, retirement is not found in the Bible.
You might retire from you present work but you should be looking at being productive your entire life. That’s what life is all about.

Get started!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SETTING YOUR PRIORTIES WILL SAVE YOU MONEY!

2009-06-02T00:12:00.002-04:00

People will say: I want to retire early, send my kids through college, buy a bigger home, give money to charities, etc. We all have noble and good goals, however, if we don’t set priorities, we will be a day older and deeper in debt.

If you want to pay for your kids college are you putting money aside now? Waiting for their senior year isn’t going to cut it. Early retirement-same thing, what are you putting away on a consistent basis?

If you have your goals as priorities, this will have a huge impact on how you spend your money. You will be looking to put money aside for your priorities and will not be so quick to go to the mall just because you feel like shopping.

It’s all about making the right choices. If your money is already spoken for you don’t have it to spend. Let’s use money for your children’s college as an example. They want the latest gadget, clothes, new cell phone, etc and your answer is: NO- it’s going to the college fund. How can they argue with that?

I am also a big believer in having your children work while they are in high school and while going to college. We did this with our two children and they quickly learned the value of having earned their own money and were not so quick to spend their money, let alone Mom and Dad’s money.

Set your priorities and save money!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHEN IT COMES TO FINANCES-KEEP IT SIMPLE!

2009-06-01T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you’ve read any financial magazines or newsletters, it is easy to get lost in their analysis and complicated terms. Based on what has happened on Wall Street, even the so called experts don’t seem to have a clue.

When it comes to your hard earned money, simple is never complicated or hard to understand. Save some of your hard earned money and put it in the bank. The financial pundits keep telling you to invest your money so it will earn at least 10% interest per year. Unfortunately, they never tell you WHERE to get the interest except investing in the stock market for the next 100 years.

Put your money in a savings account or CD’s. It’ safe for the time being and you don’t have to worry about exotic investment deals. Wait, the financial pundits are saying, putting your money in CD”s is not wise, you are not earning enough, look at what we can offer you: prime loan banks, sub prime mortgages, gold investments, etc.

Don’t’ fall for all those scams. That is what most of them are. Why do I say this? Because most of them will lose your money!

If you don’t know what they are talking about, hide your wallet and run! Don’t let your greed for higher returns cloud your judgment.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BETTER EIGHT HUNDRED IN CASH THAN A THOUSAND ON CREDIT!

2009-05-29T00:12:00.000-04:00

Credit cards teach you to be a debtor. The credit card companies will tell you that credit cards will teach YOU how to manage your money. The truth is THEY are managing your money! When you are using a credit card whose money are you using? It’s their money, that’s why they can charge interest!

What you are learning to do is manage debt. Totally different don’t you agree!

“A debt is a debt, whether it’s margins or mortgages and debts are all the same, no matter how you try to camouflage it. You never get much out of it except trouble. On the farm or on Wall Street, if you use other people’s money, it costs you more than it’s worth.” Sue Sanders, U.S. oil producer.

Common definition of dead beat: One who persistently fails to pay personal debts or expenses

Commonsense definition: This isn’t someone who robs Peter to pay Paul. This person can’t even rob Peter!

When you live on cash, you understand the limits of the world around which you navigate each day. Credit leads into a desert with no visible boundaries.

Navigate with care

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

CASH IS BETTER THAN CREDIT!

2009-05-28T00:12:00.001-04:00

Nothing seems expensive on credit. If you have cash on hand and you have been saving for a long time-you will be slow to part from it, believe me! Do you have credit card craziness?

Few people realize that by using credit cards only they will be spending much more than if they were using cash. When you are using a credit card it often seems that you are not spending money. When the credit card bill comes in then reality sets in.
People from Beverly Hills to Boca Raton are deep in debt due to the misuse of credit cards.
Let’s look at some facts:

1. Over half the families that earn less than $10,000/yr have over $1,000 in credit card debt.
2. About 40 % of people twelve to nineteen have access to a credit card; 36% of high school seniors have an ATM or debit card of their own.
3. Over the past ten years there has been a 50% increase in the number of people under 25 filing for bankruptcy. Most due to out of control credit card debt.

Do you see why they want to give credit cards to high school students? They get them hooked and most are hooked for life. It’s a national tragedy and no one seems to care. They seem to think they are victims and some may very well be.

Money is a poor man’s credit card. Stay with cash and stay away from credit cards.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU SERIOUS ABOUT SAVING MONEY?

2009-05-27T00:12:00.002-04:00

Most people will tell you they are in debt and can’t save anything. How true is this? Look at your own situation. Where are you financially?

If you have any amount of credit card debt, get rid of it. How you may say can I do this? I can only make the minimum payments as it is. Get rid of your cell phone, get rid of your cable, stop going to the movies, etc.

Does this sound drastic to you? If it does you are not really serious about getting out of debt. Do you know that years ago people would be put in a debtor’s prison if they could not pay their debt. What if this was still true today, do you think people would think twice before incurring needless debt?

You don’t ask a broke person or someone who is debt on how to handle finances. People might look like they have it all together: nice house, nice cars, clothes, vacations, boats, you name it. Chances are they are in debt up their eyeballs.

How many pairs of jeans, shoes, shirts, coats, etc do you really need? If you are like me you probably have clothes that you have not worn in months.

One way to save money is not to spend the money you do have. Pretty profound huh! Learn from my mistakes, I was in debt on three different occasions in my lifetime and the last time I got out of debt I made a promise to myself and my family that we would live debt free from this point on.

You sleep better at night and have a clear conscious. Try it, I’m sure you’ll feel the same way.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

IS THERE REALLY A RECESSION?

2009-05-26T00:12:00.001-04:00

Supposedly we are in a recession. Is this right? Have you gone by a restaurant lately and the parking lot is empty. I haven’t. McDonald’s is experiencing almost 8% growth since the beginning of the year. Granted it’s not an upscale restaurant but people are still eating out. If they really thought about it, eating out is not really necessary if you are having difficulty meeting your bills.

I have been a businessman for over 30 years and I can honestly say that people will buy what they want regardless of whether they can afford it or not!

The media will tell you that we have high unemployment at this time. Perhaps this is true but I don’t really see people making an effort to conserve their cash or hold back on major expenses.

Ever try to go to a Lowe’s or Home Depot on a Saturday or Sunday? You’d think that everyone was building a house based on what people are buying.

Have you seen the figures on what people are spending on going to the movies on weekends? Multi-millions every weekend! Is this a way of escape or fighting depression-buying and spending.

There are groups of people today who have been prudent and have cash on hand to buy stuff at pennies to the dollar. They were not spending needlessly before and they certainly are not doing so now. They are buying assets at distressed prices.

Which group are you in?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BEING THANKFUL FOR OUR MEN AND WOMEN IN THE ARMED SERVICES!

2009-05-25T00:12:00.001-04:00

Memorial Day started shortly after the civil war when a young woman put flowers on the grave of one of her friends who had died in the war to honor his memory and sacrifice. Another woman joined her in his activity and over the years is became a national holiday honoring all the service men and women who have sacrificed for our freedoms.

Freedom comes at a price and the price is blood. The shed blood of our fathers, brothers and sisters, sons, and daughters. It is a tremendous price to pay and hundreds of thousands have died to provide us the freedom we enjoy today. Most of these would have been teenagers not yet met and women who would never enjoy what their sacrifice bought.

The freedom to be free, live life to the full, worship as we please, raise families, and enjoy all that God has provided. There are billions of people today who do not enjoy these freedoms. As much as the world seems to hate the United States, we have been a selfless people and have sacrificed with blood what freedoms we have and have offered the same to the entire world.

God will not forget this sacrifice! Take time to remember our fallen soldiers and do not take for granted the freedom you enjoy in this great country of ours.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

IF YOU WANT TO CREAT WEALTH, YOU NEED TO SWEAT THE SMALL STUFF!

2009-05-24T15:17:00.001-04:00

If you could save $1 a day would this make a difference? If from birth to age 65 you invested a dollar a day ( $365) in a tax free account you would have over a million dollars at retirement.

If it’s too late for you, think what you could do for your children or grandchildren. By the way, it’s not too late for you.

Look around your home at items that you purchased for under $50. Hey, it’s just $9.99 or $19.99 right. How many of these items did you really need?

When your co-worker says let’s do lunch-you say no! Right? But you say, there is a special at only $5.99 for the entire meal and it includes dessert!

Cut out the long distance service on your phone and use a calling card. You’ll be surprised that you don’t need to talk to your friend across the country for hours at a time.

Do you know you can save $115 a year and 54,000 calories by not putting cream cheese on your bagel? You’ll look a lot better to!

When you do go to dinner at a restaurant don’t take an appetizer, dessert, and drinks. Don’t burn money, if you smoke, quit! If you drink, stop! This will save you a small fortune over a lifetime.

Don’t use ATM machines. They charge you to take your own money out. Not smart.
Are you starting to get the picture? Start sweating the small stuff!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING CONTROL OF YOUR FINANCES!

2009-05-22T00:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever wondered where all your money went by the end of the week? You are not alone. This can be a HUGE problem if you don’t get a handle on it.
Here are a few guidelines:

1. Remove yourself from temptation: Don’t go shopping at the mall as an activity when you have nothing to do. The malls don’t have anything that your really need at this moment. People are lured by sales to buy stuff they don’t need because they think the price is right.

2. Keep a spending journal: Jot down everything thing that you buy. I mean everything including the pack of gum.

3. Leave your credit cards at home: You really can leave home without them

4. Ask why before you buy: Do I really need this? Can it wait? Why am I buying this? Your answer will probably be that you don’t need it.

5. Give yourself a time out: If you are really tempted to buy something-sleep on it. I’m sure that if you do this, you will not go back to buy it the next day.

6. Clean house: You’ll be surprised at the stuff you bought that you don’t need or haven’t used in a year.

7. Learn to say no to your spouse, kids, etc: Nobody really needs the new doodad that everyone has.

Nothing complicated in the above. Just be prudent every time you go out. Buying for the sake of buying will keep you poor and in debt.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

RESOURCES FOR WOMEN ENTREPRENEURS!

2009-05-21T00:12:00.000-04:00

Business today is not only a man’s world. More women are starting businesses than men are: 2-1. Here is help for the women who want to control their own destinies:

1. Association of Women’s Business Centers: www.womenbusi-nesscenters.org. They represent women business owners and provide training, education, mentoring, and financing.
2. Black Women Enterprises: They provide education, networking, and technical resources for its members.
3. eWomenNetwork.com: Online directory of female business owners. 10,000 members with chapters in Canada and the U.S.
4. MANA, A National Latina Organization: www.hermana.org. Promotes Latin business women.
5. National Association of Women Business Owners: www.nawbo.org: 8,000 members. Networking opportunities
6. National Women Business Owners Corporation: www.nwboc.org: Runs a national certification program for women-owned and controlled businesses.

This is not a complete list but provides a base where information and support can be obtained. For most women, the thought of being your own boss might seem out of the question. Why should it? In a lot of the different jobs that I had I reported to women managers and found that they had insights that men do not readily have.

Go for it Girl!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HELP FOR YOUR NEW BUSINESS!

2009-05-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

Do you think the government will help little old you? They are giving billions to big companies but what does the government have to offer to ordinary people?

Try the Small Business Administration. www.sba.gov This site can offer you invaluable information:
1. Start up basics: A solid tutoring program covering all the basic stuff everyone needs to know.
2. Planning: An entire section on all aspects of starting a business.
3. Marketing: Examples on how to develop low cost or no cost marketing plans for your new business.
4. Financing: Information on how much it will take, how much you might need, and how to apply for a government loan.
5. Workshops: A complete list of workshops and expo’s offered by the SBA all over the country.

The SBA has a special department geared towards woman entrepreneurs, as well.
Other options from the SBA:
1. Loan guarantee programs.
2. Microloan programs.
3. SCORE program: You have access to retired business people who provide free consulting for your business: www.score.org

No more excuses. All the help you need is readily available.

Jacques CreatingWealthThatLasts

MYTHS ABOUT BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOUSELF! PART II

2009-05-19T00:12:00.000-04:00

Myth # 4: NINE OUT OF TEN NEW BUSINESSES FAIL!
• Do 90% of businesses actually fail? According to the Small Business Administration, two thirds of new businesses survive at least two years and about half survive at least four.
• These statistics don’t take into account those people that just quite without giving themselves a chance.
• It also does not take into account those people who actually quite because they find out starting and building a business is HARD work.

Myth # 5: YOU NEED A LOT OF STUFF TO GET STARTED!
• You need a business plan, business card, stationary, office space, etc. No, No, No!
• You can work out of your home on your kitchen table. All you would really need is a computer, printer, and phone.
• Having an office outside of your home is not necessary unless you are planning to have a typical brick and mortar business. Be really careful about these types of businesses.

Myth # 6: YOU HAVE TO BE PASSIONATE ABOUT THE BUSINESS YOU CHOOSE!
• It is true that if you really like what you do, it will be easier to some extent, however, do you really need to be passionate about something in order for you to make money?
• How many people working in the real world do you think are really passionate about their work? Statistics tell us that 80-90% of people working HATE their jobs.
• What people are passionate about is being their own BOSS and having more control of their future!

Take the plunge! Be your own Boss!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MYTHS ABOUT BEING IN BUSINESS FOR YOUSELF! PART 1

2009-05-18T00:12:00.001-04:00

We need facts and not myths when thinking about starting our own business. Too many people are scared off buy these myths. Over the next few days, I will be discussing these. Let’s get started!

Myth # 1: YOU NEED A LOT OF MONEY TO START!
• According to a recent article in INC. magazine, the average start up cost of most of the new successful companies recently started was $25,000. Many where under $5,000. A business started by a woman for $3,000 was eventually sold for 1 BILLION!.

Myth # 2: YOU NEED TO HAVE EXPERIENCE!
• This is true to some extent. If you have no prior experience in a particular field, you will need some type of guideposts along the way. However, with the birth of network marketing companies and numerous companies offering training on the Internet, it is possible to obtain mentorship and loads of information geared to starting any type of business that you choose.
• You only need the willingness to learn and the ability to be a good student.
• The government is also a good source of free training through the Small Business Administration.
• There are also numerous volunteer organizations staffed by veteran entrepreneurs whose experience you can tap.

Myth # 3: YOU NEED A LOT OF TIME!
• People will tell you you’re too busy! Who isn’t busy these days?
• The truth is you can get started part time at 2-3 hours per day initially. If you commit 2 hours per day that’s 60 hours per month-720 hrs per year. That’s equal to 30 full days per year.
• Where do you find the two hours per day? STOP WATCHING TV!

More to come!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW MUCH ARE YOU WORTH?

2009-05-15T00:12:00.001-04:00

Let’s take a look at the world of employees. Employees seem to break down in three basic categories:
1. 20% fall in the bottom group.
2. 60% fall in the middle group.
3. 20% fall in the top group.

Who do you think is worth more to an employer? Jack Welch, the legendary CEO of General Electric, used to let go the bottom 20% of his managers each year. Take about pressure to produce!

Let’s examine the three levels of employees:
1. Bottom 20%:
a) Barely get to work on time.
b) They are clueless and are focused on getting a check at the end of the week. End of discussion.

2. Middle 20%:
a) Basically good people.
b) Hard working.
c) Focused on their job only. Not focused on the business as a whole.
d) Usually not happy or satisfied at what they do.

3. Top 20%:
a) They GET it!
b) They have goals, are motivated, want to advance and increase their income.
c) They have direction in life, are usually more positive and upbeat.
d) The try to look good, speak well, and are usually concerned about their co-workers.
e) They tend to run things; they fire the bottom 20%, hire and give raises to the middle 60%, and they lead the top 20%.
f) They also earn significantly more than the other two groups.

Where do you fit in? If you’re not at the top, you now know what to do.

Do it!
Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

LIVING ONE DAY AT A TIME!

2009-05-14T00:12:00.002-04:00

Do you have any regrets about the past? Are you anxious about the future? Most of us have made a lot of mistakes and we need to let them go. This is a part of life that is gone and that lives only in our memories. That past can paralyze your future if you don’t forgive yourself and move on.

The past is dead and you cannot change it no matter how many times you go over the sordid details.

The future is uncertain with a myriad of circumstances completely beyond our control. We can worry, fret, lose sleep, get ulcers, etc. But whatever we do, we cannot control or change all of the elements that we have no control over.

We can have an immediate impact on the present: second by second, minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day. Today is all we really have. We can be happy anytime we decide to! We can enjoy today! We are alive today!

If we learn to concentrate on today, everyday, we need not let yesterday’s failures cloud our day or let tomorrows uncertainties steal our joy!

Living in the present is the only way to live and enjoy everyday life. Tomorrow will take care of itself when we get there.

Live for today, everyday!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING PROMOTED IN A BAD ECONOMY!

2009-05-13T00:12:00.001-04:00

You really can get a promotion in a bad economy. The economy may be going through challenges at this time but the fact is that employers still find it difficult to find good employees.

Let’s look at some reasons why employers often hate their employees:
1. They don’t do their jobs.
2. They don’t do what they say they will do.
3. They come to work late.
4. They leave early.
5. They come to work with personal problems and everyone knows about it.
6. They have no initiative and what to be told what to do.
7. They punch the clock or watch it a long time before punching out.
8. They are content with mediocrity.
9. They complain.
10. They gossip.
11. They never say thank you.
12. They have bad attitudes.
13. They smoke and take smoke breaks.
14. They surf the Net, check personal emails, and spend time instant messaging their friends.
15. They lie.
16. They steal.
17. They do good work, not great work.

So how do you get promoted? DON’T DO THE ABOVE!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT DO YOU DO WITH YOUR HARD EARNED MONEY?

2009-05-12T00:12:00.001-04:00

Are you sick of the stock market and all the shenanigans associated with it? Who do you believe? I subscribe to different business magazines and it’s amazing what conflicting advice you can get.

If you are looking for research tools the following may be helpful (I said maybe!):
1. www.morningstar.com
2. www.valueline.com
3. http://finance.yahoo.com
4. www.mefea.com
5. www.aol.com-personal finance section.

The problem today is who can you really believe. All the so called experts have been dead wrong.

My advice for what it’s worth:
1. Cash at home.
2. Short term CD’s
3. Being more liquid is better.
4. Paying cash for discounted homes. Hey, the real estate market will go up sometime!

Save, save, and save some more. Forget all the financial pundits. Use your common sense. It’s not as common as you may think!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

DO YOU HAVE EVERYTHING UNDER CONTROL?

2009-05-11T00:12:00.000-04:00

If you do, let me know your secret. Is it really necessary to have everything under control? Life has a way of throwing you curve balls.

If you are a control freak, you will wear yourself down and everyone who is close to you. In today’s world we have our home life, work life, life with our spouse, life with our kids, sports and homework with our kids, home chores, hobbies, church work, housework, bills to pay, taking care of ailing parents: Are you tired yet?

We have only a few things that we can control: our attitude is a good one. We can’t control others and the only thing we can do is offer advice, if it’s asked for.

I find it’s a full time job just taking care of my attitude! How about you? Controlling your attitude is a minute to minute endeavor and it will determine to a great extent how you live your life and how successful you will be.

Across the street from one of my homes, is a residence for handicapped people. Watching these people on a day to day basis make me count my blessings. For some of these people, there is absolutely nothing that they can control.

Let go of those things you can’t control. You will be less stressed believe me.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BUYING A HOME VERSUS RENTING!

2009-05-10T00:12:00.001-04:00

Everyone tells you that you should own your own home, as it’s an investment. An investment is something that produces income. A home is NOT an investment no matter how you look at it. A home costs you money and it’s negative cash flow.

If your home is not paid off you are paying a mortgage. But, and here is the big BUT: you have the following:
1. Taxes.
2. Insurance.
3. Utilities.
4. Heating.
5. Maintenance

The experts will tell you the following:
1. You can’t afford not to buy.
2. Buying can be cheaper than renting.
3. Homes make a great investment.
4. The government wants you to become a homeowner.
5. You don’t need a huge down payment.
6. You don’t need perfect credit.
7. It’s never too late.

My advice:
1. It can make sense to own your own home if you can afford IT! A lot of the bankruptcies today are caused by people who bought too much house.
2. You can afford not to buy.
3. In some sections of the country it’s cheaper to rent than to buy a home.
4. Your home is not an investment.
5. Without a good down payment, you are increasing the costs of your home ownership. Paying more interest.
6. You don’t need perfect credit but they charge you for it. Higher interest rate.
7. Even though the market prices for homes are lower, can you really afford the long term debt?

Before you buy a home, consider all the associated costs. You will be glad you did.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

CAN’T KEEP A BUDGET!

2009-05-08T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you can’t keep a budget you have company-the GOVERNMENT! That’s why they take money automatically from your paycheck every week. If you are self employed, you need to send in quarterly payments.

Unfortunately, we can’t print money like the government when our budgets don’t work out. The major key to this is automatic payments to yourself.

As in automatically taking out money for savings, you need to automatically take out money for your daily, weekly, and monthly obligations. When your check comes in every week or every two weeks don’t start spending it without a plan.

Your plan does not have to be very fancy just detailed and accurate. If you have taken the time to total your monthly bills, you know exactly what is owed and you know how much money you need to cover these.

Priorities include mortgage, rent, car payments, and utilities. You need a place to live and a vehicle to take you to work or your place of business. Pay these FIRST!

Don’t spend on nonessentials until your bills are covered. Most people take their check, go out to eat, to a movie, buy something on impulse and will easily go through $100 without thinking. They also will not know where the money went or why they can’t pay the bills.

Jot down every penny you spend on a daily basis. Believe me this will be an eye opener.

A major key to staying out of debt is to watch where your money goes and to pay your monetary obligations on time-every time.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

PAY YOURSELF BEFORE YOU PAY THE GOVERNMENT!

2009-05-07T00:12:00.001-04:00

How is this done you may ask? Pretax retirement accounts: IRA’s, 401k’s, 403 B plans and SEP IRA’s!

For working people this is an absolute must. This is TAX DEDUCTIBLE for you. Only 15% of working Americans are taking advantage of this. The government takes about 27 cents out of every dollar in federal income withholding taxes.

On top of that local governments can also do the same. Open a pre-tax account and start putting a portion of you income in it. There are certain limits as to the total amount you can put aside on a yearly basis and this changes year to year.

As an example, let’s say you put $100,000 in an investment that generates 10% a year. At the end of 30 years you would have-$661,000. However, if you had this in a tax deferred account the amount would be-$1.7 million!

A good way to start is to save an hour a day of your income. Say you make $50,000/yr, that’s about $25/hr. That would equal $6,250/yr.

To do:
1. Put a portion of your salary into a pretax retirement account.
2. This should be at least an hour a day of your income.
3. Start now!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING OUT OF DEBT AND SAVING !

2009-05-06T00:12:00.001-04:00

As I have said previously, it’s important to get out of debt. It’s also important to be saving and both can be done at the same time. Financially speaking, putting off saving in order to pay off your debts can be a huge mistake.

You should tackle credit card debt first, as this usually carries the highest interest rates. It’s important to be saving from a psychological standpoint. If you have no savings whatsoever, you will feel broke and out of control.

Most people want to own their own home. This is a good goal but is it really necessary. If you have credit card debt and owe money on auto loans and possibly college loans, don’t add another debt burden by buying a house.

Everyone will tell you it’s a good time to buy a house with the depressed market and low interest rates. What most people fail to do is to factor in the overhead and upkeep costs which will include the following: taxes, utilities, insurance, etc.

A lot of people buy more house than they can afford and the upkeep is the kicker that sends them over the edge financially. Focus on one step at a time. Getting out of debt is a journey; a journey of discipline, delayed gratification, and perseverance.

If this describes you, instead of buying a house, start saving. Start with 2-5% and increase that to at least 10%. Keep at it. Your savings will add up to the point down the road where you can pay cash for a car and have a hefty down payment for a home.

Patience my friend, patience!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

IF YOU’RE IN A HOLE, STOP DIGGING!

2009-05-05T00:12:00.001-04:00

I
Pay cash for all your purchases. Think it can’t be done? I used to. I thought I would never be able to survive without credit cards. We all can!

Believe me if you save the money before you make a purchase and you have the cash in your hand, you will think long and hard before parting with it. Buying with a credit card is too easy. It does not seem like you are spending money. Reality sinks in when the credit card bill comes in.

If you’re in debt and you keep charging away you are digging a hole that will soon be overwhelming. Stop! Stop! Stop!

Dealing with debt doesn’t mean putting the rest of your life on hold. It means taking charge of your life! The real villain is the interest that you are paying.

Decide to stop using credit cards for things you can’t afford to pay in full at the end of the month. Never miss a credit card payment either. That’s called financial suicide.

See yourself debt free. Start with the simple things. Don’t get discouraged and don’t stop!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING RID OF ALL CREDIT CARD DEBT!

2009-05-04T00:12:00.001-04:00

Years ago the only credit cards you could get where Diners Club and American Express. You had to have excellent credit and you where required to pay your balance in full at the end of the month. They made their money by charging yearly fees.

What happened? Banks got in the business and realized that they could make money by letting people make minimal monthly payments and charge ridiculous interest rates.
Remember banks don’t want you to pay off your cards at the end of the month. If they can convince you to pay the bare minimum-they are in your wallet, month in and month out!

Do you know that if you put $10,000 on a credit card charging 19.98% a year and you paid the minimum payment it would take you 37 years to pay it off and you would pay almost $19,000 in interest charges.

Another way they make money is to charge late fees. They can charge you up to a $39 late fee and increase your interest rate up to 29%. Sounds like something the Mafia would do!

Normally you had 30 days to pay your bill, now it’s down to 21 days from the day it’s mailed out to you. Too bad if your away from home for an extended period of time.

Carrying any credit card debt is a VERY bad idea. Focus on getting rid of this monster!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING AHEAD IN A TROUBLED WORLD!

2009-05-01T00:12:00.002-04:00

Have you wondered how some people seem to get buy on very little? The world’s economy is lagging because people are not buying. People are starting to save more and the media paints this as a bad thing.

We could all get into more debt and the economy would start up and the news pundits would all be happy. What’s wrong with this picture? It is not cool today to be a saver and have money ahead of you instead of being in debt up to your eyeballs. This is what got the world into the mess we are all in today.

My advice-don’t spend money needlessly. There are a lot of things that would be nice to have but do we really need it? Do you need a CD player that will hold 10 CD’s! Do you need a cell phone that can take pictures, videos, play movies and record songs?

Spending small amounts of money everyday can lead to large amounts of money on a monthly basis. $5 lattes! $4 bagels. $4 ice creams. The list goes on.

If you are serious about getting control of your finances-the small things make a big difference. What you are saving on a daily basis can be applied to your existing debt. Focus on getting rid of any debt at all costs.

Bring a lunch to work! What will my co-workers think? Does it really matter what they think. Are they paying your bills.

I taught school for ten years and you could buy your lunch at the school cafeteria. Most of the teachers did so, including me. We had a teacher friend that taught school for close to 40 years and he brought a sandwich and apple to eat every noon. Who was the wiser one financially?

It’s the small things-stupid!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

IS THERE A WAY OUT OF THIS MESS?

2009-04-30T00:12:00.001-04:00

A lot of people today are very concerned about their finances. Will they have enough to make ends meet, will they lose their jobs, will they have enough money to retire, etc.

Maybe you made bad financial decisions in the past. Maybe you incurred needless debt. Maybe you didn’t save enough. My advice: give yourself a break-everyone makes mistakes and we all learn from them.

The fastest way to get rid of regrets is to acknowledge them and “burn them up”. It’s not about the money, it’s about living the life YOU want to live.

Most often we compare ourselves to other people and they are comparing themselves to us. What a waste! We are all different, we all have different goals, and we should not be put into a cookie cutter mold.

Maybe you can live well on very little depending on your needs. Maybe you want millions so you can share with the less fortunate. Success is not measured in how many toys we have but in relationships and if our life is making a difference in society.

What money can do is buy you freedom to focus on what is important in your life. It’s never too late to get started!

Forget your past mistakes. Don’t focus on how other folks are doing compared to you. Find out what is really important to you and you will find yourself moving in the right direction with motivation, hope and faith.

Get started NOW!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

INTEGRITY-VITAL TO BUSINESS SUCCESS AND LIFE SUCCESS!

2009-04-29T00:12:00.000-04:00

Integrity means saying what you mean and doing it. Do you say one thing and do another? If you are, you are basically lying to yourself. You will never achieve the level of success that you are hoping for.

Have you heard this: “you’re only as good as your word”. Very true. I have delt with people in business and in life for a long time and I can tell you from experience that if people do not do what they tell they will do-you can forget them as long term partners in any business venture.

If our words are not good, we are not good. If you don’t keep your small agreements-you won’t keep your big agreements.

By not being true to our words, we are not being true to ourselves and this will felt by others as well. Are you on time for your appointments? If not, it shows a lack of integrity.

Do we lie under pressure? Tough one huh! We all make little white lies but they are still lies.

Be sure your words and actions are one!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU READY TO GET OUT OF THE RAT RACE?

2009-04-28T00:12:00.000-04:00

Most people have no difficulty in spending 4 years in college and spending between $50,000 to $100,000 to get a college degree. Most leave with a lot of debt that will take decades to pay off.

How much would you spend to attend a one day business seminar: 100$, $1,000, $5,000? What if the information you would get could make you into a millionaire?

Very few people would pay even up to $20 for a one day seminar. They’ll spend that much to go to a movie and get popcorn.

Information is a major key to business success. What you don’t know can cost you millions. A good seminar can provide vital information that would take you years to learn on your own.

Why aren’t more people taking advantage of this? They are looking at the short term cost and not taking a long term view. They are willing to pay big bucks to get a college degree and go work for someone else.

Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face. Success does not happen overnight. The usual overnight success has been at it for years and years!

We all have a learning curve to follow and good business seminars are a major KEY.
Plan to attend one soon!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW YOU SEE THE FUTURE WILL DETERMINE YOUR SUCCESS!

2009-04-27T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you are pessimistic about the future you can be sure you will have limited success. Even with all the problems going on in the world today, it is still the best it has ever been.

The poor of today would be rich if compared to the lifestyle and standard of living of years gone by. It’s all about perspective. The future is bright and you do need sunglasses.

There is more opportunity today than ever before. We need to be looking in the right places with an air of expectancy! Sight is what you see with your eyes, vision is what you see with your mind!

It’s not your boss’s job to make you rich, it’s your job. You will not get rich at a job. You need a business. If you look around the world today, what do YOU see?

What opportunities are available for becoming rich? Healthcare and an aging population, Internet businesses, energy needs, financial literacy, etc.

There are possible business niches all over the place. Start listening to mentors on CD’s. The Nightingale-Conant Corporation has thousands of audio series from masters of success like: Zig Ziglar, Dennis Waitely, Brian Tracey, Harvey Mckay and countless others.

We can become experts in a wide variety of areas just by listening to audio information while we are driving or walking.

Get with the program!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

JOB SECURITY VERSUS BEING YOUR OWN BOSS!

2009-04-24T00:12:00.001-04:00

All of us have been told to get a good education, which will get you a good job, which will provide you with security.

This might have worked 50 years ago but not today. Actually there is no such thing as security. You are only as secure as to what you can produce economically. You can work at a fast food chain for the rest of your life, they are always hiring!

90% of people are focused on having a job and they live like 90% of the people: pay check to pay check. It takes courage to strike out on your own. The best way to start your own business is on a part time basis while you are holding down a job.

In today’s world we are faced with dramatic change on a daily basis whether we like it or not. Everyone is being forced out of their comfort zones. You can moan and complain but that will not change anything.

You MUST change and embrace change if you want to survive in the new world. Some people are still not using the Internet or cell phones and exclaim that they can function without it. They are getting further and further behind and will not be able to compete in the future.

Everyone should be self employed and operate their own businesses. Don’t let fear hold you back. Don’t get frozen in time hoping that the good old days will come back. Don’t forget that the good old days had their share of challenges and obstacles.

You haven’t missed the boat and it’s not too late!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHY ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A SUCCESSFUL BUSINESS?

2009-04-23T00:12:00.001-04:00

If you are like me, I have looked into and been involved in a wide variety of businesses over the years. What is a motivating factor for people who want their own business?

Consider the following:

1. Being rich versus being poor.
2. Being free versus being bound to a job.
3. Buying what you want versus what you can afford.
4. Buying expensive things versus shopping at flea markets. ( Discretion urged here!)
5. Having other people do those things you hate doing versus doing things you don’t want to do.

Have you heard this: money doesn’t buy happiness! Partly true but money is a tool that you can use to help people and yourself.

Where are you on this chart:

1. Poor: $25,000 or less per year
2. Middle class: $25,000 to $100,000 per year.
3. Affluent: $100,000 to $ 1 million per year.
4. Rich: $ 1 million or more per year.
5. Ultra rich: $1 million or more per month!

Wherever you are, what can you do to get to the next level? Not by trying to get a better job but by starting a business or growing you present business.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SUCCESS IS A JOURNEY!

2009-04-22T00:12:00.001-04:00

We all want to live a successful life and if you are a business person, you ultimately want a super successful business.

If you are like most people you probably have gone through these stages:
1. It’s too late for me!
2. I don’t have any money!
3. I don’t live in the right area!
4. I can’t do that!
5. What will people say!
6. I need more time!
7. You don’t understand by situation!

Do any of these sound familiar? We all have doubts, fears, and uncertainties in our lives. Successful people make a decision to move on and they stop listening to these annoying thoughts.

We all need to reflect on our lives on a regular basis:
1. What is really important in my life?
2. Time is too precious, don’t waste it!
3. Sometimes stopping for a moment is harder than staying busy!

What must we do?
1. Increase our business skills.
2. Increase our money management skills.
3. Increase our investment skills.

With the Internet, we have access to unlimited resources to assist us in all aspects of our lives. There are numerous seminars on various topics being offered all over the country and abroad.

We have no excuse for not getting the information that we need to assist us on our success journey.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

SUCCESS IN LIFE AND IN BUSINESS!

2009-04-21T00:12:00.000-04:00

How can you know if you are successful? Really, how can you know? Do you compare yourself to someone else and if you do, who do you compare yourself to?

If you are making $50,000/yr and your friends are making $30,000/yr, is this success? You can never equate success with the amount of money you are making, as there is always a new billionaire around the corner.

If your friend is a multi-millionaire and has gone through several divorces and his children are not part of his life, is he successful?

Success is multi-dimensional. Success in business, job, family, marriage, health, relationships, etc.

If you look to society to determine if you are successful you will never be satisfied. How to determine if you are successful? Ask yourself what is important to you!

You can be successful in one area of your life and not so successful in another. The key is attempting to live a balanced life and not getting under condemnation if we are struggling in certain areas.

We must all develop a personal definition of what success means to us and therefore we will not be disappointed by the opinions of others.

Success to me means: having a wonderful marriage to the best woman a man could have, good-solid relationships with both my children and grandchildren, a relationship with Jesus Christ that undergirds all the other aspects of my life, being able to give money to people and causes that I believe in.

What does success mean to you?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WORRY-THE ENEMY OF SUCCESS!

2009-04-20T00:12:00.000-04:00

Have you ever lost sleep due to worrying about something? Could be your health, job, marriage, family, etc. Did worrying change anything? Probably not.

40% of things that people worry about never happen. Worry is a negative emotion that saps us of peace of mind, strength, and hope for the future.

As a Christian, I have an eternal hope that God is in control and nothing takes him by surprise. You might say to yourself that if God is in control he is not doing a good job. Wrong , wrong, wrong! God has given people freedom of choice and the decisions that people make worldwide affects all of humanity in one way or another. We must all live with the consequences of our decisions.

God is able to make everything work out for our good! Worry can rob you of success in business, family, work, and in all aspects of your life. Worry has no place in your life.

Focus on what is right in your life. Focus on the good that is coming your way. Believe that the best is yet to come!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MAKING MONEY VIA THE INTERNET!

2009-04-17T00:12:00.000-04:00

Who wouldn’t like to make money sitting at home? It is the dream of a lot of people to be able to work at home and make money on the Internet. Is it a realistic goal or pie in the sky?

It is a good goal but it will require a steep learning curve if this is new to you. Having spent several years looking at business opportunities on the Internet and spending thousands and thousands of dollars, I can say that this is not an easy business to get into. Simple but not easy.

Some reflections:
1. A lot of scams on the Internet.
2. A lot of low end programs that lead you on and on and on, etc.
3. It’s not as easy as they make it sound.
4. There is no such thing as something for nothing.
5. There is no such thing as a completely automated program.
6. You will need to spend money to get a business going. $1,000 minimum.
7. If you come from a business background like I did, you realize that you cannot get a business started for a few hundred dollars and expect to become a millionaire.
8. Give yourself time to learn.
9. Learn from your mistakes.
10. Repeat 9 & 10 often.

We all need to start with realistic goals:
1. Learn the basics.
2. Practice the basics.
3. Goal 1: make $1 on the Internet.
4. Increase the above gradually.

More to come on Internet businesses.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

ALTERNATIVE BUSINESSES!

2009-04-16T00:12:00.001-04:00

After having attempted a traditional business I was reluctant to try this type of endeavor again, however, I still had a dream of having my own business.

I was introduced to network marketing and this I did for several years. Although I never made a significant amount of money, it was the best business learning tool that I ever found. Talk about learning how to be persistent and consistent.

I learned key business skills that are serving me well today. I would highly recommend that everyone try a network marketing business for the experience and what you will learn in the process.

Key elements to look for: no major investment in products or tools, a good support system, a company that has a proven track record, one on one support from someone who is already successful and will help and guide you initially, and the potential to earn a significant income.

This will require blood, sweat, and tears and is not for the faint of heart! I built my network marketing company without the help of the Internet (there was no Internet then) and today the Internet offers a tool to accelerate success in network marketing.

Be prepared to develop people skills that you never knew about. Maybe you will be super successful but if not you will be in a good position to move on to other business opportunities like being a consultant or having an Internet bases company.

Stay tuned for more!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

TAX PAYING TIME!

2009-04-15T00:12:00.000-04:00

April 15 is just around the corner and everyone should have their tax forms filled out or be close to it. Taxes are a way of life and we do get good services for our taxes. Protection, good roads, and education are but a few of the services that the government provides.

There are also services provided that I do not agree with such as subsidized abortions but that is why we have elections to vote for those people who would support our views.

If you are a W-2 employee, you will normally pay a lot more taxes than someone who operates a business. The tax system in the United States is geared towards helping businesses as they are taking risks and providing needed employment.

As a business person, you get to deduct expenses related to the operation of that business. These deductions would include the following: auto and travel related expenses, office expenses, phone-cell phone-Internet services, a portion of business related meals, to name a few. This is not a comprehensive list by all means but provides insight into why having your own business is the way to go.

By having a business you have the potential to build wealth, provide employment, and contribute to the welfare of society in general. You also have more control of your long term success instead of being dependent on your boss or job.

Over the next days, I will be going over the need for everyone to have some type of business, even if they are presently working full time for someone else.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

IS IT A GOOD IDEA TO HAVE MY OWN BUSINESS?

2009-04-14T00:12:00.003-04:00

Most of us have been advised to do well in school and find a good job. That was good advice maybe 50 years ago but not for today. When you have a job you are at the mercy of your employer.

Starting a business has a lot of risk attached to it as well. Statistics indicate that 90% of businesses will fail within the first 5 years. Factors that contribute to this include: lack of capital, lack of experience, no business skills, etc.

Let me share some of my experience. My Dad had worked in a clothing store for several years and when the owner retired he had the opportunity to buy it. At that time we lived in a small town which had two other clothing stores and everyone did quite well.

Then something strange happened. Strip malls and regular malls started to open up and that changed the dynamics of our little business. Slowly business started to slow down and eventually my Dad closed the business.

One of the disadvantages of having a traditional retail store is the amount of hours you have to put in. At the time that my Dad has his store, the hours where 8 A.M. to 5:30 P.M. Monday to Thursday and 8 A.M. to 9 P.M. Friday and Saturday. I worked with my Dad several years and found this to be a challenge to family time.

Traditional businesses also require a hefty financial investment, which can be a challenge if you have to borrow to start the business. You should rarely consider buying a business that you have no experience in or which will necessitate having a lot of employees in the initial start up phase.

Cash flow will be crucial to initial success in any business and you will need to keep your overhead as lean as possible.

Starting a traditional brick and mortar business is something I do not recommend!
What to do if you really want a business?

Stay tuned.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts