IS THERE A RECESSION?

Just spent 4 days on a cruise with my daughter. 2, 100 tourists where on board and over 550 staff members. The tourists represented over 22 different countries.

Lots of food. Great entertainment every night-top notch performers. We stopped in Cozumel, Mexico and at least ¾ of the tourists on board the ship took paid excursions on land.

When we landed in Cozumel there where 2 other cruise ships in port. Didn’t look to me like a recession of any kind. In talking to the people on board no one was talking lack, fear, or stressing how bad things where.

It started me wondering how accurate the news media is. The people on board where optimistic and seemed encouraged. You might be thinking that only the well to do where on this cruise. Based on my contacts with people, they had a wide spectrum economically, from low end earners to high end earners.

As I see it, it boils down to the fact that people find the money to do what they want to do, no matter what the economy is doing.

The tourists on board included families with their children, newlyweds, retirees, and people of all ages on vacation.

It was quite refreshing interacting with such a diverse group of people all in once place. The cultural differences where also unique in dealing with people from other countries.

My daughter is 26 years old and I will soon be 58 years old. We had a great time and we did activities that we both liked and where able to share wonderful memories.

We went with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines and I would highly recommend them.

Jacques

CreatingWealthThatLasts

ARE YOU TIRED OF GOAL SETTING?

Throughout my business life I have been to countless seminars and I have read numerous books on goal setting. I have done this for years, however, I have always found it a challenge to set the long term, medium term, and short term goals.

My wife is a good student of this and I have learned from her. She likes to work with pictures and cuts pictures of what she’d like and keeps these with her. It provides a visual element. She is forever writing down goals and these materialize down the road.

I think I was over complicating everything. I make a list, review the list, and keep adding to the list. Our subconscious mind picks up on this and events start lining up.

It’s the same with New Year’s resolutions. They don’t seem to be binding and I have learned that I have to purpose in my heart and if I fall, to get back up and start over again.

Goals are really a series of small steps we make and identify along the path of life. If we don’t set our goals, we are letting someone else take control of our future.

One of my goals was to spend more time with my daughter. I was always on the road as part of my work when she was younger and I am able to redeem the time that I missed. The cruise we are going on is a goal achieved!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

THE JOYS OF TRAVELING!

One of the nice aspects of life is the ability to travel. I am presently in Florida and I left Maine yesterday at 7 AM and arrived in Florida at 8 PM. My connecting flight in Philadelphia had problems and instead of a direct flight to Tampa, we ended up going to Charlotte, N.C. and then taking another plan to Tampa. Long day to say the least.

I was actually amazed by the reaction of fellow travelers. No one got upset that I could see and it was a peaceful but long day. I made friends with a young lady who was traveling with a 14 month old baby girl. They did marvelously; both Mom and the baby did.

At one point, the little girl was just laying on her mother sleeping and unawares of what was going on and the delay we where experiencing. It reminded me of how we have to rest in the Lord and not worry, get impatient, or panic.

We can learn much from observing others and I am sure people watch us for our reactions to life’s challenges and quirks. After observing this young baby and her complete trust in her mother, I told myself- why get stressed out about something beyond your control? Be at peace. My daughter was to have picked me up at the airport before going to work and we made other arrangements, as I was getting there 5 hours later.

I hadn’t been to Charlotte in a long time and I got to see it again. ( from the airport window!) Tomorrow I go on a 5-day cruise with my 26-year-old daughter. I am really looking forward to this.

Time to relax, reflect, share, and build a new dimension of friendship with my daughter!

Jacques

CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT IS YOUR LEVEL OF COMMITMENT?

We all know that if we want to succeed at whatever we are doing we need some level of commitment. This could be trying to lose weight, succeeding in a sport activity, succeeding in business, marriage, or family.

There are different levels of commitment. Where are you? Do you know that in golf the difference between a Tiger Woods and the worst player on the tour is an average of just 2 strokes per round. Talent is a factor but practice is where the rubber meets the road. How much and how long do you think Tiger Woods practices? Do you think he just shows up at a tournament and hopes for the best? Not likely.

I have had to check my levels of commitment often. How much do I want what I am going after? If it is a burning desire- then it will require uncommon effort.

Sometimes just a little more is all that is needed. A little more willpower, a little less sleep, getting off of the couch and going for that walk; these are all small integral parts. Do not despise small things.

A friend of mine has spent a lot of time with her ailing mother. This is a major life commitment. For her it’s a series of small, everyday steps of obedience to do what is needed regardless of how she feels. Her level of commitment is very high.

Marriage is another area which requires uncommon commitment. There are no shortcuts. Raising a family requires above average commitment-time, courage, and lots of love.

Take note of your level of commitment and raise it up a notch.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

DO WE REALLY NEED TO TAKE VACATIONS?

Interesting question. It all depends what you are doing on your vacation. Checking your business emails, calling back at the office to make sure it’s still there, etc.

I am self employed and, therefore, when I am on vacation I have to keep checking my emails and return calls but I schedule these during certain times of the day. I work a 6 day week and try to keep Sundays for the Lord and the family.

Vacations to me are times to connect more with my wife and family. I don’t really have any hobbies or sports that I am involved with and at this junction in my life, the time I am able to spend with my wife are the best.

It’s interesting how the longer you are married the more you want to be with your spouse. When our children where at home, our vacations where all about traveling and making memories. Times at the beach, camping out, visiting special places; just being together.

A vacation should not be about vegging out but about investing your time wisely and doing those things that are important to you. My wife and I love to read and we usually bring several books with us to read at the beach or wherever we are.

I am going on a cruise in a few days with my daughter. Four days on a boat! Actually, I am looking forward to the time with my daughter. Michelle is 26 years old and I’m pleased she still wants to spend time with her Dad.

More memories. My wife will be at the beach praying for us!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW MUCH IS TOO MUCH NEWS?

With the Internet we can find out if someone burped on the other side of the world and what made them burp! Instant news is available 24 hours per day. How much can we take in or should take in before we get on overload?

I don’t know about you but I can only take so much negative news. It is a priority for us to be careful what we allow in our minds. Like it or not our subconscious mind takes everything in and it affects us mind, body, soul, and spirit.

If we want a prosperous, abundant, and stress free life, we need to monitor what we see, hear, and devote our time to. What to do if you are on information overload?

Turn off the TV, don’t check the news on the Internet, and don’t check emails. You are probably going through withdrawal at this time with these recommendations. The world will still go on and the emails will still be there.

How much do we need to know? We live in such a small world today that nothing happens without it being reported. How many good deeds go untold? We don’t hear about those.

I have made a resolution to seriously consider what I let my mind focus on. We are all naturally curious but we can function without constant input.

Imagine what would happen if for some unseen reason all televisions would cease to work. Panic, revolt, riots!

After a couple of days-peace and quiet. When my children where young we got rid of cable TV and rarely watched it. We had times of fellowship, playing board games, playing cards, time together building memories.

We still talk about it today.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

DEALING WITH STRESS!

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Stress is needed in life to keep us in balance, however, in today’s society we are faced with a lot of undue stress and this is killing people.

Exercise is one of the best ways to relieve stress. You don’t have to run a marathon (that can be stressful) but you can walk 15 minutes to a half hour a day. You will be surprised how refreshing this can be.

The key is to find an activity that you enjoy and do it consistently. Golf, tennis, bicycling, etc.

Eliminate negativity from your life, especially negative people. Negative people will stress you guaranteed. They will see the negative in everything and, after you leave them, you will think the sky is going to fall. If you are in a negative job, relationship, environment-get out and fast!

Disassociate your feelings from events around you. Getting emotionally involved in the events of life all the time is a sure way to get stressed. Have you ever had someone yell at you in traffic or cut you off, jump in front of you in a line, be rude to you, etc.

Hey, if people around you are having a bad day there is no need to join them. I agree this is easier said than done but if you make a concerted effort you can win at this.

I am leaving for Florida in a few days for some rest and relaxation with my family and I found myself getting stressed due to getting all my work done before I leave and worrying about getting everything done when I get back. Not a good way to start a vacation!

I decided to take one day at a time and enjoy the process. It’s a day to day choice.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts