WHAT WOULD YOU DO WITH A STIMULUS CHECK?

I don’t expect to get a stimulus check, however, what would you do with the check if you got one? Pay some bills, buy some more stuff, go out to eat, etc. The government wants you to spend the money.

Here is what I would recommend. Spend it on your mind. That’s right- your mind. There are thousands of good books on money management, marriage, family relationship, spiritual growth, attitude, etc. Most people will think nothing of spending $20-$30 on a meal and would choke on spending $10 on a book.

We need to stimulate our minds. I rarely watch TV other than for Christian programs and I have been appalled at the garbage that people watch and fill up their minds with.

If all you eat is junk food, your health will suffer. If all you do is watch garbage on TV your mind will turn to mush. If you add all the negative news to that, you will become a basket case. I am not kidding.

Our most important asset is our mind and we need to cultivate it and take out the weeds, not add weeds. Our attitudes and outlook on life affects our future and we need to monitor what we look at, listen to, and who we spend our time with.

Have you ever been in a good mood and met somebody that you know and they talked negative, complained, and stressed that the world was going to end. How did you feel after? Get the picture.

Buy a good book with a positive message and start reading. When you finish that one, buy another one and repeat the process.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHY YOU SHOULDN’T DEPEND ON THE GOVERNMENT!

The rhetoric today is about creating jobs. The government is not in the business of creating jobs. If government is left to itself it will build a pyramid of government workers who want to keep perpetuating their jobs.

The role of government is to maintain an environment where business can flourish and grow and therefore create jobs. 80% of all jobs are created by small businesses and the government wants to bail out a few of the larger ones that have been inefficient and bloated for years.

Road projects and construction projects is not creating jobs! This is hard physical work that only a small segment of the population is able to do. Once everything is fixed what then?

Raising taxes does not help small businesses. Taxing the wealthy does not help the poor. This is foolishness. If you look at Japan, they have done everything that our government is proposing to deal with their economy and it did not work. Why do we assume that this will work for us.

Economic growth goes in cycles and it always will. Let the mismanaged businesses collapse and new companies will arise to take their place. Let this play out without panicking. The media is projecting fear. Remember the only thing we have to fear is fear itself.

When they say that 10% of people cannot pay their mortgages, they don’t stress the 90% who are paying their mortgages. They don’t talk about the 90% who are working but the 10% who aren’t.

Don’t expect the government to have all the answers. You might not like what you get!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

BE TRUE TO YOURSELF-YOU WILL SLEEP WELL AT NIGHT!

I have been reading about all the government bailout money and how they want to bail out everybody. Is this really needed? My wife and I live a frugal life ( not stingy, we give a lot) but we are careful in our spending and put off any purchases that are really not needed.

I know people who have $2,000-$3,000/mo. mortgages, who over extended themselves to impress their neighbors and are now hoping for a bailout. I have no problems helping people out who really need help, but why should taxpayers pay for people who wanted a McMansion and did not count the total cost of upkeep before making a purchase.

Everybody is made to feel that they are victims and nothing is their fault. All decisions have consequences. I have made a lot of bad decisions in the past and I had to pay for that. It took me 7-8 years to get out of debt and I did. I did not expect the government to bail me out.

Remember there is no free lunch. The government doesn’t make money, it spends money. A lot of people want to be on the government dole and get something for nothing. There is no such thing. Someone has to pay.

I don’t want a government bailout. If you have incurred debts, pay them off, no matter how long it takes. You’re self respect will be intact and you will sleep well at night.

The first step to socialism is when people expect the government to have all the answers and to take care of them from birth to death. Believe me, they will but you will be at the mercy of Big Brother.

This country was founded on Freedom of choice, which means you make your choices and reap the benefits of those choices or the penalties.

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

GETTING ALONG WITH PEOPLE!

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My wife and I celebrated 39 years of marriage in January and for those of you who are married you know that it is always a work in progress. The interesting thing is that after 39 years of marriage we enjoy each other’s company more than ever!

My wife is a saint and she has shown patience and grace throughout our married life. We had to learn to like each other even though we loved each other.

In my line of work, I am always in contact with people and there are always people that are hard to like. There are not a lot of them, they just seem to move around a lot.

I have learned to try to respond in the opposite spirit. If someone yells at me or talks loudly- I will talk softly and in a low voice. The immediate reaction is to be angry and respond in a like manner. If you smile first, chances are people will smile back. If you look angry-you know what type of reaction to expect.

I am not saying this is easy but that it works. I heard a story about a man who got on a bus with his two children. The children were screaming and yelling and the man was looking down at his feet and not saying anything. One man on the bus got angry and yelled at him to control his children. The man suddenly looked up like he was dazed and said “ I’m sorry we just left the hospital and their mother just died.” The mood on that bus changed quickly and the man who had yelled at him was ashamed.

Keep in mind that people might be going through some serious challenges and that is why they act the way they do. Give them some slack. That’s what my wife did for me and we’re still together 39 years later!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

HOW WILL YOU FINISH THE FIRST QUARTER OF THE YEAR?

We have already gone through two months of 2009 and I don’t know about you but I am behind on some of my New Year’s resolutions. I have had to refocus and start over in a few areas.

It is so easy to get caught up in everyday living that we forget to focus on our goals. One of my goals has been to spend time in Bible study every day, as I find that when I do this my life seems to be more peaceful and I am able to handle the days better.

Unfortunately, I have let this slip away and next thing you know I am trying to find a few minutes here and there to spend time with the Lord. I have not made the main thing the main thing. I am not sure what your top priority is but have you let it slip away?

I put my business first-not good! I know that if I put the Lord first everything else will fall into place.

Time for a reality check. How are you doing?

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

WHAT TO DO WHEN YOU ARE ON OVERLOAD !

I live in northern Maine and one of the challenges in the winter months is the unpredictability of the weather. Recently we seem to be having a major snow storm every week. If you have the type of traveling schedule that I have, this can be very stressful, as I am always changing my appointments and since I am usually booked several weeks on advance, it really upsets my schedule.

Over the last weeks as I have been checking out my Facebook and Twitter accounts, I was amazed to see how many other people were getting fed up with snow and more snow. Since we cannot control the weather what can we do?

I have had to learn that God is always in control and therefore everything will be all right. If my schedule gets messed up, so be it. I have finally learned that if I focus on living in the moment I really can get by and still have a great day.

This applies to all the unexpected things that happen that disrupts our finally tuned schedules. Believe me if the time has come to go meet the Lord, your schedule will be permanently changed. For the better if you are a Christian.

Over the last weeks, besides the weather, I have had unexpected family issues and house issues to deal with. You know what? Everything worked out for the better and good has come of it.

If you have the winter blues or are experiencing unexpected challenges, relax, live in the moment, and appreciate that life is full of different seasons.

Hey, it’s bound to stop snowing sometimes!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts

MAKING OTHERS FEEL APPRECIATED !

In one of my former jobs, I was a marketing representative for a large firm and as part of my duties I had to interview people to determine if they would be a fit for our organization. Needless to say this was a challenging duty, as we wanted to make sure that the people we hired would fit within our corporate culture.

When people are interviewed they are usually at their best and you normally do not see any flaws. However, one of the characteristics that I looked for was the ability to appreciate other people and have a focus on others. If people where talking about me, myself, and I and how wonderful they where and how blessed we would be to have them work for us, that was a red flag to me!

In life, we are surrounded with people who need to be uplifted and appreciated for the gifts that they have. We need to be people that are more focused on others than our own special needs and problems. Employees and employers that are focused on making people feel appreciated are contributing to the feeling of personal worth of the other person.

The principal cause of unrest among workers and people in general falls within the following:

1. Failure to give credit for suggestions.
2. Failure to correct grievances.
3. Failure to encourage.
4. Being criticized in public.

This pertains to family interaction as well as at work. If you think other people are important, you will treat them differently. You know what? Every person is important.

A study has shown that criminals do things to get attention as do small children. We all crave attention and want to be noticed and appreciated. A major complaint from husbands and wives that they have about their partner is “ not being noticed”.

Start noticing the people that come into your life. Make them feel appreciated. You are planting seeds of encouragement that will produce everlasting fruit!

Jacques
CreatingWealthThatLasts