Category: Income and Career

There is an old adage that “you need to spend money to make money”. The idea itself is certainly legitimate in many circumstances, as most business approaches require some capital investment to get rolling, whether it be buying product, creating a contract, hiring employees, or renting a space.

However, having to spend money to start a business is risky! In fact, if you aren’t risking anything at all, you’re likely getting involved in a scam. I can attest to that because I was the victim of a big one of those back when I was in my late 20’s. Even though it was that long ago, I still remember every detail! Doing anything related to business is either going to risk time or money, no matter what.

Reality check, please. In case you didn’t already know it, whatever job you currently hold right now is very likely going to be one of many you will work at in your career. It’s just a fact these days that you are not going to be anything like your dad or grandfather might have been and work for the same company for 40 years, eventually retiring with a gold watch and a pension. It “ain’t gonna happen” and that’s why résumés for older workers are so very important.

Because today we live in a much more uncertain world, one where the job market changes—sometimes overnight—job security is a thing of the past. And that often doesn’t matter even if you are really good at what you do!

Not so newsworthy, in case you failed to notice, is that it’s winter out there. I can tell because I find myself watching TV each night wrapped in a blanket and drinking hot tea while the wind blows incessantly outside and my car sits snow covered in the parking lot of my condo complex. Nothing gets by me.

So it’s winter and it will stay that way for a good while whether I like it or not, despite the fact that South Florida calls my name almost every day and says, “Garrrry, oh Garrrry, its 83 degrees today.”

I’m not heading to Florida, but instead I am using my time to do what you may think is “the impossible”! I’m figuring out new ways that I can earn some extra money so that maybe, just maybe, next winter I can actually go to Florida and sit in the sunshine (or is that “Sing in the Sunshine”…I tend to get that confused).

Having done just about everything one can do in the business world myself, from working as a trainee to managing a huge chain of retail stores and ultimately running my own business, I think I can, with some expertise, tell you that there are ways to do it successfully and there are ways not to be successful. A word of really good advice on how to run your business: do the former and avoid the latter!

Why do I mention it today? Well, for quite some time now, I have been observing the demise of some of the greatest American business institutions and thinking to myself “why did that happen?” Every time it does, from Blockbuster Video to Radio Shack and from Lehman Brothers to the now-on-life-support Sears and Kmart stores, I think about what might have been done differently to help avoid that disaster.

As you probably know, every ten years the federal government conducts a census of the U.S. population to get a count of how many people live in each state. The results of the census help to determine each state’s congressional representation and how much federal money each community receives. Additionally, it provides a better understanding of American demographics. So, yeah, it’s a pretty big deal.

The next census is scheduled for 2020 and will require hiring thousands of census takers to complete the assignment. I’m always trying to recommend and steer people into new ways to earn some extra money and in the case of the census, you can earn a pretty decent stash for a pretty decent period of time, too. If you happen to be available to work flexible hours and want to get in on this, here’s all the things you’ll need to know.

If you are looking for ways to make extra money (and aren’t we all?) then here’s an idea to give a try: paid online surveys. If you are anything like me, you have strong opinions and you spout them off at just about any opportunity that comes along. That might explain why I am not invited to a lot of parties? Hmm, that makes me think. But I just can’t help but throwing my two cents in whenever the situation arises. Having said that, you can throw your two cents in and it can actually result in you getting some cash thrown right back at you!

Online opinion and survey sites have become a really popular way for some folks to cash in doing some pretty easy, mindless things in their spare time. The number of websites willing to pay you is growing every month. So, as Smash Mouth’s 1999 hit song says, “you’re an all star….get paid”.Continue reading“Your Opinions for Money – Are Paid Online Surveys Worth It?”

As of right now, employment numbers are showing that the U.S. is approaching what is referred to as “full employment”. In fact, at around 4.0% unemployment we are approaching a 17-year low in the number of unemployed Americans. Of course there are some who challenge that assessment saying that there are large numbers of “under-employed” or those who have simply stopped looking for work ever since the recession of 2008 wreaked havoc on our economy. Some of that is true, no doubt.

But, there is also a trend that is showing that salaries are starting to rise. Minimum wages are being raised and hiring for expansion in many industries is underway by the thousands. That means opportunities for workers are expanding.Continue reading“10 Essential Qualities You Need to Land a Great Job”