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How to Run Your Business and How Not to

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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!

Some businesses fail because of market changes, but many fail because they're not doing things right. Here's a few tips on how to run your business.

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.

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Earn Extra to Boost Your Income: Be a Census Taker

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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.

If you're looking for some extra income, consider becoming a census taker. Read on for all the details, including how to apply for the 2020 U.S. Census.

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.

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2019 Financial Resolutions You Can’t Afford to Blow

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You know that you mean well. You always do, don’t you, when it comes to making new year’s resolutions. That diet you were gonna do to lose some weight, the smoking thing that you were definitely going to knock out last year for sure, and oh yeah, the garage that’s full of junk that you have been promising to clean out since 2007, but this is the year, right? You tell yourself every new year things like that and even more.

If your financial resolutions of the past never seem to materialize, perhaps it's time you made some S.M.A.R.T. goals. Here's how to make 2019 successful.

And of course there are those financial resolutions and goals that you seem to always set for yourself to do better with your money, but by the end of March you can’t even recall exactly what your goals were and where you went wrong along the way. Does that sound pretty familiar?

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Free Coffee: How I’m Getting It Free for Nine Months

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They say that a good day starts with a good cup of coffee. Well, at least I’m saying so today because for me it’s part of my morning ritual, every day. I am not alone here. When I used to commute to work for years and years, I’d always have a cup at home before I left for the office and then of course just had to have another one when I arrived and settled into my routine each morning at the office, too.

Most of us like our coffee to start us off on a productive day. But it doesn't have to be expensive. I'm getting free coffee for 9 months and here's how.

There are a lot of “golden rules” when it comes to saving money that tipsters often cite in personal finance blogs. I am guilty here too of stressing that skipping your morning coffee and bagel as you drive into work every day will save you some big bucks. It does. Simply said, if you don’t make your coffee at home, you are probably wasting a lot of hard earned money that you can easily save and put toward a far better use. Like maybe buying that small island in the Caribbean you sometimes dream about? OK, it’s good to dream anyway. But free coffee…it tastes so much better, I promise you.

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Is Economic Recession on the Financial Horizon for 2019?

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Donald Trump began his reign in the Oval Office on January 20, 2017, inheriting an economy with a seven-year bull market, low inflation, and a low unemployment rate of less than 5%. After, the stock market moved on to set new all-time record highs while interest rates still remained close to their historic lows. That’s where we were and it all looked pretty dammed rosy, didn’t it?

Are we headed for an economic recession? Let's look at where we are and what may happen to our once-rosy economy in the U.S.

But, with that kind of continued trend, one that has been almost a continuum of improvement ever since 2009 began, it is an inevitable fact that at some time we’d have to face the reality that an economic recession will come. It always does.

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My Very Best of the Worst “Pop” Christmas Songs Ever

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Today I am taking the opportunity to wish all of you a great winter holiday no matter what you are celebrating! Having a chance to catch your breath and spend some time with friends and family is a great way to conclude the year and get set for a high energy and hopefully fulfilling 2019 for everyone. As such, I will be taking the next two weeks off, so posts on the blog will resume on January 4th and the newsletter will resume on January 9th. In the meantime, please enjoy today’s “just for fun” post on the very best of the worst Christmas songs, in my own humble opinion.

Just for holiday fun, I've selected my very best of the worst Christmas songs. Check them out to see if you agree, or nominate your own worst songs.

Did you ever think about making music as a source of extra income? A side gig as a performer, recording artist, or songwriter? Ok, you may not really have those talents and you may never ever even try, but don’t think that it’s always only about sheer talent that does the trick. Writing the words and making up a tune can really be done by anyone if you think about it for a second. It can happen to the great and the unknown, too.

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Your 60’s, 70’s and Beyond – Money in Your Golden Years

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It wasn’t that long ago that I wrote a 3-part series entitled “The Middle Ages”. No, not the kind that you studied about in school and have read books and seen some great flicks about. I know you weren’t there, but you do remember it, right? It was the period from the fall of the Roman Empire to the beginning of the European Renaissance, roughly from the 5th century through the 15th century AD. But now it’s practically 2019!

I've written before about money challenges in your middle aged years, but now it's time to examine your 60's, 70's, and beyond: money in your golden years!

Although times have changed a tad since the Middle Ages, financial needs, dreams, goals, and their importance have not. So that’s why today I thought I would talk to you about another period of your life that requires a great plan and execution. Yet often we just don’t do it the way we should. I’m talking about your 60’s and 70’s and beyond, the golden years that usually spell retirement and big adjustments in life.
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“Burning” Your Cash – An Invite to Financial Hell

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Please note this post contains affiliate links which help to fund this blog at no cost to you. Thanks for your support!

When you hear the phrase “he has money to burn”, what does that really mean to you? It is often said that when someone has money to burn, they have more money than they need or even know what to do with and so they spend it on completely silly and wasteful stuff. If it’s in reference to some multimillionaire you hear about on a gossip TV show you watch, it probably causes a chuckle or at least a scratch of the head in disbelief. Like whenever I hear or read about Jay Leno and his weird obsession of buying hundreds of cars and motorcycles and spending multimillions of dollars on collecting them for years and years.

Are you burning cash? Maybe you don't even realize it, but wasting away your money is just like burning it, and it will land you in financial hell.

People often use the phrase “money to burn” as their way of showing their disapproval of this kind of behavior. It may be that or perhaps a little bit of jealousy? But whichever it is, when it comes to those of us who have never hosted the “Tonight Show”, it’s definitely a type of activity we should avoid at all cost! Continue reading

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Conquer Holiday Stress and Make It Safely Into 2019

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Now that the holidays are here, you are right in the middle of experiencing the “rush” of a lot of fun and happy celebrations. But as we all painfully do know, sometimes the holidays can also bring difficult emotional triggers, such as painful memories, grief for family members who can’t be with us, or challenging dynamics with family members who are with us. Holiday stress can also involve long to-do lists and financial strain to make things even worse.

We're all susceptible to holiday stress, so pay attention to these 6 ways of managing stress to insure you have a happy holiday season!

By no means am I trying to bum out the holiday season. Quite the opposite. Whether you have specific and unique reasons or not that can interfere with a happy holiday, we all go through some kind of stress during the month of December. The reasons can be simple or complex. Time pressures, money pressures, and family pressures seem to come together into a “perfect storm” and sometimes it’s really important to take some caution so that you can enjoy and yet keep your health and sanity too. That’s why I am suggesting some self–care precautions to get us through the holiday season and make it safely to 2019! Continue reading

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These Retailers Offer Free Gift Wrapping on Holiday Gifts

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(Or for a small fee!)

Picture it, you and your beautifully wrapped holiday gifts, the family Christmas tree all trimmed, and your fireplace glowing with holiday cheer and warmth as you sit in your favorite easy chair sipping a cup of hot cocoa. Sounds like such a great way to enjoy an evening as you get ready to enjoy special family traditions.

If wrapping gifts is just another holiday chore for you, check out these retailers that offer free gift wrapping (or gift wrapping for a small fee)!

Ok, that’s really cool, isn’t it? But for others, wrapping those gifts is just another obligation on a long holiday to-do list. Luckily, plenty of stores still offer gift wrapping, even online, and your gifts arrive ready to put right under the tree. Here’s an even more pleasant surprise, sometimes it’s even free! Continue reading