Entrepreneur

Success and life are a package deal. How many of us focus so much on one part that we neglect other essential parts? Probably the most common violation is the workaholic. Yes, we convince ourselves that it is our responsibility as head of the household to provide a living for our family, and that is true. Now before you get defensive, I have been totally guilty of exactly that logic.

Throwing myself into my work 80 and 90 hours a week with the self-inflicted justification that it was essential seemed like the right decision at the time. Now that I look back and see all of the school events I missed and the landmark occasions in my son’s lives, I question that logic. Was it really worth it? Viewing that decision through the eyes of my sons, the perspective changes.

How many of us have spent so many hours providing for the physical and materialistic needs of our families that we have neglected the mental and emotional needs? As a young high school teacher, before I started my own family, I observed so my students who had every possible materialistic possession. They wore designer clothes. They drove expensive cars. They lived in affluent neighborhoods. Far too many of them were seeking attention and approval, sometimes from the wrong sources. In our striving to provide for the material possessions, it becomes too easy to give money rather than focused time.

As a single mother, I know I am guiltier of that than I would like to admit. Yes, I rushed home from work as quickly as possible and spent every weekend moment possible with the boys; however, I missed far too much. Any of you relate to this scenario? Thought so.

What if there was an alternative where you could set your own schedule and work around your kids activities rather than during those school events? What if I could you’re you a way to earn at least as much income as you do now and have total control of your future earnings? Yes, it really is not only possible but probable.

The home based business industry is the fastest growing industry in the world right now.

People are learning that corporate America does not have the security it once possessed. Jobs are going overseas. Companies are downsizing. Unfortunately some companies are closing their doors totally. Retirement plans were defined benefit plans; the company funded them for the employee, in the 1950s. Retirement plans have now become defined contribution plans, the employee contributes and sometimes the company matches the employee’s contribution. When a defined contribution plan runs out of money, it’s done. Even worse what if the company goes out of business and the retirement plan disappears along with the company?

The only true security and control for the future lies in being an entrepreneur. Business owners control their time, their current earnings, their future earnings and their retirement.

I’ve been and employee, a small business owner (brick and mortar business) and a home based business entrepreneur. Personally speaking, I am so thankful for the opportunities and future as a home based business entrepreneur. I’ve tried the others. I love my life now. Now that I fully grasp the joy of being a home based business owner, I must admit that I am now psychologically unemployable.

Come check it out for yourself. See if this will answer your goals and lifestyle dreams. Visit Elaine4Success.com and enter your information. Let’s design a plan for your future.

Soar With the Eagles

Don’t send a duck to eagle school. It will frustrate the duck and puzzle the eagles. Eagle flying school is designed for stretching the wings of the eagles so they can soar higher and faster.

Training a new entrepreneur resembles eagle school. Wealth is always created through being an entrepreneur not through an employee status. The entrepreneur’s mindset resembles the eagle. Eagles stretch their wings and soar high and far. Entrepreneurs develop their creativity and achieve to the height of their desire, ambition and persistence. There are no limits to the vision and achievement of true entrepreneurs.

Entrepreneurs are business owners; they take charge of their destiny and find a way to make all of their dreams come true. Business owners do not walk around boo-hooing their circumstances; they find a way over, under, around or through the issue until they reach their goal.

Not one successful business owner has achieved their goals without a few challenges. The challenges make us stronger, more creative and better leaders. How can we possibly expect to lead and guide others to reach their full potential unless we have experienced a few personal challenges?

Abraham Lincoln failed over and over; however he persisted until he emancipated an entire race. This list depicts 12 failures and 3 successes. He succeeded every 5th time.
• 1831 - Lost his job
• 1832 - Defeated in run for Illinois State Legislature
• 1833 - Failed in business
• 1834 - Elected to Illinois State Legislature (success)
• 1835 - Sweetheart died
• 1836 - Had nervous breakdown
• 1838 - Defeated in run for Illinois House Speaker
• 1843 - Defeated in run for nomination for U.S. Congress
• 1846 - Elected to Congress (success)
• 1848 - Lost re-nomination
• 1849 - Rejected for land officer position
• 1854 - Defeated in run for U.S. Senate
• 1856 - Defeated in run for nomination for Vice President
• 1858 - Again defeated in run for U.S. Senate
• 1860 - Elected President (success)
Edison failed 10,000 times before he created the electric light bulb.

Napoleon Hill suffered every possible setback on his way to authoring the most significant business book written on the method of achieving wealth – Think and Grow Rich.

Eagles do not walk around on the ground feeling sorry for themselves or giving up at the first sign of challenge. Neither do entrepreneurs. They find a way to stretch their wings and soar to new heights.

How about you? How determined are you to reach your goals? Are you a duck walking around quacking and flapping your wings but stuck on the ground? Are you an eagle reaching for the clouds?

Have a fabulous day soaring through the clouds on your way to the success you so richly deserve.

Visit me at Elaine4Success.com for more information on business success.

Someday Isle

Imagine a peaceful island with soft breezes, lush green grass, gentle waves caressing the shore and clear blue skies above sprinkled with puffy white clouds. Add an array of reds, purples, yellows and pinks in the fragrant flowers gently blanketing the landscape. Serene, soothing and relaxing. Tempting? Probably, but not very profitable.

Look at your life. Really take a serious look at your career. Are you passing time on Someday Isle instead of taking charge of your life? Are you letting the days slip into weeks and months and years? Oops, retirement age peeks around the corner. Are you hiding your head in the sand like an ostrich and making excuses. If you don’t face it maybe it will solve itself. Not likely. Have you made the decision to stand up and take action? Life is a choice. Choose, take action, or face the consequences.

The old standard belief of “get a good education, work hard and the company will take care of you” no longer applies. Corporations are outsourcing to other countries, downsizing, and dissolving retirement plans. At one point “defined benefit plans” were normal; the company funded your retirement. Now the standard “defined contribution plan” is more common. You contribute to your own retirement and when your contribution runs out, your checks stop. Abrupt, but real. Remember hearing “If it is to be, it is up to me.” Believe, if it is to be, it is up to you. Success is a choice.

The time is now to declare that you are ready. Act. If you are like most Americans in their 50s you have saved $50,000 and invested in very low return mutual funds. Your financial manager probably tells you that you are earning 5 or even 8 per cent. They may even attempt to convince you that you are doing better than the market. Reality check. Inflation is about 10% per annum. If you earn 5% to 8% and the money manager takes 2 to 3% of that, you are going backwards. The money manager is making more than you do. You do the math.

Why are you procrastinating? Why are you putting off decisions? Not sure which way to turn, so you do nothing. Time is passing. Retirement age looms closer and closer and your bank account cries.

Success is a choice. Golden hours, days, weeks, months and years are slipping away. It is time to move away from Someday Isle and join the real world of responsible people.

What are you thinking?

Someday I’ll start my own business

Someday I’ll get serious about providing for my future

Someday I’ll learn how to get out of debt and stay out of debt

Someday I’ll learn how to manage my own investments and make money for myself.

You will never get rich on Someday Isle. Working a job does not provide for your future either. Most people are working paycheck to paycheck. How do you plan to live when the checks stop arriving? What holds you back from taking charge of your life, your finances and your future?

Donald Trump and Robert Kiyosaki’s book “Why We Want You to be Rich” urges people to start their own business. In Kiyosaki’s cash flow quadrant he lists employee status as the least desirable section of the four squares. Yes, it requires less effort – someone else tells you what to do. They also have the power to tell you goodbye.

Self-employed – ok, you are a step above. At least you stepped away from the “tell me what to do group” and stepped off shore into the unknown. You decided to take action. Congratulations! You earn all the profit from your actions; however, stop working and you stop earning.

Business owner – ah, you are earning from the efforts of others as well as your own work. Stop working for awhile and you keep earning. Much better – this is called leverage. You’re making progress. You still earn all the profit from your efforts as well as profit from the labor of others.

Investor – the top of the mountain. Now your investments earn for you. Your money works for you instead of you working for your money.

Once you reach investor status, go on back to that paradise island. This time you arrive in your yacht with a staff of investments to support you in luxury. Wow, is it ever worth the journey.

Let’s recap how you traveled from Someday Isle to Paradise Isle. Far too many people struggle to achieve financial success at the cost of their personal life. All the typical excuses “I need to provide for my family’ or “the only way to get ahead is to work long and hard.” What price do you put on your life, time with your family, and your stress in the process? Your children are going to grow up whether you are home or not. What are you missing? What are they missing?

Franchises cost a small fortune, take years to recover your investment and still require long hours every day. Brick and mortar businesses control your time, usually require employees, and cost overhead for rent, furniture and fixtures. Network marketing involves a low startup cost, work from your home, and still provides all of the benefits of a franchise or brick and mortar business. Read chapter 27 of Trump and Kiyosaki’s book “Why We Want You to be Rich.” “Why Do You Recommend Network Marketing” clearly explains the reasons to start a network marketing business. Listen to the wealthy if you want to become wealthy.

Your income generally becomes the average of your 5 closest friends. Listen to and learn from those you choose to become. Be careful whose words you give free rent in your head.

Are you ready to make the choice to move from Someday Isle to Paradise Isle? Come on in, the water is warm and the feeling is so nice.