America's Greatest Days

With the events of the past year politically and economically one would think that the best days for this country have past us by. Washington has decided to turn it's back on the Constitution and the ideas the United States were founded on. The economy corrected itself for a long growth period and many of us experienced really hard times for the first time in our lives. Looking at all of these things it is easy to get down about the state of the union.

What has made this country great? It is the undying determination that it's people has and the ability to overcome great obstacles. My fellow Americans we face the greatest trail of our lifetime. We have to decide if we really wish to be like the rest of the world and let the government take care of us or can we take care of ourselves. We have adopted the value system that rewards everyone for participating instead of rewarding excellence. This is the biggest disservice we can do for the next generation. The greatest success usually comes after failing and not just once but several times, because it is not success that defines a person but how they deal with adversity.

We are teaching our kids that as long as you try it doesn't matter if you win or lose. In theory that is nice but we know that is not how the world works. There will always be winners and losers and but trying to teach our children there aren't we may be damaging them beyond anything we can comprehend. To many times now mediocrity is accepted when we should be striving to be better than we think we can be. Only in striving to achieve what seems impossible can we truly reach our potential. We have to stretch ourselves and sometimes be uncomfortable to really be great.

So let's change our mind set and begin to dream of what we can achieve instead of playing it safe, let's once again be a nation of risk takers and imaginative thinkers and get back to what has made this country great.

Heatlh Care Reform

The debate is raging in Washington over health care reform. This is a much needed debate and so far I have not heard a real workable solution presented. The Congress is pushing a bill that would make health insurance mandatory for every one much like the Social Security system. Democratic leadership and the elitist in the country wants you to believe only the very rich will carry the burden for the program. I can see real problem's with this thought process, the first is no way that raises enough to pay for the program and if that is the revenue source then health care will be limited.

What happened to making a profit and being successful in this country? We have a serious case of the "Robin Hood" syndrome. The rich are more vilified than ever and why is that? I wish I knew the answer, but I am wandering from the subject of this post.

The system as is does not work, we all agree on that point. What disturbs me is the misunderstanding most Americans have with the debate. Many feel the government is the solution but stop and think did they not create the problem. Single pay will not fix the problem in that regardless of what we are being told the liberals or progressives want us to believe they want to kill the private insurance option for us. If you have the opportunity read the actual legislation and if want choice you will learn that is going to go away if this bill passes.

Listening to talk radio I find it interesting that both sides swear they are telling the truth and the other side is lying and the liberals are crying because they haven't ram this bad legislation down our throats and they blame members of their own party, let the games continue.

Welcome to your change

I remember last year I all heard was we need change. Everyone was up in arms about what was happening and most, if not all was directed toward the republicans and then President Bush. The elections have come and gone and are things any better, I don't know. Many would say yes but just as many would disagree. It is my fear that the U. S. is moving away from what made it great and is going down the path of ruin. Like it or not Socialism is here and I am afraid it is here to stay.

The Dem's as well as the Republicans have spent more money than we have the ability to repay in three life times and things are still broken. My question is when did the government go into the banking, insurance and auto making business? This happened because of fear and the lack of leadership in Washington panicking when things got tough. On one hand they regulate business to the highest degree and then tax the delights out of them and wonder why they pack up and leave. Added to that the American worker wants to make lots of money and have full benefits. I find nothing wrong with making a really good wage and having benefits but when it gets to the point the products being manufactured are to expensive for the average person something is wrong and corrections need to be made. The leaders in Washington in their infinite wisdom decided to throw money at the problems instead of letting the institutions fix themselves. They wanted to avoid bankruptcy and loss of jobs, well it did not work.

A small very vocal minority convinced the majority they needed things done differently and while the picture is not complete I fear it will get much worse before things improve if the do. Talk of losing the middle class has gone on for years, I fear the gap will become wider yet as the government tries to fix things. Until we get back to basics such as spending less than you earn and saving for emergencies and we quit trying to keep up with our neighbors things will continue to muddle along. We need to quit using credit cards and live within our wage and buy homes we can afford and maybe do with out the toys, we would all be a lot happier.

A Few Late Night Reflections

I was pondering some of the choices I have made over the past six months and have come to the following conclusions. I have made some pretty stupid ones and yet I persist in trying the same things over and over again. I also realize that I and I alone made those choices and bear responsibility for the results. In posting this I am breaking a "cardinal rule" of blogging for a business blog. How am I breaking the rule? Well I refuse to put a totally positive spin on my choices or situation and I am not seeking pity.

My first and biggest mistake was choosing to start a business. Why is that a mistake, isn't that the American dream, to be your own boss and make as much as you can? Starting a business was not the mistake, me starting a business at this time was the mistake. Let me clarify I want to have my own business and I want it to succeed but I failed to fully understand the time and money involved in such an undertaking. I broke the rule of, do the research and have a product or idea that is unique or in demand. I let a salesman talk me into something I was not equipped to start or run thinking I would find the magic product after I started. The big sale for the internet is information. This may be true but there is a lot of misinformation and partial truths on the net. After receiving six months or more of emails for internet businesses most are very misleading and yet not out right scams.

Here is the SOP (standard operating procedure) for this type of business and it seems to be the norm. The seller, person or company offering the "opportunity" promises something for free just go to such and such web site for your free information or kit and they place a value on the product. This in and of itself is no problem to me but the way they go about the advertising is. Almost all of these promise they know the secrets to making lots of money for very little work and you know they are right if you have enough money to pay someone else to do it. These sellers bend over backwards to help you but at a price and I have come to the conclusion that is how they really made their money. I was ignorant of this practice before I started my business but I have since learned that if you have no ethics you can convince yourself this is okay. I can be an expert on anything I want just start writing about it and act like I know what I'm talking about and I am an expert. Sorry but in the world outside the cyberspace this is not the case and it should not be the case here.

My next and equally stupid and maybe bigger mistake was thinking I needed to use personal credit to get my business started. NO, NO, NO, NO, NO can I be any clearer do not go this route it is the height of stupidity. I have learned that if you do not have the capital to invest and possibly lose then you do not need to start a business. Why? First and foremost it adds to your personal debt level, not ever a good idea despite what the credit card companies, advertisers or the government tells us, IMO this the main problem with our economy today. Business and personal finances are to be separate and of the business has no cash flow do not reach into your personal accounts to keep it afloat. I cannot emphasize this point enough it is a very bad idea and a sure fire way to fail because when the personal money runs out and there is still no cash flow the business fail anyway. That is the situation I find myself in and I ask myself is it really worth the trouble to try and keep going with no cash flow. This comes back to no or poor research and poor understanding of all the cost involved in starting a business, online or not.

To change tone for the end. I have learned a lot about starting a business and some of the steps one must take to succeed in the business world. It has been a very expensive lesson and I have paid a very large "stupid tax" as Dave Ramsey would say but it has helped me understand many things better. I better understand myself and how sometimes I make decisions and act on them without taking into consideration the consequences. I have be reinforced that I am not near as intelligent or wise as I sometimes think I am and it is humbling to learn that. I have also learned that ethics is a concept that seems to be forgotten in the business world and the world in general and that is very disappointing.

Mistakes I Made

I started the process of becoming a business owner late last year and early this year. I made some very serious mistakes in the process and I would like to share some with you as well as my thought process and how I look to correct those errors.
1. My first and biggest mistake was not researching what exactly I wanted to do with my business. I believed that if I signed up for a program that I would learn what I wanted to do and make money in the process. Nothing is further from the truth. One needs to have a product or idea they strongly believe in and that makes the learning so much easier. So after wandering around in the dark with no clear niche or product to market it was no wonder I failed to make money. I have corrected that mistake and now I offer skateboards and parts as my niche market. Now I can begin to apply some to the principals I have learned through my media placement training.
2. My next mistake was not learning the full cost of starting my business and now I have to deal with a very limited cash flow until sales pick up and money comes in to pay for better forms of advertising. I urge everyone considering starting your own business make sure you allow for advertising because you get a very limited response from free sources.
3. My next mistake was a lack of understanding on how to set up a web site and key word usage. I have studied this process and have a better grasp on it but it is still a work in progress. Keyword usage in the correct manner get you listed in search engines as well as links and updates on the website. I have learned how you can use news and weather feeds to help keep your site updated.

These are a few of the really big mistakes I made with my new business. I advise anyone considering starting your own business to look and learn from my mistakes.

Manny Gets His Deal

Manny got his money and a two year deal but I don't think that two years is what Manny and Borris wanted. Is this a good deal for the Dodgers, maybe. If they can win a title in the next two years then yes but if Manny decides he is unhappy then no. No doubt he is a hitting machine but will his bat continue to make up for his other weaknesses, only time will tell. All the experts seem to think there was no way this would not happen but is it really worth it for the Dodgers.

The A's signed Orlando Cabrera to a one year deal and SS Bobby Crosby wants out and I can't blame him. The A's have apparently given up on Crosby which is understandable considering his injury problems which have hampered his production. Can Billy Bean find any takers for Crosby, maybe but will they pay what Bean wants, only if they really need a SS because of injury and even then I think Crosby's value is minimal because of his history and lack of production.

World Baseball Classic

Just a few days away from the second WBC and maybe this time team USA can at least get to the final round if not win it. It looks like the pen for the USA team is not going to be that strong with Nathan withdrawing but it may not be a factor if the guys don't hit.