Middle Class

In America, 64% of the population works for an employer that has 500, or less, employees. Those companies are the back bone of this country.
Most of these small businesses started in someone's garage, at a card table or on the hood of a '74 Chevy Nova. One thing we shouldn't do is discourage our children from using their talents. They will be the new generation of thinkers, entrepreneurs, and leaders of this country.
I heard of a young man that went around his neighborhood fixing flats and other small repairs on bikes. His catch was that he would come and get the bike. He did this to earn money. I'm always constantly thinking of ways to better myself, earn more money and to leave a legacy. Remember, start with where you are at and what you have.

Are you willing?

One of the many things I enjoy is hearing success stories. Recently I got in contact with an aquaintence who fixed an iPhone I used to have.

At the time he was doing it as a side job. In the past few months we reconnected on Facebook and I have been reading his posts. Earlier this week he met with three professional sports teams to see about becoming their "go to" guy for iPhone and iPad repairs. This deal would involve the athletes, as well as the staff.

As of today, he picked up the Indianapolis Colts as their Apple repairman. Success is out their. Are you willing to make the sacrifice to get it?

Quote of the day

Work when you don't need the money but need the job. ~Bob Russell

Money isn't everything

I would have to say it's right up there next to breathing. I was never good at managing my money. I have spent more money than I would wish to know.
When I look back to my early years, I wish I had started saving for emergencies, the future, vacations and, yes retirement. I am scrabbling right now to have a peaceful retirement. Although I still want to work until I cannot work anymore.
One thing I would like to share with the younger crowd is; 1) Save for the future and 2) stay out of debt. Pay cash for everything.
Kids come out of college already having a loan the size of a mortgage. I have met young adults who have spent 4 years in school only to work in something different from their chosen field and with a six-figure student loan, making $12/hr. I'll save that for another story.
Right now, I want to talk about retirement. If a person starts saving in a Roth IRA or some other savings vehicle, putting away the maximum amount, from age 20-27. Then, stop adding to it, do not take any out. When they go to retire, they will have over $1 million. The compound interest will add up over time.
A friend of mine told me his father worked at a job for 55 years since he was age 20. They let him go and he did not have any retirement and thought maybe he would have to move in with his son.
Always have a plan, because rest assure, if you don't, you will fall into someone else's plan.

Quote of the day

1 year.
12 months.
365 days.
8760 hours.
525600 minutes.
31536000 seconds.

How much time are you willing to sacrifice to achieve success?

Quote of the day

Limits, like fear, are often just an illusion.

Quote of the day

"Nobody who ever gave his best regretted it."

Quote for the day

"Sales people should take lessons from their kids. What does the word ‘no’ mean to a child? Almost nothing." -- Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

Life's too short to work for anyone but yourself.

Step to being successful

One of the things I'm starting today is an exercise program. It's basic and close to one that I did years ago. Being in shape gives you more energy, to run your business; focus better at the task at hand and be able to get more done. I highly recommend Bill Phillips Body for Life. This will give you everything you need to get back into the game.

Quote of the day

A negative mind will never give you a positive life.

Quote of the day

For a leader, honesty and integrity are absolutely the keys to success.

Moving forward

It's been a few days since I blogged last. I made a phone call yesterday and found out the license I need to obtain will be paid for. I have to take a state exam, which has a fee with it, that will not come out of my pocket. Monday I will schedule my exam and study. On my bookshelf and currently reading is Fearless Leader, by Carey D. Lohrenz. Remember, if your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough.
Happy Fathers Day to the dads.

Breaking it down

I have one major goal in mind for the month of June. In order to reach that goal I broke it down into 3 small goals. The first of the three is completed. I'm taking this weekend off to recoup from dental surgery. Although, I will keep reading and listening to podcasts. Take this time to get caught up. Enjoy your weekend and never stop.

The first step

Taking that first step is important. You want to start the momentum. Set a small goal and don't overwhelm yourself with too much.
Yesterday I took that first step towards one of my goals. I'm going to make a 90 day plan. I will blog my progress.

Quote of the day

There can be no great accomplishment without risk.  ~Neil Armstrong

Getting out there

Part of telling people what you do is actually getting out there and making contact. Use the 6' rule, if they're six feet or closer, they are approachable. I spoke to 2 people today and shared with them about my business. I hope this is an encouragement.

Chances

In the end, what we regret most are the chances we never took and the outcomes we will never know.
Be Fearless.

Big goals

If your goals don't scare you, they aren't big enough.

Dreams

I'm reading a book where the author is taking about dreaming big like children. He says in a study that was done of creative people and the levels of innovation in small children versus adults. The findings revealed that over 80% of children were extremely creative when they were five years old, but by seven years old- just two years later- only 10 percent of children showed any signs of creative thought. The percentage went down to two percent by 20yrs of age and strayed there through the rest of life.
We can still color outside the lines. As a matter of fact, we should to keep the dreams alive. Dream like a child and place goals to fulfill that dream.

Quote is the day

Never complain
Never explain ~Benjamin Disraeli
British Prime Minister

Money works

In the last eight years, I surrounded myself with people who have made a lot of money. Each one has told me to get to a point where your money works for you. The best time to do this is when you're young. The power of compound interest.

Jim Rohn quote

“Don’t wish it was easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for less problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”

Potential

The waste in dollars and cents was small compared with the waste of human potential. ~Ronald Reagan

Entrepreneur

A friend's son has a gum ball machine business. At the age of 14, he has over 400 machines and averages a dollar a day profit per machine, seven days a week. He is an entrepreneur. At 14, he earns more than many grown ups, while going to school and playing sports.

-Robert Kiyosaki

Quote of the day

“If I had eight hours to cut down a tree, I’d spend six sharpening my axe.” —Abraham Lincoln

Kindle

I recently was given a kindle from my wife as a birthday present. I'm looking forward to all the information that is stored in there.
Remember, information is useless if you don't use it.

Good life

Quote of the day

"You must get good at one of two things: sowing in the spring or begging in the fall." -- Jim Rohn

Motivation

Big day

I recently talked with an apartment complex about leaving my flyers there and they said they would put them in their "Welcome " pack to new move in's. This is a positive step for the business. The more people you talk to, the better the odds are of getting a sale, a client and maybe referrals for future business. Do not give up. Persistence is part of the battle and you beat 50% if the people by showing up.

Quote of the day

You can't go wrong with Jim Rohn.

Quote of the day

“Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is always to try just one more time.” – Thomas Edison

Next step

Decide how much extra money you would like to make each month and then work on a plan to make that money.
My goal is $100/mo, starting out. You can build from whatever amount you start out at.
Once you start making the same amount on your part time gig as you do on your full time, you can plan on turning the part time in to full time.

Starting out

I have always heard, "start with where you are at and with what you have." I am doing just that. My business is in personal finance. I'm not worried about growing my business through this blog but hope to encourage the reader. If the reader would like to use some of the products mentioned, then I'm OK with that.
This is where our journey starts, today! I am taking the books I've read, podcasts I've listened to and the seminars I have attended, to grow the business I have.
Any one person in America can make it. I believe the knowledge is out there for us to soak up, like a sponge.
You need to find your passion. What drives you. What do you love to talk about more than anything.
I want to get people out of debt and show them how to do it and build wealth. I have quite a few people I can go to for help who are wealthy. These people will not loan me money but show me how to make it. I suggest you surround yourself with the same kind of people.
One of the things I do is refer clients to an auto/home insurance company to save on their premiums. It's a company that is on the up and up. I receive little commission but this is where I will start. This will also be my foundation and will journal my growth as time goes on, hoping that you get inspired.
My background is not close to being good with money but I was always good at numbers. So, in the words of Joe Walsh, I am an average, ordinary guy, who is at the age of 51. 
Hang on. It's time to get started.

Quote of the day

If your dreams don't scare you, they're not big enough.

Quote of the day

"If what you have done yesterday still looks big to you, you haven't done much today."
#AlphaMovement

Quote of the day

Success is neither magical nor mysterious. Success is the natural consequence of consistently applying basic fundamentals. 
-Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

"An education will make you a salary, but a self education will make you a fortune." ~Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

"You cannot change your destination overnight, but you can change your direction overnight." – Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the road less traveled by, And that has made all the difference." ~Robert Frost

Quote of the day

"I would rather have it said ‘He lived usefully’ than ‘He died rich.’” —Ben Franklin

Reading Books

There are a lot of good books out there. I enjoy reading positive, uplifting books. I have several books on my shelf and on my tablet. Here are a few that I am reading; 1) When you Love God but Don't love the church 2) Work the System 3) Creativity, Inc
Please let me know if you have read any of these and comment whether you liked them.

Quote of the day

"Riches, when they come in huge quantities,are never the result of HARD work!” ~Napoleon Hill

Quote of the day

"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." – Ralph Waldo Emerson

Quote of the day

"The secret of getting ahead is getting started." ~Mark Twain

Quote of the day

"On the way to work, concentrate on the way – not the work." -- Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

"What is powerful is when what you say is just the tip of the iceberg of what you know." -- Jim Rohn

Quote of the day

The wolf on the hill is not as hungry as the wolf climbing the hill.

Quote of the Day

"No one limits your growth but you. If you want to earn more, learn more."  -Tom Hopkins

Part Time

A lot of entrepreneurs started out part time and then moved to full time, once they were making more on their part time gig. You have to ask yourself, would you rather punch someone else's clock or your own? There is more at stake when working for yourself.
Remember to start where you are at with what you have.

Quote of the day

"Indecision is the thief of opportunity." -- Jim Rohn

Quote for the day

"The way to get started is to quit talking and start doing." ~Walt Disney

If..

Don't say, ‘If I could, I would.’ Say, ‘If I can, I will.’" -- Jim Rohn

Saving for the future!

At age 20, if a person were to put in the maximum amount into a mutual fund until age 27, then stop and do not add or take out any money, that person will have over $1 million when they go to retire.
#financial #advice

Be yourself

"Two roads diverged in a wood, and I, I took the road less traveled by, and that has made all the difference." ~Robert Frost

Decisions

"I'm not a product of my circumstances, I'm a product of my decisions." ~Stephen Covey

"You're the average of the five people you spend your most time with." Jim Rohn

Christians

Christians-- we're all afraid of fire.
We prefer to suck on pacifiers.
Baby pacifists, we're throwing fits.
We don't shake hands, we shake our fists.

We're cannibals. 
We watch our brothers fall.
We eat our own, the bones and all.

-Reliant K

Education

Common sense is the best education.

Successful People

"Successful people are not gifted; they just work hard, then succeed on purpose. - G.K. Nielson"

Influences

"You must constantly ask yourself these questions: Who am I around? What are they doing to me? What have they got me reading? What have they got me saying? Where do they have me going? What do they have me thinking? And most important, what do they have me becoming? Then ask yourself the big question: Is that okay?" -- Jim Rohn

You have to sperate yourself from those that hold you back. Ask yourself, "Is this person helping me or hurting me?" Some people you can only afford to spend a few hours with. Spend time with like minded people, as yourself or with people on the same mission as you.

Quote

"Some people you can afford to spend a few minutes with, but not a few hours." -- Jim Rohn"

Positive listening

I listen to at least 30 minutes of something positive and inspirational everyday. One of my favorites is Dan Miller at 48days.com

The valleys in life

Psalms 61:2 KJV

From the end of the earth will I cry unto thee, when my heart is overwhelmed: lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

As Christians, we are not exempt from hard times. We have to lean on the rock.

A New Beginning

I want to share the insights of the people I respect and admire, plus share a few of my own. I am a Christian, business owner, entrepreneur and family man. I hope these blogs help you as well as give me the experience to grow as a leader and coach. Welcome to the Successful Journey.

Matthew 9:37 King James Version (KJV)
³⁷ Then saith he unto his disciples, The harvest truly is plenteous, but the labourers are few;