How to Survive the Recession ( and any other life crisis )

I spent last night reading the new book by Maple Ridge author, Jason Gallant.  By morning ( I"m a slow reader) I realized that I had just read something that millions around the world could use to alleviate the pain of financial failure during the next couple decades.*  The title of the book is Awakening with Arathi Ma , which is a strange title to have featured and reviewed in a blog dedicated to personal finance and income opportunities.  But it actually gave me the answers to some of the hardest questions you have sent to me.

What do you do when there simply are no income opportunities available?


Money is the foundation of who we are in our society.  Or is it?  Well, call me cynical, but the last person who told me that money wasn't everything was trying to sell me a $250 dollar course.

Money gives us comfort.  Security. Prestige.  Freedom.

Money helps the breadwinner bring home the bacon.  It helps the homemaker put food on the table.  It fills the night with vitality and laughter.  Days with hope and purpose.

Common questions such as "So what do you do?" are really code for "How much money do you make" and "How important are you?".  Money rules your life.  If you move, you need money.

So what happens when you don't have any money?


What happens when every feel good easy answer cliche that western culture dishes up, just falls flat?


You still need answers.  You still have to be able to look at yourself in the mirror with some self respect.  You need more than hollow hope.

Jason deals with all of this in an autobiographical tale which is an easy interesting read.  And despite the exotic title, it is written from a modern western cultural perspective.  There are explorations into other cultures and spiritual paths, but everything is done through the eyes of a kid from suburbia.

I've known Jason for twenty years and have always been impressed with his maverick nature.  He is a modern day embodiment of a mythological Greek hero.  Born with a charismatic personality which should have made him a natural for the stage or podium, he was also cursed with a mind which questioned everything.

Most of us accommodate a truce with truth at some point.  We make deals with the devil.  Accept reality in return for security.  Turn a blind eye when needed.  Shrug our shoulders and get on with our day.
 I think Jason is incapable of doing so.

Jason's searing perspective has kept him from adopting a persona which we see so often in the self help arena.  There are too many big toothy sun tanned faces promising us joy for only 3 easy payments of $199.  Jason's approach is more like " Buy this cheap book and read what I've been through.  I hope you will see  you are not alone and there are answers which can work for you. ( my paraphrase)".

There are answers to the financial devastation felt by many people during these times.


The painful truth is that you might be broke for some time.  It is not your fault.
How are you planning to deal with that?  How are you planning on keeping all those you love together and safe?


I'm doing some research and will be sharing some ideas in future blog posts.
In the meantime, I think that taking a few hours and reading Jason Gallant's
Awakening with Arathi Ma  will help you to work through those deep secret questions and feelings you think are yours alone.

If you are curious about Jason Gallant, you can see a bit more about him on his website:
http://jasongallant.ca/

* I've explained my view on the upcoming years in other posts.

Retirement Calculations and Realistic Planning

I promised you that I would add more to yesterdays post on the unreliability of traditional pension plans and what to do about it.

I have been gathering information for quite a while and am struggling to condense it all in a nice package. What I'm about to tell you is my condensed opinion. You can take each point and pursue them at your leisure if you want.

• You need much more money than your financial advisers have been telling you because they have been ignoring the reality of the effect of withdrawals and overestimating future performance. I hope you watched the video I posted on my Learn to Trade With Confidence web page. It was quite the eye opener eh?
  
• Safe Company Pension Plans are not safe. We now see that the funding that was required for these plans was reduced, and that many companies started using their own stock as security. If the company goes belly up, so too does your pension!
• Government Pensions are considered as safe, but they are feeling an unbelievable actuarial load. So we can see future restrictions coming. Already there is talk of a two tier retirement plan in the civil services. Older plans will be phased out.
• The general public is not being told about the pension plan crisis because the financial industry needs them to keep pumping in the money. Meanwhile lobbyists are hard at work to get legislation past to allow companies and plans to renege on sacrosanct retirement policies.

This is not fear mongering. You only have to read or listen to the financial trade publications for a few weeks to get a clear picture of what is going on. And the reason is not hard to understand either. A very powerful baby boomer generation is heading for retirement and want to enjoy the lifestyle they have been fantasizing about for decades!

Retirement plans and pensions have been built on the 19th century notion of people dying after a couple years of retirement. Can you imagine the hit that a healthy 60 year old will make? It is not unusual to expect a good 30 years of cheques. And to be fair to the actuaries, they have been screaming as loud as your average actuary can scream about the plundering of pension funds that is about to happen.

Companies, government and the financial industry involved in selling mutual funds and administering pension funds have been allowed to ignore the depletion of retirement saving because of a bull market that lifted every sector of investing. Defenders of the mutual funds and pension plans say that the increased spending of retirees will bring on another golden age. And they also point to emerging markets as a new source of wealth.

What all these financial experts ( lobbyists) ignore is the dismal performance of the fund managers. Just think about this. We have just finished one of the greatest bull runs in history and have had the baby boomer generation working at their peak performance levels.

WHERE ARE THE FANTASTIC PILES OF MONEY ?

We are heading into a time when I believe the market will be flat and choppy. The charts will be going up and down like a bad trip at sea. You can make money in this kind of market but it takes skill and attention. Something that most financial advisers and mutual fund managers are incapable of doing.

Did you know that a mutual fund manager is NOT ALLOWED to trade a successful trade that falls out of their particular fund's rules. Who is that protecting? Actually most of my tips come from frustrated fund managers.

This leaves you, the private investor as the only one who can save your future. Oh yes, I firmly believe that the government will help us keep body and soul together. But do you just want to have enough money to buy a sack of potatoes and sit watching TV in a 450 sq ft room? ( Yup, that's what the gov't can guarantee you.)

What about that great emerging market that is ready to bring us wealth? I've got news for you. They are the best business people on earth. It is like a trout jumping int a shark tank thinking that there is a great meal there. Just guess who is for dinner?

Think I fear mongering? I'm not. I like the Chinese and the Indians. So does legendary trader Jim Rogers. He has actually moved his family to Asia! People point to Buffet and his investment in America, but Mr Buffet is at a very different stage in his life. He want to give back and still make a reasonable profit. Jim Rogers has the kind of investing mindset that the up coming retiree needs. Now to be clear, I don't like him as a person, but I respect him as a truth teller.

SO WHAT DO WE DO?
HOW CAN WE AVOID BECOMING SHEEP LED TO SLAUGHTER?

We take Debbie Reynold's advice.

Debbie Reynolds had it all. Fame Fortune etc etc.
The fame continues, but the fortune went down the drain.
I heard her interviewed once and she was asked what advice she would give to upcoming actresses. Her answer?
"SIGN YOUR OWN CHECKS"

We have been lead to believe that the financial investment world is just too complicated for the average person. It is even intimidating to get a trading account with a broker. All the questions are set up to make us just give up and go to our friendly mutual fund salesman. ( By the way, it isn't that the broker doesn't want you. It is because the lobbyists have created all these hoops to " protect us against ourselves".)

You can learn to trade in a way that is safe and successful. Actually, it is the same method that many private equity investors use. These are people who have big money names as clients. Clients who demand results!

I have tried different strategies and like the one I mention in Learn-to-Invest-With-Confidence.com

The main reason is that it shines in a flat choppy market, and is safe in a trending one.

And yes, to use another older example. I'm like Victor Kiam. I loved it so much I bought the company.

A SPECIAL NOTE FOR YOUNGER PEOPLE:
To put it bluntly. The financial industry sees you as cannon fodder. The next few decades are going to be one big Ponzie scheme with you as the target. Take control of your life and gain the trading skills needed to bring you income now and throughout your future.

How I lost 30K in retirement investments and what I did about it

I'll keep this short for now because I'm tied up in the Olympics. But this is something I have to share and something you need to know.
Just click this link to see how I'm taking control over my retirement income and getting confidence in my future.

WOW the Olympics are getting to me. Time to take control over our future. I'll edit this later ehan I'm less emotional.

Just click this link to gain control

It is your turn people!!!!!!!!!!!!!

To Make Money Online you need to Do This First♠

Making money online on the internet is simple IF you do this one thing FIRST!
Create a business plan.
DID I JUST HEAR 1000 GROANS?
OK I'll tell you a fast way to do this and how to start making a real income ASAP. But please understand the seriousness of what I'm saying.
Making money online is no different than making money in any other area of the market. You have to offer a product or service that someone values enough to exchange for cash.

The good news is that there are quite a few ways to make a living on the internet.

If you have read my other posts, you now have a good idea of where your strengths lie. Now all you have to do is bundle them in a manner that works on the internet. There are a few key pieces of software that you will need to get going. And yes, I'm trying to find the best, inexpensive, and yes free software available. But in the end, it will do you no good unless you know how to turn all this into money. It is like me giving you a complete set of mechanic's tools and telling you to open up a garage! You need someone to help you put the business together.

I'll tell you a secret that most of the " buy this software and make a million" promotions forget to tell you. Every successful internet business has had a mentor.

Now, you can jump in, like some of my friends, and pay $2,300 to $9,000 for time with proven teachers. But, do you have that kind of cash? Oh yes, and these guys only teach a few people at a time. Or you can go with a proven company who is designed to help people start out on the internet.

I went with the company.

The main reason I'm writing this post is that I've just been told that this company has an offer that just blew me away. Now I don't know when you are reading this, so I just hope that you can get in on this. There is an amazing price for an incredible amount of product and training. And here is the kicker.

This company will PAY YOU if you fail.

Yes that is right. OH I know this sounds spammy, but that is the standing guarantee. A full refund and $200 bucks for a failure.

Now, don't get too excited about the two hundred bucks. Try to think like a winner. What they are saying is that you can make so much money, that the $200 will not even be a temptation. Instead you will feel gratitude and be moving on to success after success.

I can't tell you how much the cost of this course is right now, because I don't know when you are reading this post. But I can tell you that the regular cost is 1/10th of the price you would pay for the cheapest coaching out there AND THEY GIVE YOU FREE SOFTWARE.

Let me summarize:

Yes people are making money online right now. Internet sales have seen aprox 3-6% increases while the rest of the market was tanking.

In order for YOU to make money online you need a business plan.

There are proven teachers and coaches. Most proven coaches cost in the thousands of dollars.

IMC costs a fraction of that, gives you free software, and pays you if you fail. Duh.

OK so why do they do this? Because they will earn more money from you as you progress in business. Think about it. If someone helped you to start earning money on the internet, don't you think you would go to them when you needed to add more software, or training into your online business? These guys are big, and are a mature company. Not some one-guy startup who needs every cent he can get from you.

I think I have flogged this horse to death. Now it is time for you to take a look and see if this works for you. You can find IMC through this link.

Hope this helps.
Colin

How to Take Advantage of the Stimulus Package

Every government is promising help through stimulus packages. BUT as of yet, nothing is coming down the pipe! Oh yes, all the big guys who made this mess happen are getting boatloads of cash, but has anyone from the bank phoned you up to tell you that your mortgage has been paid in full for the next year? Thought so.

So how can you benefit RIGHT NOW from the stimulus that never appears? Be an American.
And yes ahem, I'm Canadian.

Here is a quick background note before I give you some tips.

I was traveling recently and got a lot of the typical anti-American comments. My response was to enlighten these people on what I call the "American Genius" . We "enlightened nations" like to sit down and discuss and analyze and dissect issues. Americans like to simplify and act. This is their strength. Underneath all the bull, there has to be some simple thing you can do right now. While we are still soul searching, Americans are moving. And guess who tends to get there first?

I see the same thing happening right now. Many people are pointing fingers, or buying lottery tickets, or bolting their office chairs to the floor. But others are looking at their wallets and then looking at the horizon and planning to take action.

A bunch of money is finally going to flush through the system. It will be there and then it will be gone. Are you ready?

Have you read and done the actions steps I listed in my previous blog post? Here is the post where I tell you how to succeed in the upcoming economic times.

Also, look over and click on the "recession help" label to see other posts I have made. I've been predicting this for two years before any "experts" raised their voices. And I also said that it will be 2013 before the average family can feel secure once again. But that is typical Canadian navel gazing. Let's see what you can do right now.

Tune into the news. Listen very carefully to your politicians. Write down the buzz words they are using. They will soon have access to cash, and will want to send it to the people who have supported them. "Infrastructure" is a big broad word.

Ask yourself what it is that you are the best at. What do you love to do? Apply for training in those areas, but always be thinking about how you can slant the applicability toward your local politicians' biases.

Move forward in being the best in the field you love. And also constantly look to see how you can apply this to the current sexy trends. I know that this sounds very general, but I've been brainstorming and can come up with a number of options for every situation. The key is in reducing the problem down and then taking action. Action is the secret.

You can stare at the train coming down the track, or you can step aside and swing aboard.

Analyze, Plan, and Act.

oops my soapbox is sagging!
Colin

Increase Your Company Profits and Help Generate Jobs

If you own a business of any size. If you have a product or service. You can thrive, even in these tough times. Don't be fooled by the mass hysteria out there. While the press is scrounging up every doom and gloom story they can find, there are some people quietly multiplying their profits.

Too good to be true? Nope. I've been watching a very interesting experiment for the last month. A group of business people, mostly small business or single ownership entrepreneurs, were given an advanced copy of a special training program. They were told to report back in a couple of weeks with the results. (yes they had to work like dogs...the total training is meant to be spread out over months )

The results? Increases in business and profits in the 100%'s. And because of the condensed nature of the test, they were only able to implement a few of the features. This was done last month. It was tested in real life with real people, in the darkest pre-Obama days of doom and gloom.

I'm not going to go on and on here. If you have a business, or a product, or a service, just check this out. It is sponsored by a company with the highest reputation in the industry. And here is the kicker....they just lowered the price so that anyone can afford it.

I hate writing like this....makes me sound like some hyped up sales guy. The truth is that I've been studying Formula 5 for a while and have held back recommending it to my subscribers because of the hefty initial price tag....Yup it was a Cadillac product that was once again only going to be affordable to people who were already successful. Like all Stomper products, it was premium quality with a premium price tag. BUT THEN

Andy surprised me yesterday. Because of the recession, they are doing something to give back and help get businesses going again. They restructured the pricing so that anyone can afford this.

That means that businesses can start thriving again. More employees can be hired. Sub contractors can get work flowing to them. A business can turn from begging at the bank to choosing where to deposit and invest. Yes these guys have always been the good guys, but now they are putting their money where their mouth is.

So again, if you have a business, or a product, or a service, then just check this out.

nuff said,
Colin

Learn How to Make Money in this New Market

There is still money being made out there. And it is being made by ordinary people.
3 Simple Things can make you one of them.

First of all, a warning. This was a very hard post for me to write. What I'm going to tell you is the truth, but I also know human nature. In fact, there is a whole sales industry out there built on the fact that most people get excited and scoop up an opportunity... and then do nothing with it.

So, if you really are comfortable with your situation but simply "exploring", then please think hard about this. Maybe you are telling yourself and others one thing, but really kinda like your existing life and routine. Then the best thing you can do is acknowledge this and relax. Have fun. Enjoy your life. And let the pressures from others ( and perhaps all the subconscious scripting from your upbringing) just slide off. Reinforce your new wisdom with empirical data. Take a test, like the passion test , to get clarity on this life you have been denying. Sometimes we feel guilty about just being who we are. The great thing about the "American Way" is that everyone has the freedom to build the life they want. Too often we confuse The American Dream with being a multi millionaire, instead of simply being happy and stress free. OK rant over.

Here are the 3 things you can do to make money now:

Invest in yourself.
Be prepared to spend some money to make things happen. Now, you know me! I'm the king of the freebee and a dedicated coupon clipper. But I also know when and where to spend my money to get the most out of it. Again, here are some warnings. Don't confuse lack of money for lack of confidence. Rich Scheferen ( mentor to many Internet millionaires) has pointed this out. Everybody has access to some extra cash. You can sell some stuff on eBay. You can deliver pizzas instead of watching TV for a while ( I actually know one millionaire who did this). When you are driven, you can find a way to get extra cash. The real problem ( according to Rich) is that deep down, you really don't believe that you can turn all that pain and effort and expense into profits. And usually this is simply because you don't have a solid business plan. So, be prepared to spend some money on yourself, but do it with a clear solid plan!

Be clear on who you are.
You plan on using this outline to start making money aren't you? Then why not make money and enjoy doing it? The key to this is understanding exactly who you are. And don't worry, this won't involve years of therapy. Here is an easy checklist:

• Are you an introvert (I) or an extrovert (E)? Is it "the more the merrier" (E) or is there a timer ticking away when you are around a lot of people (I)? Introverts get energy by being alone. Extroverts need the stimulus of other people.
• Do you like hands on projects (S)? Or are you more of a concept person (N)? Which appeals to you more; accounting (S) or economics (N)?
• Are you a "Make the plan, follow the plan" (T) person? Or are you a "let's see how it goes" (F) person? Which is more important; clarity (T) or compassion (F)?
• Do you enjoy structure and order in daily life (J) ? Or do you prefer an open agenda, so as to be able to respond to whatever comes up (P)?
  

• Put together the most applicable letters from each line, and you have just given yourself a Jungian analysis. You can then plug them into Wikipedia for an analysis. (I'm an INTJ by the way )

Be realistic on what senses you use best in life. Sight, Sound, Touch, Hearing, Smell, and I'm going to include Taste (even though the purists will argue that it is part of Smell). Your primary income producing activities should involve your most dominant senses.

Take blogging for example. It really is a quiet way to spend a day. But if your dominant sense is hearing, then you will probably have the stereo and TV blasting away as well as the phone ringing off the hook. You will tell yourself that this is not interfering with your blogs; but you are only fooling yourself and are limiting your chance at success.
BUT you can still blog! Just change it into an audio blog. Do podcasts with a website only as an anchor for a sales page, links and advertising. Review music or talk shows. Get audio clips from audio books and feature them. Get everything up on iTunes. Now all your auditory ( hearing) senses are directed toward success building activities.

What? Make money just by blogging? "How can a blogger turn posts into cash?" you ask. There are a number of ways. Here is a link to an audio clip from a couple who went from broke to $70,000 in a week. Now to be honest, I doubt that this is their standard weekly income, but a lot of people would be very happy to have just a few of those weeks in a year. Just by blogging in a smart manner that fit in with their passions and abilities.

If you are interested in all the aspects of using blogging as a career, then check out my blogging article at my Website Building for Beginners web site.

But what if you have done the tests I gave you and figured out that you love working with your hands, or that you are an extrovert and need to be surrounded by people? There are scores of opportunities out there in this new marketplace. Car building may be down, but demand for licenced mechanics is at an all time high.

Do you love the hustle and bustle and the energy of crowds? Be creative. There was a local alternative medicine clinic that used to book a booth at trade shows. I noticed that the booth was always empty and that the staff had that bored "when will this day end" look on their faces. I volunteered to help, and soon the booth was so busy that the staff were begging me to stop, so that they could take a break! I did this using my skill set. I'm an introvert. Can you imagine how well an extrovert would do? And imagine if that person got a percentage of show referred bookings to the clinic!

Once you know your talents, strengths, and desires, you are on your way to a fulfilling life.

Get a Mentor!

Ah yes, I can hear that little voice in your head. "How am I going to figure out just what kind of job to search for? I don't even know where to start! He has no idea of how bad it is in my community. How can I avoid being scammed and left for broke? "

Yes it is tough in a recession/depression. I've been through two of them. During one of them, I moved to a city where there was massive unemployment and interest rates were near to 20%. People were walking away from their homes. People actually hated newcomers. Companies were so desperate to stay alive, that they used the most brutal tactics on both employees and customers. And to top all this off, I had decided to leave a career I had spent years in training for. Sound familiar? So what did I do? I found a mentor.

There are two categories of mentors.
Your first mentor will help you clarify your direction. They will help you search out possibilities you may not even know exist. And they will help you set up an action plan.

For example: Let's say you have an epiphany and realize that instead of being a clerk stuffed in an office, waiting for your layoff notice, you really want to be a mechanic. Good idea, but then an avalanche of questions come in. How do you get your licence? What training financing is available? What kind of financial plan will you need. What kind of part time jobs are available to help you in your plan? What is a realistic lifestyle you can look forward to? How will you build up a quality set of tools? Your first mentor should guide you through most of those questions.

Your second mentor will help you hone your skills. To become a mechanic you need one year of college training, and four years of apprenticeship. If you apprentice under a master you are almost guaranteed to be successful and satisfied in your new career. Sometimes the tougher the mentor the greater the reward ( I'm not talking about those sadistic egotistical b......s). There are people out there who love what they do and want to ensure that there are others following them who will produce excellent quality. Find these people and align yourself with them. I learned the most in life from foremen who demanded perfection from me....it was hard on a young ego, but boy did it pay off! Your reputation is the most valuable thing you can invest in.

ACTION PLAN

1. Get a clear understanding of what and who you are. Brainstorm with people who know you. Make it into a game. Be prepared to hear things you ( and your conditioning) have been denying.
2. Start out your career selection by being broad and general, and then gradually narrow things down. Don't throw things out just because they seem unrealistic. Look for common elements in all your choices.
3. Narrow your list to a handful of job options. Then go out and see them in action. Interview people in the field ( this will really help with guidance and contacts ). Be persistent in your investigation. Most people will refuse to see you at first. This is just their way of determining if you are serious.
   
4. Target the one job that tops your list. Now begin to investigate on who is the most successful in that job ( company, person, trainer ). There are various resources for this depending on the field. Talk to your local reference librarian, they love helping in this kind of project. Go out and talk to people who are in your chosen field. Do you like them? Can you see yourself in their shoes? This is a great way to dispel the fears that you can't possibly enter a certain career. ( I've found that surgeons are just good mechanics with excellent memories)
5. Find a mentor who will help you in your transition. Contact your local credit crisis line and find out who they have on their list of resources. If you are planning to upgrade your education, then check in with the counselling services where you plan to attend. You need a clear solid plan. You need to know how you are going to pay the bills and what steps to take to move forward. This way you can reduce a lot of stress. In frustrating times you can always check the list and be reassured.
6. Narrow down a list of possible mentors and begin to cultivate relationships with them. Do whatever it takes, even spending "volunteer" time, helping them out. And watch listen and learn. Plan to be the best you can be.

NOTE:
This advice is a bit general, but I hope you can see how it can fit into almost every area. I'm a firm believer that there is great opportunity to make money online, but you really have to love what you do. Don't grab some program that promises you instant millions. The lottery promises you the same thing. And many people go nuts staring at a computer screen for endless hours.

Be determined to find something that matches who you really are. THIS IS REALLY REALLY IMPORTANT! In hard times, people tend to grab anything that comes available. Remember your reputation is the most important thing you will ever own. The main reason people get fired is because they are working at a job that doesn't fit their innate characteristics. Have you ever been fired, or "let go"? Think about it, chances are it was because you hated being there. This even applies to those part time entry jobs. Pizza delivery is great for an introvert, but an extrovert would soon get bored and begin to find ways to goof off. A MacDonald's crew, with all the moving and calling and synchronized cooking and serving would drive an introvert nuts, but an extrovert would consider it one big dance.

Your reputation and opportunities will be built if you focus on your innate abilities. Your reputation can be easily destroyed if you try to be something you are not.

Offline ( the "real world") there is a huge transition taking place. Some jobs are ending, but many related jobs are going to expand at an exponential rate. This really is a ground floor opportunity. And the great thing about the "greying" of America, is that people can start a new adventure at any age.

There are ways to make money and enjoy your life. Hopefully this will help you get started toward that goal. Feel free to comment.

Colin

Get Needed Cash and Still Feel Proud

Take a lesson from some of the most successful people and companies.

Right now they are selling things that would ordinarily make them cry! Prime quality stocks and resources are being liquidated, simply because these are the things which can be sold right now. After all, who is going to buy some dud of a stock? And yet, when I hear these people interviewed, I don't sense any despair or see and hand wringing. All those negative things are being done by the analysts, not the people in the thick of trying to save their companies and the livelihood of their workers.

The reason for this ( if you listen carefully) is because these leaders have a long term plan. They are already looking ahead and can see their companies being successful. This is not some New Age "Secret" fueled fantasy. And these people are not heartless B......s . These are leaders who have taken their ego out of the picture and are making necessary actions to achieve a vision.

NOTE: I'm not talking about some of the people you see on the evening news. These are business leaders who are quietly making sure that North America will be back on track as soon as possible.

So what does this mean to you? Are you facing a layoff? Are you wondering just how you can survive the next few months? How to get cash fast and pay the bills? Then I suggest you do the same thing these people are doing.

Take your ego out of the picture. Be realistic in your appraisal of your situation. Don't be in denial regarding the possible future; BUT don't get caught up in the hysteria either.

Make a list of your assets and liabilities. Figure out what you can turn into cash. Check out what can be sold on ebay or kiiji or craigslist or even at the local second hand store. This can be actual physical items or intangible things like your spare time.

Your assets can also include things like health and energy. Make sure to guard your health. Take a step back and give everything in your personal world a good long second look. ( Actually Christmas time is a great time to do this. Watch "It's a Wonderful Life" and really really think things through.)

Now think ahead. My personal goal is 2013. I have a hunch that the long flat bottom will start moving up a bit around then. There will be a need for human resources. What do you have that could be in demand then? How can you further develop your strengths? What contacts will you have to have made? How will potential customers or employers find you?

Build a personal business plan with 2013 ( or whatever your personal research indicates) in mind. Now the hard cuts you make now will diminish. Sacrifices will become investments in future success. Every action you now take will become positive.

Is this all just some way of sugar coating hard times? Yes, maybe a bit. But it is also the way that smart business leaders are acting. These people are going to be successful in the new upswing. They will have the advantage. Everyone will talk about how they were " lucky" to be at the right place at the right time. Nonsense!!!! I see them getting ready right now.

Find a way to incorporate these same actions in your life.

All Markets are Showing a Strategic Pullback

This is just a quick post on the current market moves. Financial markets have been the focus of the media, but once you strip them away, there are some concerning moves in industrial and commodity markets.

It is no bit secret that big money moved into the commodity markets a few years ago as an alternative to the US dollar. They also parked some of that in other currencies. But now there are signs that big money is again on the move.

I'm going to have to take a closer look at this once I clear my plate of some other projects. ( And unfortunately, recover from another massive relapse. )

So just take this as a Heads Up signal. Start sniffing around. And get REAL worried if all you hear from "experts" is that everything is OK.

Hope to post more soon,
Colin

How to Profit from the Current Economic Crisis

This is a great solution because it incorporates all the ethical aspects of life. Not only can you profit from this recession ( or" economic crisis" ) ; It can also be the thing that transforms your life. You can come out of this with your head held high and be respected in your community. But you have to do a few simple things right now. And when I say "now" I mean RIGHT NOW. There are forces at work and there will be demand for a certain set of people, no matter where you are. In fact, the worse the situation of your area, the more valuable you will be.

Believe me on this. I predicted the current situation two years ago, right on this blog. I'm now predicting the way out for certain individuals who are ready to take action. And no, I don't want your money...I know you are fighting to survive. I want you to invest using the one commodity that is more valuable than money...time.

Let me quickly set up the scenario for you. I have been spending a lot of time gathering information from a wide spectrum of disciplines and from all over the world. I'll try to condense it down into a few sentences and then give you specific recommendations.

Economics and physics are eerily similar. Expansion leads to contraction. Entropy ( the law of decay) gives birth to rejuvenation. A vacuum attracts mass. Mass can never be destroyed, only moved.

So what does all this mean to you right now? Well, you hear stories about all the money being lost and the huge debts of corporations, individuals, and even nations. This money hasn't disappeared. To use our physics analogy, let's say that it has evaporated. It only seemed to disappear. It just transformed and moved somewhere else. Someone has this missing money! But they will not be able to hang on to it. The laws of economics/physics are at work. And because of our technology, they are working faster than ever before in history.

Now look at your situation. Do you see any money/wealth around you? No? Good. The less you see the better. Again, using the physics analogy, this means you are in an economic vacuum. When the money starts moving it will be drawn to areas with the highest economic vacuum.

NOTE: I'm going to say something very controversial right now, and prepare to be offended. But think about this. These areas will not necessarily be the traditionally impoverished areas. If the majority of the population has adapted to living on a welfare income, then there is no vacuum. The need has been met!

Investment money will be seeking areas which are in pain. It will be looking for people who acutely feel the lack. There is a good reason for this. These will be people who are ready to take action and keep that money moving. Money loves to be in continuous motion. This is one of the big signposts for economic health. Money also loves to be transformed and shaped in new and fascinating ways. It will be looking for places and people who are primed to make this happen.

NOW here is where it applies to you. I mean you the reader, right now.

Remember our physics analogy? Remember all that evaporated water? Evaporate seeks out a dust particle to cling to. This is the genesis of a raindrop, which will eventually nourish the very earth it came from. OK enough physics...let's deal with the how this affects you.

Let's look at the foreign investor who has accumulated a huge amount of money. He wants to keep it growing, and knows that the only way is to put it back into the marketplace. (The time for building up reserves and hoarding is almost over. ) This is a great time for the cash rich. The western world is on sale.

But there is a problem. Where specifically to put the money? Remember the big Asian Tiger boom a while back? People knew there was opportunity in Asia and blindly tossed fortunes into that marketplace. And most people, and corporations, lost most of what they invested. The current wealth holders know this. They will be looking for practical, solid investments.

So what does this have to do with you? You are struggling to make your house payments, or perhaps have been forced to walk away and cram your family in some dinky rental. The paycheck is stretched. You keep listening to rumours to see if your job or even your company is safe. Your kids are demanding all the activities and toys and clothes that they have been used to. Your pride is taking a beating. You feel vulnerable.

What can you do to protect your future?

Answer: Become a desired commodity. Become that speck of dust. Become an accredited knowledge source.

Why? Because the people coming into your community to invest will be looking for practical knowledge. They will want to connect with someone who knows the history, the people, the politics, and all the little hidden things that some outside researcher can't glean from the Internet. This works for investments large and small.

Think about it. Every community has some spot that is cursed. You've probably seen them. Business after business goes in and goes bankrupt. A lot of times, it is not because of the location, but rather because of the history. The local people have just been conditioned to avoid anything that sets up shop there.

I'll give you a personal example. I lived in a city that was listed as having the highest amount of money on deposit per capita. We would watch businesses come to town with the latest and trendiest restaurants. They soon closed their doors. The busiest restaurant was a family run operation that sold cheap traditional meals and gave about two pounds of hash browns on every plate. The town was mostly made up of retired farmers who watched every penny and loved to go home with a full stomach and a doggy bag. A lot of investment money was lost because the trendy businesses used outside statistical analysts and the advice of sale hungry Realtors.

Here is my advice for your action plan:

• Get involved in your community. Attend council meetings. Write opinion letters in your local papers. Go to planning board hearings. Walk along your local streets and get to know owners and customers. Hang out in public places and listen to conversations ( listening is the key). Attend, and take your kids, to every fair or celebration or whatever that is going on.
  
• Start building a list of resources that your community has. Get a clear picture of the advantages in every area. Be able to describe the personality of your community. Start a Rolodex. Make it a hobby to collect names and cards. See the potential that is around you.
• Get active on the Internet. Post your opinion on blogs and forums. Use your real name! Start a website ( I show you how to do this for the price of a movie on my other blog www.websitebuildingforbeginners.com ). Learn how to use a few tools which will make you an expert on your local area. Build a website about your community, and one as a professional site, and then attach a blog to them.
  
• Volunteer to stand on community feedback committees.

Now this may sound like I'm setting you up for politics, but I'm not. I'm telling you how to build a reputation as a trusted information source for an appealing investment area. Reputation is going to be the new commodity. We are passing from the information age into the age of trustworthiness. It is not just what you know, or who you know, but who you can trust. Guard your reputation. Build it by helping and participating and carefully advising and recommending. Soon you will be the "Go To" person.

The End Result:

• You will have a lot more friends.
• Your life will be full and interesting.
• You will be a sounding board for your community.
• You will be an acknowledged expert and resource.
• You will attract the attention of anyone interested in your community.

You can now set yourself up in a variety of roles. You can be a consultant. You can be a skills broker. You can use you present skills and contract out using referrals given by all these new contacts. Etc etc. You now have a panorama of opportunities. And the best part is that you can stay in your community and have it feel more like home that it ever has.

This has been a long post. I'll end it here. Don't dismiss what I have written. As I said, this is a condensed version of a huge mass of information and investigative intelligence. I've tried to put it into practical actionable terms. That is my mission.

I would also appreciate it if you sent a link to this article to your friends across the country. There is so much doom and gloom in the press. They are ignoring the great potential these times are bringing.

Colin

Become a Tycoon

Now here is something to run through your values filter..... Let me tell you about a conversation I had over the weekend.

We were walking along the harbour in Bellingham Washington ( one of the most beautiful places in the Northwest) and I was telling my friends about the alarming statistics I had been hearing and how they could be used to create opportunities.

US consumer confidence is plunging as people see their property values decline, debt increase, energy costs increase, and jobs become unstable. The "Experts" out there are still telling us ( the great unwashed) that there is no need to panic. But, as I've said before, the fund managers are filling up their cash reserves, buying bonds, and picking through their equity portfolios like grandma at the day-old bakery rack! Of course, if you have had to put up with my rants over the past few months, none of this should surprise you. But one statistic really made me stop everything I was doing for a while.

I heard an analyst calmly mention that the banks were getting ready for a 34% default rate in mortgages. 34%???? I'm not sure just how calm I would be if I was a loans officer looking at that in my portfolio. But the Powers That Be all consider this to be a great thing. This morning I just heard another analyst praise the Fed for "cooling down the housing market" through interest rate hikes.

So what do these people know that we don't know? Well, they know how to use other peoples' pain for their profit. Where do you think all that hoarded cash is going to go when people start defaulting on loans and start walking away from their homes? "Honey, meet the new landlord!"


Oh yes, the newspapers will be filled with experts telling you how that housing property is one of the worst investments you can make, etc., etc......... but somebody will be buying up all those properties and renting them out until the market improves. This is what the tycoons of the great depression did. This is what Donald did. This is probably what Oprah is doing since she has made it clear that one of her favorite hobbies is buying property. So why don't you get ready to do the same thing?

IMPORTANT UPDATE ( 26/03/2010):
As you know, everything I wrote above has come true.  There are now indicators that a second wave of opportunity will be coming.  The forclosure system is plugged up because of political interferance.  People who have been given extensions are now back in default status.  The politicians will not touch this sensetive area until after the elections....if then.  It is your opportunity to get some planning and pull together a trusted team of advisors.

And now for something even more frightening and of course an opportunity for people who will act:
Pensions are at risk.  People have been using their houses as live in pension plans.  Also they have been lulled into believing that "buy and forget it" mutual fund pension savings will provide future income.  Politicians are once again basing policy on backward looking data.  There is a way forward but that will have to wait for another blog post.  

Now back to our walk along the harbour:

My friends looked disgusted when I suggested this. It was Not Ethical to prey upon the misfortune of others!

I asked them to step back and look at the big picture.

Picture a family who is being squeezed out of their current situation. They gambled on good times being there forever. Now things are tight and they have to step back for a while. What if someone could take away their biggest debt burden and still give them a nice place to live?

When things got better, this family could get back in the housing market without all the problems associated with bankruptcy or the health problems that come with severe stress. Yes they might be a bit bruised from the experience, but they would be back on track. And the person who bought the house during the depressed market would be rewarded for keeping the property in good shape and showing a strong faith in the future of the nation.

Does that sound so bad? Well, that is for you, and my friends to think about and decide.


My friends then began asking....." What is the best way to take advantage of this situation? What do you need to know? Who can you trust? Where can you get the money if you are in the same boat as the people who are losing their homes?????" Question after Question poured out.

My answer is to go to people who specialize in this area, and in ordinary people.

One lady I've been watching for a while is Laura Langemeier. She has a unique system which should work in the upcoming economic environment. Of course she has had some spectacular successes in the past; but the strength of her system is it's adaptability to changing variables. She has a book out, as well as seminars. You might start your exploration with her.




Laura also emphasizes team work. And I agree. If I were to try to take advantage of a soft real estate market, I would team up with professionals.

One trick to finding more information is to look at the amazon page which features Laura's book and then see what other items people have bought.  There have been comments on "being suckered into buying her course".  Don't get suckered into anything.  Do your own research and then see what fits for YOU.

 But that is another post I guess. I've had a few emails telling me that I'm a bit long winded. Oh well......

'til next time

Colin

eBay Your Way Through the Upcoming Recession

eBay and Google are fast becoming my favorite online businesses. They have proven that they are nimble and responsive ( I have just switched over to Google's Blogger beta and have an account with gmail, spreadsheets online, calendar, etc etc). eBay has adjusted fees, weeded out the bad guys, produced reports and tools to help everyone, from the budding entrepreneur, to the garage sale neophyte. And I believe these are the kind of partners to have to easily ride out the upcoming recession.

Oh yes, a recession is not just coming, it is probably here. The big money guys are trying to find a nice name for it. So they have called it " a well executed soft landing in a predictable business cycle". But just like that guy doing the old shell game, the thing you have to do is forget what he is saying and keep your eyes on the pea.......and right now all the big money managers are putting their money into cash and consumer staple stocks ( things people HAVE to buy regardless of how bad things get). Well that's the bad news, and now for the good news.

When the money gets tight, people will be looking for the best place to get deals. People are still going to want to buy things.....they have been conditioned to be consumers. It is a bigger sport than anything out there! And eBay has proven itself to be the place to go for the best prices. eBay has done a lot to earn the trust of the consumer. Just check out some of their announcements. They work hard to stay on top of things. They appreciate everyone who comes in their virtual doors.


Let me give you an example. I am looking for a camcorder. I checked at a shop up the street, and the best price I could get for the specs I wanted was $699. I did a quick check on eBay and found one going for $134!

People are getting wise to this! And eBay is becoming the destination of choice. And the auction process puts some fun into the process. And the best part is that eBay is trying their hardest to make it easy to set up business.

Click on the Ebay Banner in the sidebar, and then check out the selling resources eBay has set up. And yes there are courses on "how to be a power seller", but first of all try cleaning out the attic or basement to learn how the machinery works. Yes there are ways to make it big, but first find out what areas ignite your latent passions.

For now, here is your action plan:

• Click on the Ebay box at the side of the page.
• Register yourself. It is free and safe ( no spam or annoying emails)!
  
• Go to the "Learning Center" link on the main page ( it should be near the bottom of the main body)
• Have fun going through the Quick Start tutorial and watch some of the videos ( I told you eBay was doing everything they could to help you be successful!)
• Join some of the communities to get even more tips and help from successful sellers.
  

Have fun!

Colin