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4. March 2011 09:14
Increase Your Odds of Living to 100
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Would you like to live to be 100? Here are a few ways to increase your odds, courtesy of the experts at Rodale Publishing.
- Live at a higher altitude. Researchers in Switzerland found that people living at high altitude had a 22 percent lower risk of dying of heart disease. That's because thinner air at higher elevations means more UV rays from the sun, which boost the production of heart-healthy vitamin D. Most experts point out that 77 percent of North Americans are vitamin-D deficient, which can lead to bone disorders and heart disease. So, eat more D-rich foods, like tuna and wild salmon, and talk to your doctor about taking a supplement.
- Another tip for living to 100: Breathe cleaner air. People living in cities with relatively good air quality live about one year longer than people in more-polluted areas. A study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that dirty air can trigger inflammatory reactions, and even mild inflammation can contribute to heart disease. So, avoid exercising near streets. You’ll be exposed to extra pollution from passing vehicles, and you’ll inhale more of it because you’re breathing deeply.
- Lastly: Accept your age. Researchers in Germany asked people how they felt about their age. Those who were comfortable with it lived about two years longer than those who were bothered by it. Partly because people who are content are more likely to exhibit healthy behavior, and people who compare themselves with their younger selves are often disappointed and stressed by the changes. Instead: Compare yourself with your contemporaries. Plenty of them will be worse off than you – and those who are better off will provide inspiration.
© The Tesh Media Group 2006-2010, All Rights Reserved
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3. March 2011 08:37
Derek Fisher: Faith, Family and Hard Work
A leader in the NBA, Derek Fisher proves his life is much more than basketball.
Roger Brooks
It’s rare for a basketball player to get a standing ovation for merely showing up to a game, especially when he doesn’t arrive until midway through the third quarter. But that’s exactly what happened in Game 2 of the NBA’s 2007 Western Conference Semifinal matchup between the Utah Jazz and the Golden State Warriors.
The Jazz, playing at home, were down in the game, struggling to overcome key players’ injuries and foul trouble. That’s when Derek Fisher trotted out of the Jazz locker room. The cheers erupted as he entered, reaching a crescendo as fans threatened to tear the roof off of Energy Solutions Arena in Salt Lake City. No one expected Fisher to play in the game. No one expected him even to be in Salt Lake City, let alone the arena. Just that afternoon, he and wife Candace had been in a New York City hospital, waiting for word on their baby daughter, who was undergoing a risky experimental treatment for cancer.
To understand how Fisher defied the odds and everyone’s expectations, you first must understand his views on basketball, leadership and family, and the principles he lives by.
Today, Fisher is a clutch performer, who won five championships while playing alongside Kobe Bryant in two stints with the Los Angeles Lakers. He’s often credited as the leader and glue of one of the most volatile teams in the league.
Fisher’s first eight years in the NBA were with the Lakers. His second stint with L.A. came later—after asking the Jazz to let him out of his contract. Not for money. Not to chase trophies; the Jazz was a contender. No, Fisher put his career and reputation on the line for his family. Those who knew him weren’t surprised.
Success comes from the ability to handle failure and mistakes."
A Solid Foundation
Long before the glitz and glory of an NBA career, Fisher was a typical kid growing up with loving parents and a big brother and sister in Little Rock, Ark. “My mom introduced us to faith and God, and what that means. That’s a foundation for me that will never leave,” Fisher says. “Second [is] my family and the things that come with supporting my family, not just financially, but as a husband, father, brother, son and cousin. I know I represent them in everything I do, and so keeping my family really close to my heart is something that helps me make smart decisions.”
As a youth, Fisher played basketball, football, baseball and soccer, as well as trumpet in the band, and participated in speech and debate. No matter what he was doing, Fisher went all out. When his dad woke him up before sunrise so he could run hills wearing a weighted flak jacket in the stifling Arkansas humidity, he didn’t complain. “I understood at a young age that, no matter what it was I was doing, it took an extremely large amount of work to be good at it,” he says. “I carried that thought through my whole life. I want to be good; I want to be the best I can be.”
Fisher’s appetite for self-improvement remained unquenched—as an eager student at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, where he had a stellar basketball career, and today. “I don’t wake up very many days and not want to do something… even if it’s just reading a book or watching something that’s motivating, inspirational or paradigm shifting; I want to be improving myself,” he says.
He took inspiration from positive influences, such as supportive family, coaches and teachers, as well as negative influences “because success comes from the ability to handle failure and mistakes,” he says.
And there were plenty of obstacles along the way. As his career was taking off, he broke his foot; then after months of rehab, when he was ready to return to basketball, he broke it again. Doubt about his NBA future crept in. Instead of moping, Fisher changed the way he trained, ate and even rested. He’s since been one of the more durable guards in the league.
Unwavering Commitment
His determination and character attract his teammates. Knowing how I strive to be a person of integrity, honor and respect off the court allows me to build solid relationships with teammates and not have to be someone else to get to know them better,” Fisher says. “I think the people you’re trying to get to follow you have to see you’re unwavering in your strength, positive attitude and ability to fight through adversity and struggles. That’s something I take pride in: my ability to keep a still chin even when things aren’t going great.”
Keeping a still chin would be a test during the trying days leading up to that playoff game in 2007. As Fisher headed through the crowd to get to the court, the thunderous applause broke over him like waves. He teared up, politely acknowledging the crowd.
Internally, everything he had learned—perseverance, faith, determination—was under siege. Just days earlier, his 11-month-old daughter Tatum had been diagnosed with retinoblastoma, a rare and aggressive cancer of the eye. The family struggled to get educated, find the right doctors and examine the options. The most common course of treatment was removal of the eye.
Basketball became background noise for Fisher. “The decisions were hard, but sometimes the harder the decision, the greater the focus,” he says. “My wife and I were very focused on making the right decisions for our daughter, not for us.”
As the day of Game 2 dawned, Fisher and his family were in New York City, where they found doctors who had performed experimental form of chemotherapy that could save the eye and, hopefully, push the cancer into remission. Doctors asked Fisher whether he wanted to postpone the surgery until after the playoff game. “Absolutely not,” was his answer. “Just do what’s best for my child.”
Keeping Priorities in Check
As they flew back to Salt Lake City late that afternoon, it was too early to tell whether the procedure had been successful. “I hadn’t even thought much about basketball,” he says. “I wasn’t sure I could even physically or mentally concentrate enough to help the team.”
But with his daughter stabilized, his fire to compete burned again. Once on the court, Fisher made a key steal to send the game into overtime. As the extra frame came to a close, Fisher nailed a threepoint basket to seal the win. Spent but satisfied, he left the arena a hero.
Three weeks later, his family got the word: Tatum’s surgery was successful. But she needed follow-up care from highly trained specialists, and there were none in Salt Lake City. Fisher made the painful decision to ask for his release in the hopes of signing with a team in a city where specialists were available.
When he re-signed with the Lakers, Jazz fans and some in the media questioned his motives, but Fisher never wavered. His daughter’s health and his family’s well-being were paramount.
Last summer, Tatum and her twin sister celebrated their 4th birthdays with a small gathering of close friends and family. Fisher and his wife are careful not to use the word “remission,” but they’re confident and hopeful they caught the cancer in time.
Confidence is something Fisher never lacks. Many might wear such a trait in an off-putting way, but Fisher’s belief in himself is more engaging than cocky. “Our success is not defi ned by external forces. Our success is defined by ourselves and our spirit, our heart, our faith. There isn’t anyone on Earth who can impact that or change it. It’s up to us individually to be successful.”
One last winning shot from a guy who knows how to sink them.
by
3. March 2011 08:33
When J-O-B Is a Four-Letter Word and How to
Change That
In his bestselling book The Three Signs of a Miserable Job, Patrick Lencioni quotes a Gallup poll finding that 70 percent of American workers don’t like their jobs. According to Lencioni, “The primary source of job misery and the potential cure for that misery resides in the hands of one individual—the direct manager.”
Three conditions that create a miserable job:
1. Anonymity or “the feeling that employees get when they realize their manager has little interest in them as a human being.”
2. Irrelevance, which takes root when employees cannot see how their job makes a difference in the lives of others.
3. “Immeasurement,” which is the inability of employees to assess for themselves their contribution or success.
Three ways to avoid job burnout and make yourself happy at work:
1. Use Trapped Downtime. If you’re at risk of burnout from boredom, find ways to fill trapped downtime with something enriching or uplifting. Fill your MP3 player with a good book or advice from a personal-development expert for when you’re stuck in traffic on the way to work. Read about trends in your industry and examples of how your job, your company and your industry are making a real difference in others’ lives. And we know you’re guilty of it because we are too, but don’t eat lunch at your desk. Get out to exercise, socialize, attend a brown-bag seminar or other way to enrich yourself.
2. Start Saying No. (But Do It Politely.) You know your workload and capacity best, so when you’re in danger of burnout from overwork, start saying no. Determine your highest priorities and make progress on those first. Achieving checkmarks on your priority list will give you something measurable to appreciate and invigorate you for new projects down the road.
3. Show Your Human Side. You’re not a robot, so quit trying to be. When something seems unethical, speak up. When something seems counterproductive, offer a solution. When something whole-heartedly tanks your job morale, share your concerns. When managers see your more personable side, they may break past seeing you as just another employee and view you as a conscientious, dedicated professional.
Read more from Patrick Lencioni and dysfunctional teams on SUCCESS.com
by
2. March 2011 07:49
How many times a day do you pass a homeless person on the street – lying in a doorway – or sitting at a bus stop? The number of American families without a home has shot up 30% since 2007. You obviously can’t give them your cash every time you pass by – but there are some easy ways to help.
- First go through your coat closet and pull out anything you’re not using anymore, or your family has outgrown. You can donate them to OneWarmCoat.org. It’s a charity that supports coat drives for the homeless across the country.
- You could also volunteer at a local shelter with your family. Click on HomelessShelterDirectory.orgto learn what’s needed near you. They may need help sorting donations or making sandwiches in the kitchen.
- Here’s something you may not have thought of: The homeless often need items we take for granted – like clean socks and underwear. That’s why Socks-n-Undies.org sprang up. They’ve delivered more than 50,000 undergarments to the homeless in two years. Go to SocksNUndies.org.
- If you don’t have much to give, you can donate $5 right now by texting STANDUP to 85944. That’s Stand Up for Kids, a nonprofit that combs the streets helping homeless kids and runaways under age 25. They’re expanding to five more cities this year.
- If you have a little more to give, $35 will buy a blanket and clean set of sheets for a homeless child through Covenant House. That organization cares for more than 70,000 homeless kids nationwide. That’s CovenantHouse.org.
- If you have no money to give – but a computer with an internet connection – go to ClickToGive.com. Every time you click the “Click To Give” button, the site’s sponsors will donate to the National Alliance to End Homelessness. How easy is that?
© The Tesh Media Group 2006-2010, All Rights Reserved
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2. March 2011 07:46
No Room for Excuses by Ron White
“The rich get richer and the poor get poorer.” You have heard it a million times. However, my guess is that you have never heard it from the mouth of the “rich.” Instead, this echo has most likely bounced to your ear with its origins being an excuse. That’s right... an excuse. Excuses are what many use to pacify their guilt of not accomplishing what they are capable of.
I am not suggesting that wealth is success. My inference is that success is the progressive realization of predetermined worthwhile goals. It may be something as simple as raising a family.
What do these names have in common?
Richard Nixon
Gerald Ford
Jimmy Carter
Ronald Reagan
Bill Clinton
They were all president of the United States, right? They were all the most powerful man in the world at one point. However, I am looking for something else.
Richard Nixon was born in the home his father built. He won an award from Harvard his senior year of high school. However, his family was unable to afford his leaving home for college. He instead attended Whittier College.
Gerald Ford was born as Leslie Lynch King Jr. In 1913 his mother left her abusive husband and took her son to live with her parents. She met Gerald R. Ford, whom she married and he gave her child his name Gerald Rudolph Ford Jr. He was the only president to be adopted. Ford worked in his stepfather’s paint and varnish store growing up. He coached boxing during college to afford his tuition.
Jimmy Carter was the first member of his family ever to go to college and his father was a peanut farmer.
Ronald Reagan was the son of an alcoholic traveling shoe salesman. He worked his way into show business by broadcasting baseball games. At the age of 40, he was divorced and his career was at a dead end.
Bill Clinton was born William Jefferson Blythe IV. His father (a traveling salesman) died in an automobile accident three months before he was born. His mother married Roger Clinton and Bill took that name. Clinton grew up in a turbulent family. His stepfather was a gambler and alcoholic who regularly abused his wife, and sometimes Clinton’s half brother Roger.
None of these men were born into wealth and prosperity, yet they each achieved the rank of most powerful person in the world by working hard and not making excuses. These five presidents were born into normal families who struggled. Yet, they refused to use that as an excuse.
Life is too short to make excuses. Set your goals and pursue them. If you have been dealt a “worse” hand than another, it may indeed be a gift that teaches you the value of hard work. Your story will be richer and your success sweeter when you achieve your dreams. Maybe one day I will cast a vote for you as president of the United States!
by
28. February 2011 08:54
Doing your taxes is never fun, but it just got a whole lot easier, thanks to your smart phone! So throw away the shoeboxes full of receipts, because here are the five best new tax apps for smart-phones:
- First, IRS-2-Go. This app comes directly from the IRS and it lets you track the status of your return. You can find out when your refund will be coming in the mail and sign up for tax tips. The best part is: it’s totally free.
- Next tax app is called Tax Organizer. This app will cost you about $15 a month but it’s great for business owners. You can snap a picture of every receipt with your smart phone and send it straight to your accountant. The app will arrange them chronologically and store them in case of an audit.
- If you just can’t wait for tax time, and want to know your estimated refund right NOW, there’s Tax Caster Mobile. You can enter your basic info, like your income and deductions, and the app will tell you how much you’re likely to owe or receive. It’s good too for when you start a new job or buy a house; you can check to see how that’ll affect your taxes.
- Then there’s I-Donated-It. This app was created by a group of CPAs. For under three bucks, it allows you to snap a photo every time you drop a bag off at the Goodwill or donate a car. Then it keeps a list of everything you donated, when and where you did it and emails it straight to your accountant. That way if you’re ever audited you have some backup.
- The final tax-app doesn’t have a cutesy name it’s called THE DICTIONARY OF TAX TERMS. The tax code is full of all sorts of confusing legalese. This app has definitions for more than 600 of those words. So if you’re doing your own taxes you don’t get bogged down in mumbo-jumbo. It’s a lot of clarification for not a lot of money; this app is only a buck-ninety nine.
© The Tesh Media Group 2006-2010, All Rights Reserved
by
25. February 2011 07:51
Enforce the move-out rules
Q: What are the tenant's responsibilities for cleaning after moving out? Is it acceptable for them to leave trash and unwanted household goods behind? As a landlord, what legal rights do I have to enforce the proper cleaning of my property?
A: This is a very important question and a concern of all landlords. This is also one area where, with some advance notice and preparation, you can have a positive impact on your experience as a landlord.
No, it is not acceptable for your tenant to leave the rental unit full of trash and unwanted household items, and that is the simple answer to your question. But it is my opinion and experience that you can take steps to make this a more likely scenario than you might think.
I know there are some unethical landlords who actually want their tenants to leave the rental unit in less-than-perfect condition. They don't mind because they can then charge the tenant excessive fees for basic cleaning and simple repairs.
Some sneaky landlords will even upgrade the rental unit and improperly charge the tenant for work. I have heard of landlords who brag that they "never have returned a security deposit." This is wrong, and luckily those landlords are very few in number, but they make a bad name for all landlords.
So now that I have disparaged those few bad landlords, let me compliment you again for wanting to know how you can actually make minimal or even no deductions from the tenant's security deposit.
It starts at the time the tenant first visits your rental property as a prospect, and is reinforced at the time of move-in, by explaining your policies and procedures for handling the disposition of the security deposit. You also need to let them know your expectations about cleaning and repairs upon move-out.
It is the law of most states that your tenants need to return the rental unit in the same or better condition than when they moved in, except for normal wear and tear. Also, the cleanliness of the rental unit is not usually subject to wear-and-tear allowances so that means that if the tenant brought in any dirt during the tenancy then they must remove it before they vacate.
I think it is also very important to let your tenants know you are in the business of providing them with a clean and well-maintained rental unit at the time they move in. Of course, it is their responsibility, not yours, to keep the rental unit clean during the tenancy. But you retain responsibility for proper maintenance and repairs.
You should encourage them to contact you via phone or e-mail immediately, as you want to be made aware if there are any problems or concerns while they live there. Tell them that you will be glad to promptly investigate any items needing repair or replacement. You may be able to fix a problem when it is small and less expensive to address.
But you are also communicating to your new tenant that you want the rental unit to be in great condition during their tenancy and upon move-out. This lets your tenant know that you care about the condition of your property and could even be beneficial to discourage prospective tenants who know they aren't likely to keep the unit in good order.
Q: I've lived on the second floor of a multiunit apartment complex for 11 years. I have a new neighbor who just moved and who frequently smokes cigarettes right in front of my apartment on the common-area porch. His cigarette smoke comes through my windows and bothers me.
I work out and try to stay healthy, and I have a major aversion to secondhand smoke. I have asked him not to smoke in front of my apartment. If he continues to do so, do I have a valid complaint to approach my landlord?
A: Yes. I suggest you contact your landlord with a cordial written note or e-mail just like the one you sent to me. Check with your landlord on smoking restrictions for tenants. There are state laws that allow landlords to restrict smoking in common areas and even within individual rental units.
Playing music or even listening to television at very high volume is something that can disturb other tenants, and landlords and/or law enforcement can respond and seek a resolution to that behavior, too.
Smoking certainly is regulated in many areas of our day-to-day life: on airplanes, in restaurants and in many public places. The restriction on smoking in the common areas of apartment communities is becoming quite popular in many parts of the country, too. And many communities are offering smoke-free rental units and common areas.
If your landlord is unwilling to take your side in this matter, and you unfortunately have to relocate after 11 years, then I suggest you check online, as there are many apartment communities that will offer smoke-free apartments.
One of the first in the country is the "Smokefree Apartment House Registry" in the Los Angeles area, run by Esther Schiller. See her website at www.smokefreeapartments.org for links to other registries throughout the country.
By Robert Griswold
Inman News™
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25. February 2011 07:43
You're sound asleep when you hear the wail of your home's smoke alarm. A fire has started somewhere in your home, smoke begins to fill the rooms, and you have only minutes -- maybe seconds -- to get everyone out safely.
It's a scenario that none of us ever want to think about. But it happens with surprising regularity. The U.S. Fire Administration reports that once every minute there's a fire in an American home that's severe enough to report to the fire department.
An average of 2,600 people die every year in house fires in the U.S. -- that's one person every three hours -- and an average of 13,000 people are injured.
Smoke alarms
Obviously, one of the most important things you can do to protect yourself is to install smoke alarms. They're inexpensive and easy to install, and no home should be without an adequate number of them.
You should have one outside the door of each room where people sleep, and a minimum of one detector centrally located on each floor of the house. Once installed, be sure the batteries are changed once a year -- pick a specific day of the year, and mark it on the calendar!
Plan your escape
Another critically important thing for you and your family is to plan an escape route. This is something for the entire family to be involved with, since it's the best way to ensure that everyone gets out safely. Here are some tips for devising your escape plan:
Leave immediately: Your home's contents can be replaced -- you can't. If you're alerted to a fire in your home, get out immediately. Don't stop to gather any belongings. Don't even stop to call 9-1-1 -- you can do that with a cell phone from outside, or from a neighbor's house.
You can't always depend on the door: You won't always be able to use the room's main door to escape during a fire, so take that into consideration when doing your escape planning. Look at two different ways to escape from any room.
If a room has two doors, practice your escape from each of them, in case one is blocked. If there's only one door, your next means of escape will be a window, so understand how to escape from each of the room's windows -- directly onto the ground, onto an adjacent roof or deck, or with the aid of an escape ladder.
In the event of a fire, if the door to the room you're in is closed, feel it before opening it. Use the back of your hand, and touch the top of the door or the doorknob to see if it's hot. If it feels cool, open it slowly and check for smoke. If heat and smoke come in, close the door immediately and use an alternate exit.
Know the route: Whatever exit you use from the room, know where that exit will lead you. No matter how well you know your house, during the heat, smoke, and chaos of a fire it's easy to become confused and disoriented -- especially at night. Everyone in the family needs to know and practice the escape route from each room all the way to the exterior of the house.
Plan on a meeting spot: Decide on a specific, easily recognized meeting spot outside the house where everyone can gather. It might be the end of the driveway, in front of a neighbor's, or some other location. Be sure that everyone in your family knows the spot, and that they immediately assemble there.
This is the fastest way to know that everyone's out safely, and to prevent unnecessary injuries from going back into the home to look for someone who's already out.
Escape ladders
A window is the normal escape route to use if the door to a room is blocked by fire. But if you live in a multistory house, using the window on an upper floor is obviously dangerous without a ladder. So for every upstairs sleeping room, you should have an escape ladder ready in the event of an emergency, and each family member needs to know how to deploy and use it.
The simplest type of ladder is one that hooks over the window sill. Open the window, hook the ladder in place, toss the rungs out of the window, and climb down. Ladders of this type typically cost in the $30 to $50 range.
There's a couple of disadvantages to this type of ladder, however. Because no one expects to use it, it gets stored away, and has to be found during the chaos of the fire. Also, many of these are single-use ladders, so there's no opportunity to practice with them.
In my opinion, a much better alternative is a permanently installed escape ladder, such as Werner's new Built-In Fire Escape Ladder ($99 for a two-story model, $139 for three-story). This type of ladder is installed in a can in the wall, directly under the escape window, so it's unobtrusive but always in place when you need it.
The Warner escape ladder is very easy to install, and comes with a clear and well-illustrated instruction booklet. It's basically a matter of cutting hole in the drywall between two studs -- the can is designed for mounting between studs on 16-inch centers -- and bolting the can in place. The escape ladder folds up and stores in the can, and a wood door, which can be painted or wallpapered to match the room, covers the can.
One distinct advantage to the Werner ladder, in addition to always being where you can find it, is that it's reusable. This allows each family member the opportunity to practice opening, deploying and climbing down the ladder. The can also can be used as a step to help you get out of the window, and there's a built-in assist strap, which gives you something to hang onto when you first start the climb.
Where to find what you need
Escape ladders, both permanent and single-use, are available at many home centers, hardware stores and online retailers such as Amazon. Smoke detectors and batteries are available from any home center, hardware store, department store and other retailers, as well as online.
By Paul Bianchina
Inman News™
by
24. February 2011 08:48
It takes time to build a corporate work of art. It takes time to build a life. And it takes time to develop and grow. So give yourself, your enterprise, and your family the time they deserve and the time they require.
Americans are incredibly impatient. Someone once said that the shortest period of time in America is the time between when the light turns green and when you hear the first horn honk.
The twin killers of success are impatience and greed.
How long should you try? Until.
Some people plant in the spring and leave in the summer. If you’ve signed up for a season, see it through. You don’t have to stay forever, but at least stay until you see it through.
by
23. February 2011 13:05
Who Is Really in Charge? by Jim Rohn
(Editor’s note: Today in the United States, we celebrate President’s Day, in recognition of the February birthdates of George Washington and Abraham Lincoln. The article which follows is excerpted from an essay Jim Rohn wrote after a U.S. Presidential election.)
Every four years we Americans participate in this grand experiment called America and we elect a president to lead us. That of course spurs lots of different opinions and positions and people can become emotionally involved with the outcome.
One thing that I always find fascinating in all elections, but especially the presidential elections, are the many promises that candidates make to the electorate. They promise to make the economy better and to make health care more affordable for the masses. They promise to make the taxes better and to create jobs.
As I think about this, I want to challenge you to consider that while presidents may have a general effect on your circumstances, they do not have a specific effect on your circumstances. Let me explain: While they may play a role in what direction the stock market goes, they do not have an effect on how an individual stock goes, or on whether or not you can make money in the stock market. So, while we certainly should vote and participate in the process, we must understand that no single person—other than you—will have an effect on what your individual life outcome is.
Let me give you some more examples:
A president may promise a better economy, but you determine your economy. They may affect whether the dollar gains strength or loses it, but you determine what your financial position is going to be. The fact is that even in the worst economies, including recessions and depressions, there are those who will continue to thrive and even become extremely wealthy. In the Great Depression, there were countless people who, because of their individual efforts, became millionaires. So, no matter what the economy is nationally, you can become wealthy in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.
A president may promise to create jobs, but the only person who is going to create YOUR job is you! You determine whether or not you have a job. The president doesn’t, the economy doesn’t, and the industry doesn’t. No matter how bad things get, there are always those who have good-paying jobs. You choose what kind of person you will be, and how valuable you will make yourself to the marketplace, and thus, what kind of job you will have. So, no matter what the job situation is nationally, you can have any job you want in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.
A president may promise to do something about taxes, but no matter what the tax rate is, you can still build your personal wealth. Much of my wealth came to me when we still had extremely exorbitant tax rates. I have often said that if you want to be a millionaire and the tax rate is 50%, then just make two million. You determine how much you will have left after taxes, not the government. If you don’t like what you have left, make more. Now, am I saying we shouldn’t work to lower tax rates? No, but I am saying that we can be in control of our own lives regardless of the tax rate. So, no matter what the tax rate is, you can earn more money in the next four years. You don’t have to wait for anyone.
A president may promise to make your health care available to you, but you can make health care available to yourself! It isn’t that people can’t afford it. It is that you can’t afford it. What is the answer to that? The empowering answer is to do what it takes to put yourself in a financial and career situation wherein it doesn’t matter what the cost is, because you can afford it. Again, I am not saying that we shouldn’t work to make health care affordable for people, but when you leave it in the hands of someone else, then you make yourself dependent upon them, rather than becoming independent.
The fact is that you control your life. You control your destiny. You chart your course. Those we elect are not the givers of our financial lives. I sometimes think that many people think that if we can just get the “right” person elected, then their lives will suddenly take a turn for the better. Not true. You determine the outcome of your life.
Fortunes will be made in the next four years, no matter what. Some people will join the ranks of millionaires. That is amazing. The only question you have to ask is whether or not you will be one of them. People with high skills will always be in demand for high-paying jobs. People who have a superb product or service to offer will always be in demand.
Did you vote? That’s great—we should as our civic duty. But the most important thing is not whether your candidate won or lost, but what kind of decision you will make about your own life, your own career, and your own financial situation, no matter who is in office.
Do that, and the world is yours for the taking.
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