Find another industry.  You work in the steel industry or for a newspaper, video rental, tobacco or clothing company, consider packing your bags because technology and foreign competition are killing these industries.   Forget the wishful thinking and the politicians empty promises.  Get off the ship.

Can’t or won’tCan’t or won’t

Find another place to live.  Some industry towns are dying.  Some poorly managed states are mired in debt. Some regions are economically depressed and show little hope for timely recovery.  The surroundings may be comfortable and familiar.  You may have local friends and extended family.  However, your first obligation is to your immediate family and your financial future.  Maybe, you should seize the moment, pack the van and relocate to where the opportunites abound.

Can’t or won’t

Find another company.  You are in a growth industry working for a static company.   Your vocational skills are underutilized by management.  You work for a jerk who will not be fired.  There are good jobs at good companies working for good managers.  Research.  Network.  Find them.

Can’t or won’t

The best person to work for is yourself.  Research fields in which you have interests.  There are 5,000 different types of businesses.  Find people who are already doing what you want to do.  Make these people your mentors.

Can’t or won’t

If you don’t have the inclination or finances to start a small business, the next best thing is to become a commissioned salesperson.  Do you love cars, boats, fashion, jewelry?  Research.  You can sell cars, boats, fashion, jewelry.  You can make money selling insurance and real estate.  There are double digit percentages of people who make six digit incomes selling insurance and real estate.  Research.

Can’t or won’t

Start at the bottom.  Learn the ropes.  Identify the power brokers.  Attach yourself to a successful mentor.  Work hard.  Make yourself indispensable and then seek raises and promotions.

On your way home from work, you can stop for a few beer with the guys or your can surprise everyone at home with flowers, pizza and a half gallon of ice cream.  You make your family more important than your friends.

Can’t or won’t

Your “EX” [...]]]>

Can’t or won’t

On your way home from work, you can stop for a few beer with the guys or your can surprise everyone at home with flowers, pizza and a half gallon of ice cream.  You make your family more important than your friends.

Can’t or won’t

Your “EX” did you some serious wrong.  You could use your money and influence over your kids as a weapon to get back at him or her.  You make your kids more important than your revenge.

Can’t or won’t

You sit at home on another Saturday night with nothing to do except watch re-runs.  You are starting to feel bitter.  You get up.  You do something constructive.  You start by smiling, being friendly and taking an interest in others.  You join groups and organizations.  You get involved in church affairs.  You take on volunteer assignments.  You reject being lonely.  You have new problems, better problems; you have too many place to go and too much to do.

Can’t or won’t

Accept your children for who they are.  Some will be academically oriented and some athletically talented.  Some will like to play the guitar and some will like scouting.  Encourage their interests.  Build and share their enthusiasm.  Thank their teachers and coaches who are helping you raise good kids.

Can’t or won’t

Admit when a significant other or child needs help.  Get them help.  If they refuse help, then you must plan accordingly for your own good and the well being of those in your charge.

Selector’s Greeting, Australian Special Air Service

There are now 14 million adult “children” living at home with dear old mom and dad.  And, the number is growing and growing.

If you don’t have a job or are working part-time or contract or unbenefited, it is very difficult [...]]]>

Be afraid.  Be very afraid.

There are now 14 million adult “children” living at home with dear old mom and dad.  And, the number is growing and growing.

If you don’t have a job or are working part-time or contract or unbenefited, it is very difficult to put together first, last and a Realtor’s fee to rent your own apartment.  Without a roommate or, more probably, roommates, making your monthly budget is almost impossible.  And, if you are paying for an apartment, how do you pay for your car and credit cards and cell phone …

If you aren’t fully employed and you need money for your Red Bull Jagermeisters, you are better off staying home.  You have a roof over your head.  You have meals and WiFi and laundry.  Mom and dad can help pay your bills.  You are a victim.  You can Twitter your friends and console each other blaming your parents, your college, Washington or boomers in general for you unhappy life.  Twitter away as you wait for the economy to recover.  Unfortunately, this could be a long wait.

Most companies are very happy to operate lean and mean and profitable.  Most companies are happy to hire part-time and contract and to not give benefits.  Most companies are very happy to make current employers work harder with the threat of more downsizing serving as an excellent motivational stick.

Most companies are extremely wary of ever hiring the disgruntled, entitled elite. Ever.

Others should be afraid.  Others should be very afraid.

As a young follower of the Action Principles(R), you should have anticipated being self-reliant.   However, with the correct attitude, you do not have to sit at home watching Days of Our Lives, you can do something.

Take a counter job at Walgreens.  Figure out the corporate structure and how you can advance.

In a few months, if Walgreens proves to be a dead end, get a commissioned sales  job.  You can sell real estate or cars or planes or yachts or Mary Kay cosmetics.  There are lots of rich sales people.  Become one.

If you hate sales, find someone you know; a relative, a neighbor, a college chum, someone with whom you have a personal relationship, who owns a successful business.  Work your butt off.  Become indispensible.  Ingratiate yourself.  Look to take a managerial role.

If all else fails, take a lawn mower and find one customer.  Then, find another customer and another and another.

It’s time to see the writing on the wall.  It’s time to save yourself.

You see Melika spending tens of thousands of dollars opening a restaurant specializing in Moroccan soups.  You think, “Who the hell wants Moroccan soups?” You are correct.  You think, “What is this idiot thinking?” You [...]]]>

You learn from observation.  You see people who make good choices.  You see people who make poor choices. Are you learning?

You see Melika spending tens of thousands of dollars opening a restaurant specializing in Moroccan soups.  You think, “Who the hell wants Moroccan soups?” You are correct.  You think, “What is this idiot thinking?” You are correct.  You think, “Lots of people like burgers and fries and good coffee and fast, reliable service and affordable prices and a friendly staff.” Again, you are correct.

Mystery Solved.  Melika should have opened her Moroccan Soup Emporium in Marrakesh.  If she is lives in Baltimore, crab soup maybe?  To be really safe, she should go with hot, delicious American food that lots of people want to eat.  Venturing from the center is risky.

You get on your TransAir flight and a huge person comes down the aisle.  You think, “Please, God, not next to me!” Hesits next to you.  He adjusts his seat belt extender while making an attempt at camaraderie with, “Did you know that TransAir is the only air line that doesn’t make me pay for two seats?” Being polite you nod thinking, “How can I avoid flying on TransAir again?” What you don’t think is, “How did this guy get so fat?”

Mystery Solved-  The odds are overwhelming that this guy achieved his bulk from drinking Extra Large Coolatas with extra whipped cream.  Every french fry and whoopee pie and soda was to blame.   Not exercising to compensate for the calories was to blame.  Will switching to Diet Cokes help him?  It’s not enough.  Will taking a ten minute walk around the block with Fido help him?  It’s not enough.  If Mr. Fats wants to become Mr. Six Pack, he has got to find a very strong will and endure a lot of discomfort.  However, every day is a new day and he can choose to do this.

Brenda loves exotic plants.  She went to college and majored in botany.  Now, the only job that she can find is as a florist’s assistant.  Brenda knows a lot about arundo donax and no one cares.  Why do all of the customers want plain old roses and boring lilies?

Mystery Solved. Give the customer what the customer wants.  All of your skills and talents may appeal to a select few but may not be transferable to the broader marketplace.  Enjoy your “hobby” of exotic plants and smile as you wrap the red roses.

Michael doesn’t have very good  luck with women.

Mystery Solved.  Pick any two.  Michael is a cheap, unkempt, weak, obnoxious,  self-centered, under-employed, unaccomplished, opinionated, humorless, metrosexual jerk.

It is not a mystery that usually when we see problems, we are well aware of the causes.  Someone has made a bad choice, probably, repeated bad choices.

There is no mystery that jelly donuts taste good, that playing a video game is more fun than studying, that speeding gets you there faster, that having your face tattooed gets you noticed and that sleeping is easier that dragging your butt to the gym.

No mystery, you make the choices.  You live by the choices.  If you don’t like the choices you’ve made, then next time, make a different choice.

Your parents were dysfunctional alcoholics.  There is nothing you can do about this.

You were the high school cheerleader.  Does anyone remember your glory days?

Your second cousin on your mother’s side is the govenor.  And, that does what for you?

Your [...]]]>

ou were born into poverty.  There is nothing you can do about this.

Your parents were dysfunctional alcoholics.  There is nothing you can do about this.

You were the high school cheerleader.  Does anyone remember your glory days?

Your second cousin on your mother’s side is the govenor.  And, that does what for you?

Your kids never call you.  OK, you made mistakes raising your children.

If you don’t exterminate the termites, they will eventually bring the house down.  Don’t let the termites eat away at the foundation.  Get rid of the terminites.

We all have personal little demons that can act like termites eating away at our self-confidence and happiness if we allow them to go untreated.

You can’t build a successful future if your foundation is slowly eaten away by resentments, grievances, animosities, bitterness and envy.

For good or bad, the past is the past. You walk with a limp.  You have a Master’s Degree.  You went bankrupt.  You married a nice person.  Your brother went to jail.  You are a combat veteran.

For good or bad, lots of things have combined to bring you to where you are today.  You won some.  You made some mistakes. You were lucky.  You got some bad breaks.  You are a human being living in a chaotic, unfair world with unlimited possibilities for good and bad.

Now, in this moment, there are new choices.  These are choices which will determine the direction of your future.  Incorporate and embrace the good from you past.  Exterminate and leave behind the bad from your past.

It isn’t always easy or comfortable but decision by decision, you can choose to be your best.  If you are an Action Principles(R) Champion, you are a tough, thoughtful, spiritual person of action.  You are committed to self-improvment and service to others.  This is today.  This will be tomorrow.  This is how you will live the rest of your life.  This is what matters.

What matters?   What shouldn’t matter?  What doesn’t matter?

Acceptance of work hard – MATTERS

Focused written goals – MATTERS

Type of business/career – SHOULDN’T MATTER

Dysfunctional family – SHOULDN’T MATTER

Accepts constructive criticism – MATTERS

Leadership [...]]]>

Here is a quiz to which the average fifth grader would score 100%.

What matters?   What shouldn’t matter?  What doesn’t matter?

Acceptance of work hard – MATTERS

Focused written goals – MATTERS

Type of business/career – SHOULDN’T MATTER

Dysfunctional family – SHOULDN’T MATTER

Accepts constructive criticism – MATTERS

Leadership skills – MATTERS

Personal presence – MATTERS

Good humored – MATTERS

Creed, Color – DOESN’T MATTER

Physical handicap – SHOULDN’T MATTER

Country of origin – DOESN’T MATTER

College education with marketable skills – MATTERS

Ambition – MATTERS

Flexible, resilient – MATTERS

Positive optimistic attitude – MATTERS

Passion – MATTERS

Tough, Serious – MATTERS

You know.  You know.  You know.

Success boils down to doing what you know you should be doing.

What is the next step on your career?

How can you be better to your family?

What personal improvements should you make?

We all already know what matters.

So, speak up.  Tell them.  Just say it.

If you are interested in a promotion, inform the appropriate supervisor, just say it.

If you intend to get an “A” in a course, tell the professor, just say it.

If you’d  like that pretty coed to know you’re interested in a [...]]]>

Other people aren’t mind readers.

So, speak up.  Tell them.  Just say it.

If you are interested in a promotion, inform the appropriate supervisor, just say it.

If you intend to get an “A” in a course, tell the professor, just say it.

If you’d  like that pretty coed to know you’re interested in a date, tell her, just say it.

If you’d like to buy that house for $235,000, make the offer, just say it.

Put yourself out front and on notice.

Commit yourself.

Plant the seeds for thought.

Get feedback and, without having to guess, find out where others stand.

The pretty girl might say, “Yes.”

The seller might say, “OK.”

Your supervior’s response and tone may indicated that it is highly  unlikely that you will ever be seriously considered for promotion.

Good or bad, at least, you won’t have to wonder, you’ll know.

Ask and listen.  You can smile and be really happy that you asked the pretty girl on a date or, you can avoid a stalking or harassment complaint and ask a different pretty girl.

Ask and listen.  You can make another offer on that house or another house.

Ask and listen.  The professor might say that for an “A” he’d expect you to do an extra credit project.

Ask and listen.  You can quit and another job where your future prospects are brighter.

Come out of the dark.  Take a chance.  Find out.  Ask and listen and be in the know.

You are a person of action.  You are’t sitting on the sidelines twiddling your thumbs and hoping that good things will come to you.  You actively pursue your objectives, goals, dreams.  You begin by being informed.

With the information, you move forward or you reconsider, adjust and, if neccessary, you formulate a new plan.

Your best client buys somewhere else.  It happens.

You go jogging and pull a muscle.  It happens.

You go to a great movie that turns out to be a dud.  It happens.

You study and still get a C.  It happens.

You negotiate a [...]]]>

You get cut off in traffic.  It happens.

Your best client buys somewhere else.  It happens.

You go jogging and pull a muscle.  It happens.

You go to a great movie that turns out to be a dud.  It happens.

You study and still get a C.  It happens.

You negotiate a complicated deal that falls apart.  It happens.

You try and fail.  You work hard and go unacknowledged.  You eat right and get sick.  You buy a lottery ticket and lose.  You ask and are refused.  You smile and get a sneer back.  You give and aren’t thanked.  You order and get the wrong package.  It happens.

It happens.

Is it personal?

Is it permanent?

You can’t protect yourself, your family, your business, your investments from every calamity.  If you think you are the invincible Master of the Universe, you need professional help.

When life happens not as you want it, how are you going to react?  Will you be implusive or thoughtful?  Are you a tough, thoughtful, spiritual person of action?  Are you the stand up person that others can rely upon for calmness and reason?  Are you an instigator, a whiner or a leader?

It happens and how you respond is your choice.

What do you have to eat when you have no money?  Well, you stand in line at the soup kitchen or at the church food pantry.  What if you are a senior citizen and can’t get to the free food?  Well, you might eat from the last cans in your cupboard.  If [...]]]>

This isn’t funny.

What do you have to eat when you have no money?  Well, you stand in line at the soup kitchen or at the church food pantry.  What if you are a senior citizen and can’t get to the free food?  Well, you might eat from the last cans in your cupboard.  If you’re starving, you might be sharing a meal with Tabby.

This isn’t funny.

Today, half of all Americans age 65 or older, had an annual income of $18,000 or less.  Over 40% rely on Social Security entirely which means an average income of $14,000.

If you have to pay rent, utilities, food, clothing, how do you survive on an income of $1,500 or less a month?

AND THIS IS TODAY!  WHAT HAPPENS TOMORROW!

You don’t have to be a news junkie to realize the fate of Social Security.  The minimum age will be raised to 70 or higher, benefits will be cut and cost of living adjustments will not exist.

You don’t want to rely on Social Security for your Golden Years.

You don’t want to rely on food stamps, welfare, charity or the generosity of your family.

How about the future of public and private pensions?  Again, fewer and fewer employment contracts even address any type of pension.

Bottom line – If you want a secure retirement, you are on your own.

You must save.  You must invest.  Make this a mantra, “I must save.  I must invest.”

This isn’t funny.

People in their twenties and thirties have a choice.  Work hard, invest and retire as millionaires.  Or, ignore reality and share dinner with Snowball and Whiskers.

This isn’t funmy.

Save yourself.