It’s basically saying that “I can’t do it all, so I have to choose.” Some things get dropped and some get put on hold allowing you to put focus and energy to get priority projects taken care of.  It’s all done very intentionally. 

For creative types like me who are overflowing with ideas and the mounds unfinished projects that follow– it is a refreshing thought.  

One of the hardest things –nix that–THE hardest thing for me in building a home business is finding focus due to information and idea overload. (A close second would be time management).  I put a lot of needless pressure on myself and I start feeling stressed when projects get neglected. It’s really senseless to try to keep up since I’m always getting new ideas.

Mike Filsaime talked about this some in the 7 Figure Code.  He said that multitasking is going to take you longer.  If a project normally takes 30 days, then in 30 days you will have money coming in if you focus on just that one project. If you juggle 3,4,or more then it will take months then it will take months before you see any return.

It sounds like sage advice and I’m doing my best to follow it.  

Deborah  
 

Several times a week I see someone who doesn’t think it is worth the trouble to get an extra deduction.  Sometimes it only involves a phone call or a closer look at some business records. We’re talking 5 minutes to half and hour of time to get several hundred dollars of benefit.

When I tell people about this pattern they automatically jump to the conclusion that people are afraid to take too many deductions and trigger an audit.  It’s true, many people have that fear, but that’s not what’s happening in the situations I’m referring to right now.

I believe it all boils down to a money mindset.  Most people get a job, put their time in and get a check. It’s pretty methodical.  It almost closes the mind to opportunities that exist everywhere and everyday.  Partially because of the work culture and partially because of busyness and fatigue.

I believe it’s the crux of why the rich get richer and the poor get poorer. Rich people see opportunities and act on them.  Many poor and middle class people just talk about how hard it is to make ends meet and mentally accept it as a fact of life.

Then there’s those in the middle who see the opportunities but don’t act out of fear, disbelief, inability to change, or a hundred other reasons. 

It can get complicated because not all opportunities are good and right.  We’ve got to learn and grow.  I’ve taken my fair share opportunities that didn’t pan out. I just count it as a learning experience and move on to the next.  I’m not trying to toot my own horn. My main struggle has always been procrastination, so seeing opportunities is only the beginning of the race.  Seeing that the race is run and finished is the best reward.

To your success,

Deborah 

Even though I’ve always known that men think and act differently than women, I didn’t realize how much of a contrast there is between women Internet marketers and men.  Wonderful Web Women has actually reduced my tolerance level for some of the male speakers.  I was listening to a CD from Armand Morin’s Big Seminar from 2006.  I had to pull one CD out because the guy was stressing me out. His voice was loud, abrasive, and almost yelling.  If he was saying anything of value, I didn’t catch it because he was so busy trying to pump everyone up.

It dawned on me that listening to a lot of the Internet marketing guys is a lot like going to a pro ball game.  There’s lights, action, adrenaline, crowds, building momentum.  Some are more low key than others.  There’s also kind of a “just the facts, Ma’am” kind of thing going on, too.

When I started listening to the Wonderful Web Women, it was less like a ball game and more like a chamber music concert in an old country manor house.  It’s calm and relaxing but still very logical and intelligent.  It uses both sides of the brain.  It’s more of a conversation, although it is very analytical as well.

After every call I feel more refreshed and ready to take action. It actually seems possible to get something done. It’s like getting a nice boost of serotonin. It leaves me feeling calm, capable, and much more focused. The adrenaline events just leave me tired and overloaded.

It’s not just the events, it’s the amount and method of information I receive.  I’ve had to unsubscribe from a lot of people not just because of quantity of email, but also the frustrating subject lines. I never even had to open them for them to drain my energy. 

OK, I’m ranting a little, but listening to the women on Janet’s mastermind calls has opened up a new world about women in business in general. Two women used really strong words about how they feel about selling tactics that are used on them. One said she felt “violated” and another said that she felt like she would be “prostituting” herself if she responded to their solicitations. 

I don’t feel that strongly, but I do feel fed up with much of the super charged, grandious language used in internet marketing. No more “ultimate intensive smack downs” – PLEASE!

If you want to sell to me, show me that you respect me and my intellect.  Connect with me on a deeper level and prove to me that you have something that is going to make my life better. I’ve got too much clutter on my hard drive from free stuff that I don’t need.

In the words from the musical episode of Buffy the Vampire Slayer…

“Don’t give me songs — Give me something to sing about.”

To your best,

Deborah

I’ve only been a preparer for a year, but I worked 12 tax seasons for my mom’s franchise in Alabama taking care of back office stuff.  I decided to take the plunge to tax pro  here in St. Louis because things have become more automated and my mom really doesn’t need me.

What I gained was an opportunity in financial education.  One of H&R Blocks great strengths is in the area of expertise.   We have to have 69 hours of tax training and pass an exam just to be able to be considered for an interview.  After that, beginning tax pros have to take another 60 hours before and at the beginning of tax season.   

Each year we have to have a minimum of 24 hours just to get rehired.  Raise that to 30 to go to another level of certification (which involves more pay).  Plus, you can’t get certification hours for a course you took in the last 3 years.

What’s my point? Well, in order to keep this level of expertise with all of the tax pros, they offer a gazillion courses in all different tax and business subjects.  The best part is we get to choose as many as we want, in a classroom or online,  for $20 a year.  Add to that all of the on the job experience and it’s a grand education in taxes and in business and marketing.

Robert Kiyosaki of Rich Dad fame says that for those who think like rich people the main  reason to get a job is for the financial education it can provide you.  If you are familiar with the Rich Dad principles, you know that rich people think in terms of assets – businesses and investments.  

Apart from the fact that taxes are fun (yes, you hear tax pros say it all the time) and H&R Block is a great company to work for with lots of advancement opportunities, working for H&R Block gives a great financial education.

Tax attorney Drew Miles (Tax Tips – Asset Protection – Pathfinder Business Strategies ) tells the story of watching Bill Gates being interviewed on a national news channel.  He was asked what was the key to his success.  He said having a “working knowledge of the tax code.”  Not the answer you would expect, is it? 

You hear a lot of people complain about how the rich get all of these tax breaks while the poor and middle class keep paying higher taxes.  The reality is that they make an effort to know about their money and how it works.  A huge part of that is knowing how taxes work for and against them. 

The poor and middle class have so many more opportunities available to them that they don’t take.  Many times because they are afraid to take them. If you are rethinking wealth in your own mind, consider how you can make better decisions in the area of taxes.  It will help you overall financially.

Deborah

I am trying to make a practice of finding a few things to focus on and carry them through to the the end. The reality is that if you do everything, you end up doing nothing. I’m trying to find out how to keep the balance between diversity of interests and doing things completely, thoroughly, and well.

I’m starting to realize that I’m not giving up on all these little things, I’m gaining some wonderful big things.

This isn’t just in business. A while back I decided “no new crafts”. I got rid of some supplies for crafts that I knew I would not pursue diligently and narrowed it down to only embroidery, sewing, papercrafts, leatherwork, and metalwork.

It still sounds like a lot, but that’s more focused for me. Part of that was an embargo on buying new craft supplies until I use what I’ve got. I will give in on some tools and organizational supplies if I can state…

1. how I will use it,
2. where I will put it, and
3. if it will it be a serious help for me.

In business I have packed away real estate, options trading, eBay, vending, and service type businesses like sewing for people. My current focus is Internet marketing, Shaklee, H&R Block.

Internet marketing is my biggie and even within that realm I’ve had to glean. I am still maintaining my Shaklee business, but the traditional MLM business model is not a good fit for me. I will be doing more online, so it overlaps with my Internet market focus to a great degree.

H&R Block is a great place to work, but I’m not in it for the money. Robert Kiyosaki, writer of the book Rich Dad, Poor Dad says “Don’t work to earn, work to learn”. The education and experience I am getting is phenomenal!

The classes available to me are top notch. I’m taking a ton of them. Plus, I am in an office that has more complicated tax returns so I get great hands on experience in business tax, depreciation, all types of K-1 income, investments, AMT, retirement plans, tax planning, and more.

Added to that, they give us lots of marketing tools and I have had the experience of taking a leadership role in marketing.

Starting next month I will start as a trainer teaching their Basic Building Blocks class. This is something I’ve really needed because I need to brush up on my speaking skills.

Finding focus is only in the beginning stages for me, but if I really look back on where I was and where I am I can see substantial change. That alone is building momentum in me.

To your best,
Deborah

As part of my commitment to put what I learn into action, I am going to post my progress and my observations on this blog.

I should receive my course in about a week. Keep checking to see what happens or go to http://www.rethinkingwealth.com/7figurecode/7fc-blog-optin.html to receive the posts by email.

I sent an email to some family and friends to make them aware of course and the special price that ends July 14, 2007. You can read it below.

If you would like to ask questions or discuss it further comment on this blog or drop me an email at deborah@rethinkingwealth.com.

——————————————–

My recent email…

There’s a new thing I’ve discovered that I’d like to tell you about.

I’ve gone through a spell of buying business information that sounded good at the time, but I am much more cautious now. A few days ago I got an email from a “guru” who I have found trustworthy. He was promoting a home study course that was based on a seminar that the attendees paid $5000 to attend. Since the man making the recommendation has always given me great info I checked it out.

The name of the course is the 7 Figure Code. It was put together by another internet marketer named Mike Filsaime and features workshops from many of the current upper eschalon of internet marketing.

I’ve been wanting to have a business using the internet, but I have had difficulty with the gaps in my knowledge and inability to focus on one thing. After reading the web page very carefully and watching the video clips from the seminar on that page, I decided this may fill those gaps for me. My first condition for purchasing was that I make the personal commitment to dig into it immediatly and put it into action before the 30 guarantee expires.

Normally, I would wait to check out a product before recommending it to other people, but there is an introductory promotion until Friday July 14th. After that the price goes up by $300. I wanted to make you aware of this before the promotion runs out just in case it is a good fit.

The current cost of the course is $497, so that means that after Friday it will be $797. I pondered a few days about whether I wanted to put money out toward yet another information product. What made me decide to jump in was…

1. I need something to help me develop my system
2. My past experience has proven that when I try to teach myself I have too many gaps and more of a struggle.
3. The course is on DVD with seminarsthat have PowerPoint presentations. This is a good way of learning for me.
4. The video clips on their website gave very useful and practical information. It appears that their “no fluff” claim may be true.
5. The testimonials seemed to have more meat and less hype.
6. I can return it within 30 days.
7. I am at a place where I need some indepth training to bring me over the hump.
8. I tired of spinning my wheels and getting bits of information all over the place that just adds to my mental clutter.
9. Usually when I want to learn something indepth I take classes. This is no
   different.

That’s what’s going on with me. If you are interested in
checking this out you can go to http://7figurecode.rethinkingwealth.com/

I will be getting my course in about a week. I will let you know my progress.

To your best,
Deborah

Many new internet business people start with little or no understanding of how to build a website. Here are a few tools that may help.

CoffeeCup – HTML Editor & Web Design Software

Website ABC’s

Here’s to your journey,
Deborah

Wealthy people are conniving, selfish, lazy monsters who will steal your last penny if you let them, or so that’s what I was raised to believe.

Fortunately, through my work and various associations, I’ve spent time with many of these ‘monsters’, and discovered that nothing could be farther from the truth.

In fact, over the years I’ve learned that wealthy people are the hardest working, most generous people one could ever meet.

Obviously, the fear-based attitudes about money that were instilled during my childhood were not only incorrect, they didn’t produce more for me than a steady job.

And no job, no paycheck. No matter how well-paid you are, that’s not wealth, that’s a dangerous rut.

To me, wealth means income that is generated on a continuous and ongoing basis, whether or not I’m working specifically on that project or investment at any given time.

I knew that if I wanted to live a richer, fuller life, I’d have to let go of my old beliefs and adopt healthier, more productive attitudes to acquiring wealth.

So I set out to learn about the commonly held beliefs and values shared by wealthy people.

The first commonality was obvious. Wealthy people all value their time too highly to exchange it for a paycheck, and therefore they work for themselves. The exception to this is made when they’ll work for a company in their chosen industry to gain experience or be mentored.

Truly wealthy folks know that there is no such thing as ‘get r*ch quick’ and understand that businesses are built, and wealth is acquired, through being of service to others. They find a need and fill it with excellent products and highly quality customer service. Having their customers’ trust and support, their businesses stand the test of time. All, without fail, regularly give a portion of their time and money to help those less fortunate.

The wealthy also place great emphasis on healthy nutrition and regular exercise. After their work day is over, rather than flop on the couch to watch a rerun of ‘Friends’ (and West Wing, and Coronation Street, and Frasier…) they’ll opt for a run or a friendly game of squash. They understand that exercise is an activity that creates energy, whereas succumbing to the temptation to ‘flake-out’ leaves you feeling even more exhausted.

While out on that run, they put the increased oxygen flow to good use by thinking, thinking and thinking some more. They forumulate business plans and strategies for the short, medium and long-term. They know that their vision for a happy, solid future for themselves and their familes is built on goals and the specific plans to achieve them. Family is their top priority. Everything they do is for the purpose of helping to improve the lives of their family members.

Above all, they approach life with gratitude. They know in their hearts that there is more than enough wealth on the planet for everyone to share. They know that whatever effort they make, whatever they choose to give, will be returned to them many times over.

From that perspective, they have no fear, and it’s fear, not money, that is the root of all evil. Fear causes people to hold on tight and act in greedy, selfish ways. Give to receive.. it’s really that simple.

The ‘good life’ may seem like a lot of hard work, and it is! But if you truly want to enjoy the good life, then do the ‘work’ of setting goals, staying healthy, and being of service to others with joy and an open heart. You’ll be delighted by the rewards work can bring when you approach life with a wealthy attitude.

About The Author
Article by Rosalind Gardner, author of the best-selling “Super Affiliate Handbook: How I Made $436,797 in One Year Selling Other People’s Stuff Online”. To learn how you too can suceed in Internet and affiliate marketing, go to: http://NetProfitsToday.com.

In the beginning stages of anything there is the learning curve. I like learning, but it gets a little harried when you need results rather than learning for the sake of learning. I have been encouraged be a few quotes lately…

• All things are difficult before they are easy.
  Dr. Thomas Fuller
• Success requires first expending ten units of effort to produce one unit of results. Your momentum will then produce ten units of results with each unit of effort.
  Charles J. Givens
• Use the losses and failures of the past as a reason for action, not inaction.
  Charles J. Givens
  
• If your position is everywhere, your momentum is zero.
  William N. Lipscomb, Jr.
• 2 Then the Lord answered me and said: “Write the vision And make it plain on tablets, That he may run who reads it.
  3 For the vision is yet for an appointed time; But at the end it will speak, and it will not lie. Though it tarries, wait for it; Because it will surely come, It will not tarry.
  Habakkuk 2:2-3 New King James Version

  Here’s to your Journey,
  Deborah

As I wrote about earlier, I like to hold on to things that are interesting to me. I don’t see this as bad, just as a characteristic that needs some discipline.

Since my last blog, I have seen the fruit of opting out of those unread email lists.
I cleaned out my inbox of 7600+ emails.

If you think that is bad, that is with my deleting email almost every day

AND…
That was only about 6 months of email.

AND…
My deleted items were 11,000+ for fewer months than that.

AND…
That does not include the email that is filtered into the folders I’ve set up.

It took me quite a while to opt out of all of them, but I cut them out with a vengance.

I guess it was writing down my frustration in the earlier blog that gave me whatever I needed to realize that I wasn’t going to miss out on something special if I closed communication with some of these people. (I know that sentence is too long, but I’m not going to change it)

I don’t need Target sending me an emails every week telling me I can get 10% off my online order.

Even in the realm of learning things for business, I was receiving so many emails that I wasn’t reading any of them You can never really catch up when things get like that.

Some of these internet marketers are sending emails on a near daily basis. One of them said they sent out there newsletters 15 times a month. Good Grief!

The whole delete button idea didn’t work either. I used to spend so much time deleting the bad stuff that I couldn’t get a chance to read the good stuff (hence the full inbox). Having a toddler doesn’t give you big blocks of time to check your email, either.

It has been very freeing to have control over my email. It gives me motivation to get other information sources under control, and I believe it has been a factor in the successes I have seen this week.

I must say that I am on a roll.