Recession-Proofing Life

Manpacks: Running With An Idea

2010-11-08T15:25:00.004-05:00

Being a man, and apparently in the majority among men, I hate buying underwear. Can't stand making a trip to the store to buy t-shirts, boxers, socks. When I'm in a store for other reasons, I never think of my "under-needs." That's just the way I am.

Plus, when the folks buy them for me as Christmas gifts, they're never what I would have bought. But, I don't look a gift horse in the mouth. I just endure the discomfort.

I say all this because as I was reading a recent edition of Inc. Magazine, I discovered an article about Manpacks. Within half-an-hour my first manpack was on it's way to my doorstep.

What is a manpack?

I can't say I'm crazy about the name; it may conjure up a different meaning, picture, image, than it should. Aside from that, it's an awesome service. Manpacks.com will deliver, once every three months, a shipment of t-shirts, underpants, sock, and, their most recent addition, razors, right to you.

You decide the number of items, brands, styles, colors, sizes, everything. Manpacks sends them to you. For my first order, I chose the Single Pack; one each of under shirts, shorts, and socks. The price was $14, including shipping. A little more than you'd normally pay, but way better than worth the extra price.

My order arrived a few days ago and it was just as described, plus I got a gift of free canister of shaving cream with my next shipment. Awesome. I can't wait for the next shipment.

If being excited about getting new underwear is wrong, I don't want to be right!

Entrepreneurial Spirit At It's Best!

The real reason I'm posting this is not to tell you about my underwear. It's because the founders of Manpacks saw a need and decided to meet it. They recognized something inherent in a lot of men, this one included, did their research and set about meeting the needs of their audience.

The only hesitation I gave was when I thought about the price I was paying compared to WalMart. Again, that only lasted for a moment. I thought about the hour of my life I'd be giving up by doing the shopping, the gas I'd be burning on the trip, the standing in line, the lack of selection, the other things I'd potentially spend my money on while at the department store. That's all it took for me. And, I have no buyers remorse.

If that isn't ingenuity on the part of Manpacks, nothing is.

Inspiration

It's something of which we're all capable. Using our God-given gifts, talents and loves to find a market for something out there. This little company is much more than a purveyor of undergarments. It should serve as an inspiration to every would-be entrepreneur, every person striving to get and stay ahead of the curve.

I wish them the best, and not (just) because I never want to go in search of socks again.

Alan

Organization Tip: Scanner Love

2010-11-05T09:59:00.006-04:00

I must admit, as I began this post about organization, I looked at my desk. From the carnage and devastation I saw, an epic battle must have taken place.

Once upon a time, cleaning up that mess would have meant creating a place for all of the papers to go, which would've meant a trip to Staples. Hanging files, a filing cabinet to put them in, and about $75 and two hours later, I could have started the cleanup.

A Neat Scanner

Now, I have those things, but I still hate paper. Last year, I saw an episode of GeekBeat.tv that changed my world. Cali Lewis, host of the Internet show, shined her spotlight on Neat Receipts and their portable, handheld scanner. It looked perfect, possibly because I also don't have the space for a desk scanner.

The price tag, a little less than $200, was a bit much for an untried system, but I needed something, so I took a big chance (Actually, I got it as a Christmas gift). In two words, it was simply, positively awesome! (yes, that was five words, but it was worth it)

Much more than a scanner, it's a complete digital filing system. Scan any document, from a business card, to a restaurant receipt, to a contract, whatever, and you can put it into existing or user defined categories. Soon there's no more paper mahem.

It's so simple to use. I weighs about one pound and works via USB, so you can take it anywhere, as long as you have a computer, notebook, or Mac.

There are lots of scanners out there, and I've used many. Neat Receipts is one of, if not, the best. Give them a look at http://www.neatco.com/.

Whatever you do, do something to get organized. You'll have some setbacks, like me, but organization gives you a whole new perspective on life.

Photo courtesy The Neat Co.

The Procrastination Conspiracy

2010-10-18T11:30:00.006-04:00

I despise procrastination. That doesn’t mean that I never engage in it, it simply means I think it stinks. For me, the “P” word has been detrimental to progress and, often, my mental and emotional well-being.

I recently came through a period where I nearly caused epic failure due to my procrastination. I found myself asking why I put things off. Why, after so long, with all my goals within reach, with all the pain procrastination causes, do I continue to do it? I hope I’ve found its source and cure.

Doubt and Fear

I’ve found that stopping to think and sort things out often gets me back to work. So, when I was feeling overwhelmed after letting schedules go and letting task lists go virtually untouched, I took a few days to reorganize. I went back to the beginning of the project I was on and started to recreate an action plan. It was also during this time that I discovered fear was the main tool the evil “P” word used to get me.

I’ve been a freelance writer for some time now and the latest idea I had was for a new website. I had done the research to see if there was a sizeable audience in the niche, it fell within my skill, knowledge and passion set. I knew it would work.
If you’ve ever started a new venture, you may have found that the initial steps can be great leaps toward the finish line, but as you progress, the minutiae can bog you down. It’s my belief that regardless how well you know the business you’re going into, there will be things unfamiliar. There will be problems you don’t know how to solve. It was in the midst of a succession of those things that I started to doubt myself and my project.

What if I missed something in my research? What if I don’t connect with my readers and subscribers? What makes me think I can build a readership from scratch? What if all this work comes to naught? Where did I get the idea that I can be a success?
If you don’t think those are destructive thoughts, stop reading here and move along.

Roots of Doubt and Fear

Collectively, those questions are examples of fear and doubt. They certainly aren’t examples of great entrepreneurial thinking. They have their origins in things I’ve heard others say, about themselves and others. My parents, God bless them, are a source for some of it. Many of their generation believe in finding a j-o-b and sticking with it. Why give up the security of a paycheck to seek out some pie-in-the-sky dream? In their case, it’s what they were taught, which came directly out of the fear caused by the Great Depression. Recently, when discussing some business matters with a trusted family member, I got the advice, “Well, everybody isn’t meant to be a star.” I generally disagree with that, but it sticks with you when it comes from an otherwise solid source.

Some of it came from within. Past failures can lead to doubts about the future. I’ve missed so many three-foot putts in my lifetime that it’s hard to face one without thinking I’ll miss it. The same goes for business. I’ve had some failures in the past, so it’s easy to assume the latest thing will go the same direction. Positive thinking can help repel these enemies.

Don’t Let the Conspirators Drag You Down!

Yes, procrastination, fear and doubt come from within. But, in trying to dig myself out of wallowing in them, I like to think of them all as conspirators. Whenever I recognize one of them creeping up on me, I look at why it’s there, what brought it to me, then correct the problem before it becomes a PROBLEM, a situation.

Distractions (like college and pro football telecasts, and The Golf Channel) can cause broken schedules for me, but the worst cases of real, honest to goodness, procrastination come from fear and doubt.

If you’ve faced the same problem with procrastination, I hope this discussion helps.

I’m sure we’re all different, so leave your comments so that others (and me) can see them. We may find clues pointing to other sources of the dreaded “P” word, and other paths back to our bright futures.

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5 More Things on the Subject of Positive Thinking...

2010-10-15T15:14:00.011-04:00

Since I'm on the subject, positive thinking, that is, we might as well explore it a little deeper.

You've heard the phrase "the power of positive thinking." It isn't just some words thrown together, it has the power to change anything. If you're trying to get your life, financially or otherwise, pointed in the right direction, it is essential.

Consider this: Regardless of your financial status right now, if you're at the outset of starting a new business, or maybe brainstorming for what type of business you can start, you're full of positivity. Energy is high and the future looks bright!

Then come the nuts and bolts of getting things done, which brings the first road blocks. You'll have thoughts like these:

I don't know what to do next.

My list of things to do next is so long, I don't know where to start.

This is more than I can handle.

When will I have the time to do this?

I don't know if I'm doing the right things to make this a success.

What if this fails?

There's a bunch more I could list (in case you're wondering how I know, I've had them all and more, still do sometimes).

When you start having these thoughts you become frozen. That "I'm king of the world!" attitude vanishes as quickly as it came. You can become paralyzed with your fledgling business or idea. Forward progress grinds to a halt quicker than a Detroit Lions offensive drive. Getting your mojo back after that happens is tough.

Its best to stop negativity before it starts. Here are my five ways to keep the power of positive thinking rolling in your direction:

1. Don't worry about what others think of you. Before you think anyone outside your immediate circle of family, confidants, and extremely, terribly close friends will be happy for your well-deserved success, stop yourself. No one else will join in your celebration, some of your mates will even be more envious than happy. So, do your thing because you want a better life for yourself, your children, family, grand kids, future generations, etc., and don't expect a pat on the back.

Likewise, don't fear what they'll think if you fail. Failing isn't necessarily a bad thing. It can often lead to, even make possible, the next great thing. If you fail, you'll find out (and I risk sounding cliched) who your friends are. Fact is, most people will be glad you failed. Makes their fear-ridden, do-nothing attitudes more justified in their minds.

So, don't give their worthless "thinks" another thought.

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2. Keep a simple, step-by-step plan for everything. Coming to that place where you don't know what to tackle next can be a show-stopper. I hate encountering an action step that I'm not sure how to complete. It has been the downfall of many a project for me. If there is one thing that has helped me, and lots of other people who finally figured it out, it's my list.

For every project, I have a list of steps to completion. Within each general step, is a set of smaller steps, in order of importance. Why does this help? Once you've done it, the list TELLS YOU what to do next. There's no ambiguity about what to do, it's right in front of you. Here's an example (and you can be more or less detailed. It's up to you):

Step Three: Brainstorm and register domain name

Take 1 hour to brainstorm and research available domain names for the topic of Underwater basket weaving. Use Godaddy.com or Namecheap.com to look up the available domains. Revisit potential names and add to the list the following day.

Logon to web hosting company (username and password are in your notes file) and transfer nameservers (info will be in confirmation email from Namecheap)

See how a list can keep you on track. Telling myself where to find certain information is sooo very helpful to me, because there are days when even the prospect of taking five minutes to find something is just to much to ask (yes, I can be a wimp).

In the example above, I went from very general to pretty detailed. Sometimes it gets almost down to "push self away from desk, pick up phone, dial with index finger of left hand, ....." That's a tiny stretch, but the point is this Works.

3. Don't have the skill? Get it. It's easier than you think. You've heard me talk about Niche Profit Classroom before (if not visit my posterous.com post, "Finally, a Coaching Program with Substance"). It has almost singlehandedly taken my business to a new level. The reason I finally became an affiliate of theirs. There have been, and there remains, several things about publishing a successful website that I don't know; technical aspects, SEO, building popularity, buzz, launching the site, finding keywords, and so on. NPC has helped me countless times this year.

I've built websites in the past, but it was always a laborious undertaking and the result was always lacking. NPC has been the thing, because the answers are always at my fingertips. For a skill like keyword research, which is so very important at the outset of website creation, I knew very little. Using my personal tool, NPC, I've learned to find great keywords that will drive traffic to my sites. It used to be my show-stopper.

I needed a skill, found a tool to teach me and that's that. Just go find your tool.

4. Find a source of mojo. Like the Fountain of Youth, there is something that will give us each new life. For you it could be motivational audio recordings, for me it's personal growth and success books. When I reach a point of thinking I can't, I reach for my mojo fountain and find that I can. Here are my top mojo fountains: The Holy Bible, my family, Think and Grow Rich (by Napolean Hill), SUCCESS Magazine, any book by John Maxwell, and the golf course.

5. Triggers. When you find yourself rapidly descending toward I'm-not-worthiness, you must stop yourself. Get something, a trigger, that causes you to check yourself. I've set alarms on my cell phone at different points of every day. I know why I set them, so I know what to look for when the alarm sounds. I know to give myself a pep talk, pick up a mojo fountain, or slap myself in the face, anything to prevent the downward slide.

6. Surround yourself with positive people. I know I said 5 things, but I just can't stop there. The people around you are so important to your success. Get people near you who will be true, viable, positive, and supportive. If you're husband isn't on board with what you're doing, tell him you love him, but ask for his advice. If your brother tells you, "Well, we're not all meant to be superstars," keep him out of the business of your business. Find as many pillars of support as you can, you'll need them. Not because you're weak, but because there are more than enough joy stealers for us all.

7. Spell it out. This is the last one, I promise. Write down your goal at the outset. Recite it to yourself every day, multiple times, at the same time each day. You'll be embedding it into your subconcious and turning it into reality.

Take these seven things, add your own, change these around, do whatever you need to do to keep the good vibes flowing in your life.

Image courtesy: viZZZual.com.

Are You Starting From Nothing?

2010-10-14T16:36:00.003-04:00

The bottom. The pit. Terrible place to be, unless you add positive thinking to your particular situation.

There are tons of people in that same place, but only those who chose to climb to the top will ever get off the bottom.

Here's a great post from Chris Brogan, the author of Trust Agents, on how to you can start from nothing in 2011:

Start From Nothing 2011

Enjoy.

Recession Buster: Create and Sell an Information Product

2010-09-20T13:41:00.007-04:00

We've discussed this before, but it bears repeating. Everyone has something at which they excel, something they love, or something in which they're very interested. The ease of publishing a website has made it simple to take that skill and capitalize upon it.

Companies like Clickbank.com have made it simple to place an immediately downloadable ebook or recording on your website or blog. Clickbank also provides an affordable method for accepting payments. PayPal.com, the largest payment processor, also provides the service.

Here's an example of one such product, StopSnoringInsider.com, wherein the publisher has established a new income stream by offering a product useful to millions of people.

If you're interested in establishing that new revenue stream, one that will require little maintenance after you get established, take a look at NicheProfitClassroom.com. I've been using if for several months and found it to be the most comprehensive how-to coaching program available. You'll soon be a pro at web publishing and information product launching.

There are ways to outearn the economy and solidify your finances. Information products showcasing what you know and love is a fantastic way to get it done.

Although I am an affiliate of both websites mentioned in this post, I make my recommendation after finding both to be of high quality. After being burned several times over the years, this website will only mention sites and products that steer you clear of the traps, as best it can.

Photo courtesy: Nikolai Gorchilov.

Take a Meaningful Vacation When Money’s Tight?

2010-05-03T15:27:00.000-04:00

There’s a time for everything. Unfortunately, within the "everything" basket is a time for being short of cash. If you’re lucky, that time came when you were an infant and you got it out of the way early.

For the rest of us, now seems like the perfect time to have more month left at the end of the money. If you’re in that situation, planning and taking a vacation will seem foolish. But, I contend that it could be a good idea, if your vacation will do one important thing, give you inspiration.

The Snowball

If you’ve read any earlier post in this blog, you’ll find I’m a fan of personal finance expert, Dave Ramsey. One of the pillars of what Dave teaches is to pay off smaller debts, regardless of the interest rates on any debts you have, before you pay off the larger ones. He calls it the "debt snowball." So named, because you start with a small debt that can be paid of relatively quickly, then apply the money you were paying on that first debt to the minimal/minimum payment you had been making on the next largest debt. In that manner, your monthly payment amounts grow with each successive debt you cross off your list. Pretty soon, your lopping off huge chunks of debt. He favors that strategy, in large part, due to the psychological impact it has. You feel good, better each time you rid yourself of a debt. By beginning with smaller ones, you get much more positive feedback as you begin your debt reduction journey. If you started with the largest debt, it could be many months before you saw any fruits of your labor.

I don’t know what Dave would say about taking a vacation during your progression toward financial freedom, but following the same logic as his debt snowball I am led toward thinking that a vacation can sometimes be just as fruitful.

Peaceful Eye Within the Storm

Case in point: Over the last few years, my family has found a vacation spot that we dearly love. We have some of our best times as a family when we visit there. For me, it’s an inspirational time because of the amount and quality of family time, the weather, and the setting.

I’m a writer and I’m trying to grow a business, while reducing our household debt. After weeks and months of work, juggling bills, and being chased by the dogs of life, a period of revitalization genuinely gives me the energy and improved outlook on life that I need. I generate ideas for my business, become more productive at writing and handle life’s problems with greater efficiency with the moodiness to which I’m sometimes susceptible. I truly become inspired to do greater things.

Writing is my second, I suppose you could say, job. But, it feels more like a hobby that I treat as a business because it’s something I love to do. There are so many things you can do as a writer these days that, with a clear head and some imagination, the sky could be the limit. Feeding my imagination for those things is a well-timed vacation. Our family trips of the past have quite literally paid great dividends.

We stay away from trips to the nearest outlet malls and other impulsive expenses, but we value our times away, together, and do all that we can to make them possible.

Sanctuary

This fall we’re taking our next trip to our little sanctuary. It’s been tough, it’s going to be tight, but I know the benefits will outweigh anything to the contrary. With any luck at all, we will not borrow one cent to pay for the trip. That makes it even more sweet.

Everyone has to evaluate their own financial position and determine if it’s wise to plan a big expense. A family vacation or couples getaway doesn’t have to empty your pocketbook, either. I’m sure that, whatever your occupation, a vacation from the daily grind, whether a week at the beach or a few days at a local state park, can do much for your future.

Get-Rich-Quick Rant

2010-03-12T00:01:00.000-05:00

A few months ago, I wrote my first ebook (for which I won't put a link here for fear that this post, indeed this blog, will be seen as a marketing machine). I enlisted some help with designing the site, setting-up an affiliate sales method, payment processing, and several other things.

I wrote the website copy, got some testimonials and was ready to publish and sell my creation. I knew there were tons, and tons, and tons, and tons of products out there that promised to be the answer to everyone's prayers. If you've done any searching, apparently it's only 90 days until all your dreams can come true with just about anything.

My book and accompanying sales website do not promise anything of the sort. It says, in a nutshell, that if you read this book, practice what it preaches, you'll have a great shot at earning at least a part-time living, more if you want, a great new income stream.

I've not been displeased with my sales, since I was a rookie at the e-book publishing game.

What gets under my skin and irritates me, more than what I imagine bamboo shoots would feel like, is the sheer number of get-rich-quick product websites. Not only their number, but the way that many are designed to confuse, play on emotion, and make the sale, regardless of quality. It makes it virtually impossible for people to tell the difference between a legitimate product and one meant to mislead and put money in the owner's pocket.

For instance, out of curiosity I recently signed-up for a money-bac- guaranteed product that suggested I'd be rolling in piles of cash with very little work on my part by surprising Google Adwords with previously unheard of tools and tactics. Although the program was well organized there was nothing particularly new and the time I was required to put in to make it work was nothing short of all consuming. I got my refund.

Another "amazing" profits site, which I did not join, had multiple pop-ups, exit pop-ups where they ask you if you're sure you want to leave and drastically cut the price after you decide to leave for sure. After clicking to the "next step" page, I was directed to what appeared to be a page for the same product, but it was acutally a totally different product page that had appeared on top of the first product. Only when I eventually escaped from that page, did I realize the first product was in the window underneath. Sound confusing? It was.

Don't get me wrong, I'm all in favor of making a buck and tactics that sell. But, not those designed to confuse. Plus, regardless of the tactics, there had better be the suggested pay-off at the end for the consumer.

In short, buyer beware! If the sales pitch is confusing, plays on your emotions too heavily, or goes to far in it's ploy to make you feel like supplies are limited, there's a reason: the product can't stand on it's own.

These pure marketing ploys aren't illegal, just annoying. So, be careful, don't get upset, and do your research before buying.

How the heck can you sell out of a digital product sent via email?

Top-5 Businesses to Start in a Recession

2009-07-15T00:01:00.002-04:00

According to a reader poll at YoungEntrepreneur.com, the top-five businesses to start in a recession are these:

An online business
It Doesn’t Matter - Just Love What You’re Doing
Healthcare
Education/Teaching
Video games

As part of the poll, many readers left comments as to why and how they voted. The comments displayed did a great job of explaining why each of the top-five deserved to be there. Here is a summation of many of the comments.

Online businesses are often inexpensive to start-up, business owners don't need to carry a product, it's easier to begin a business with simply what you know, and people can often keep their day jobs.

Loving what you are doing is always a key. Having a passion for your endeavor takes a lot of the "work" feel out, it shows through in everything you do and will result in a great experience for customers or clients.

Healthcare concerns never go away, and they may even increase during tough times. As a result, occupations and businesses providing health care services, weight loss products, health maintenance products, etc. will always do well.

Businesses built around education can thrive in the tough recession environment. This is due, most notably, to out-of-work people looking to find marketable skills for the next job. Someone needs to be there to teach them.

Video games, though not a necessity, will be a means of escape for many people. Setting aside reality, even for a few minutes, can provide much needed relief. Like movie theaters during the Great Depression, the XBox and Nintendo Wii could experience a boom. Plus, people will be staying at home for their entertainment when money gets tight.

If you're looking for business ideas, these five are great places to start.

Einstein's Advice for Financial Prosperity

2009-06-27T10:54:00.001-04:00

How can one of history's greatests scientists help us with our financial problems? Read on and see.

As many of you know, I'm a freelance golf writer. I was recently reading Seven Secrets of a Higly Successful Golfer, by golf confidence coach Gail Smirthwaite. It's a fantastic book, as much about success in life as in golf.

While reading the book, I came across a section where Ms. Smirthwaite attributes a quote to Albert Einstein. Turns out, his genious extends well beyond his scientific acumen and into financial decision-making.

According to Ms. Smirthwaite, "Einstein stated that the definition of madness is doing what you have always done and expecting different results."

I've seen variations of that same sentiment floating around the airwaves in recent years and months, but there's a validating quality when seeing it attributed to one of the greatest minds ever.

Regardless of who first made the statement, it is true. Einstein was certainly thinking in terms of scientific experimentation, but it rings true with so many aspects of our lives, including our financial lives.

I think many people, possibly everyone at some point in their lives, find themselves in a financial mess. At those times, we often resolve to turn things around, become better organized, make better decisions, earn extra money. We may also feel invigorated because of our resolution, only to fall back to where we were as time passess, as the outlook becomes better, or when things again get tough.

If (when) that happens, why do we expect a different outcome than we've received every other time in the past? It really is madness.

I think I'll find the actual Einstein quote, or the equivalent from some other respected historical figure, and tape it onto my monitor as a reminder.

Reviving Creativity and Togetherness

2009-05-28T00:01:00.000-04:00

One advantage of economic downturns like the one we’re in, is a revival of creativity. For example, one California town is giving townspeople gift cards for shopping locally, along with other incentives. A car dealership in a nearby town is giving gift cards to local businesses when people purchase a car.

There also seems to be a renewed urge to take care of local small businesses and friends, as you can see in this forum thread from FrugalVillage.com.

I certainly hope the “stimulus” package works, but I hope it doesn’t dampen our creativity and ability to come together in tough times.

Cash to the Rescue: Our Need for an Emergency Fund

2009-05-01T10:58:00.000-04:00

An emergency fund, otherwise known as the "Destroyer of the Oh Crap! Response to Unexpected Expenses," is an essential part of your total get-out-of-debt strategic plan.

Consider this scenario that happens somewhere every day: Your car isn’t running like it should, so you take it to your local repair shop. Your mechanic finds that fuel additives have clogged and ruined a small part, about the size of a credit card, which will need to be replaced. "Whew," you say. You think to yourself, "Tiny little part, can’t cost much." Oh, how wrong you are when you hear the $700 price tag for the part and labor. Oh, crap!

Without an emergency fund, where do you turn? You seek out your credit card, which, incidentally, is the same size as the tiny, expensive car part. That takes care of it, car fixed. But, you’re further in debt. You have no immediate way of paying for the $700 repairs, or you wouldn’t have charged it in the first place, so the $700 repair will end up costing you much more in finance charges on your credit card.

If you had an emergency fund, your $700 repair would only cost you, you guessed it, $700.

There are other ripple effects of using your credit cards for unexpected necessities. For example, when money is tight and you’re trying to emerge from the debt dungeon, adding to your credit card balance increases your monthly payment and slows your debt reduction plan. That, in turn, kills your confidence and will to keep going. Never underestimate the psychological impact of credit spending.

If you don’t have an emergency fund in place, now is the time to start "funding the fund." If you’re at the beginning of your debt reduction plan, or in the midst of it, personal finance expert, Dave Ramsey, recommends that you set aside $1,000 in an emergency fund (see his book Total Money Makeover). If you’re a student, or your normal expenses are minimal, $500 may suffice.

No, you don’t need to fund it all at once. Simply pay yourself $25, $50, $100 per month, or whatever amount you can afford, and keep adding until you get to $1,000.

Oh, another thing. You shouldn’t keep your emergency fund where it’s easily accessible, as in a normal checking account. Find a good money market account, that pays you interest. Sure, you can still write checks from the account, but many have limits set on the minimum you can withdraw. For example, I have a money market account that prohibits me from writing checks for less than $250. Keeps me from spending money on small, non-emergency purchases. According to the blog, Get Rich Slowly, you should "consider opening a savings account at an online bank like ING or Emigrant. When an emergency arises, you can easily transfer the money to your regular checking account."

When you get out of debt, you can then start your gonzo emergency fund of six months or so of living expenses.

It may seem counterintuitive to start saving money before you’re out of debt. But, if you don’t pay yourself at the outset, or wherever you are in the process, you won’t be able to cope with the unexpected. Then, the evil creditor will be waiting with open arms.

How to Make Money Without Trying

2009-04-01T00:01:00.000-04:00

Since my first post about the Mvelopes online budgeting program, I’ve had more than sufficient time to fully experience what it offers. As you can see from the advertisements here at RPL, I like it. I like it a lot.

Not only has Mvelopes Personal helped me organize my personal, and business, finances (which is no simple task, given my ineptitude), but that same organization has saved me a nice chunk of change, well above the cost of membership.

It’s amazing how the simple act of categorizing expenses and funding the categories can save money. My careless disorganization often caused payments to arrive after the due date (can you say "exorbitant late charges"), overdraft fees at the bank due to not balancing my check book (can you say "exorbitant overdraft fees’), and who knows what else. Not having to pay charges and late fees alone saves a lot of money. It’s almost like getting a raise at work, even better than most raises.

I’ve only experienced two notable problems with Mvelopes. Firstly, one of my banks is a small, local one, which isn’t yet accessible by Mvelopes. However, I notice that more banks are being added to their list. Two other banks that I use, one large bank and a regional one, are both available, so I haven’t had a real problem. You see, with Mvelopes Personal you can have all your banking information and transactions automatically imported to your Mvelopes account, making keeping track of income and expenditures, funding the "envelopes" you set up, and lots of other features, automatic.

For example, you use your bank ATM or a credit card for a purchase and the next time you log in to Mvelopes, there’s your transaction. All you do is assign it to a category you’ve set up, an "envelope", and you can see how much you have remaining in that category.

The second problem was in my initial learning phase. Not being one to follow instructions well, I tried to jump in blindly and figure things out as I went along. It took me about two days to decide to go back to the short tutorial, watch it, and start over. I had success after that.

You can try it free for 30 days, which is more than enough time to begin saving money. Finally, a personal budgeting application that works!

The Art of Small Business: Passion and the Desire to Add Value

2009-03-21T00:01:00.000-04:00

I've profiled several small-businesses in the past few weeks here at RPL. The interviews and responses have revealed several things that have made each business successful and growing from start-up to the next phase.

The first of those things that I'd like to mention is passion. Each business owner interviewed either explicitly or implicitly stated their passion for their business and their desire to improve something, provide a product or service that meets a need.

A business started without a passion to accomplish something, something more than making fortune, is more likely to succeed than a purely financial pursuit. That passion shows through and is evident in every aspect of the business.

Take Wickett's Golf, for example. James Wicketts said that he wants to expand his golf instruction business throughout Ontario to meet the needs of golfers and expand the game. Sherri Morris' love of her business shows through in the time she spent learning everything from establishing her legal business entity, to a fantastic website and a well-designed product. Doug Albers of 14 Stix Golf turned his love of golf into a unique sales method within the golf industry.

You'll need more than passion to succeed, but without it, you're venture is doomed from the start.

Small-Business Profile: Digi Time Capsule, LLC

2009-02-20T00:01:00.003-05:00

When you know you have a great business idea, it just feels right. Sherri Morris, founder of Digi Time Capsule, LLC, knows that feeling. She turned her fantastic idea into a great business. She was kind enough to grant RPL an interview.

RPL: How did you get the idea for the My Pregnancy Digi Time Capsule? Also, explain a little about what it is.

Sherri Morris: Every school year, I would take my boy’s favorite papers, drawings, stories, and photos; scan them and put a little Time Capsule questionnaire together that explained the activities they did all year, funny things they said, how they grew, sports they played and crushes on girls they had, into a School Year DVD. All of my friends started asking for one and that’s when the idea of turning it into software that everyone could use and do themselves came to be! I decided to go in succession with Pregnancy being the first stage of their lives. We do have a school year one in production now and is scheduled to be released in fall when the new school year starts up.

RPL: What led you to go past the idea stage, take action and start a business? When did you "open the doors"?

SM: What led me was when my husband’s company moved us from my only home of 32 years, Chicago, to a brand new state, Florida. I was newly pregnant with my daughter, who’s now 2, and had a real estate license that was not reciprocal in Florida. Basically I would be looking for a new job Pregnant, which would probably not have gone too well. That is when I said to myself, "Self, now is the time"!

I didn’t care that I didn’t have a penny, I was going to figure it out, and I did and still am figuring it out . I spent hours in the library and online learning ways to start up with no money and just went for it. I will say, I once heard someone say this "Nothing worth having ever comes easy". It is something that has always stuck with me. I knew this was not going to be easy, but was going to be that much more gratifying because I worked for it! I applied for my LLC and formally became a company in September of 2007, with my first product release the past November 2008!

RPL: You have a great website. Have you outsourced much of your business, i.e. Site development, technology, anything else?

SM: Thank you! I have done 100% of the website myself. As I mention going to the library and learning what I needed to save on costs, this is something that I taught myself! A hundred sites later, I am finally at a place where I like what I have out there! I will always and everyday work to make it better. The more I learn, the better it gets! Open Source has a lot of free help out there for people like me who know computers well, but don’t know code!

RPL: What obstacles have you faced and overcome to this point? Are you where you thought you'd be in terms of success?

SM: Obstacles…hmmm…A little story: My 9 year old, Cody, had left a school paper for me to sign on my keyboard. I said, Cod, why’d you leave that on my keyboard? He said, "because I know you will see it then". My other son Christian (6) had to fill out questions all about MOM! When asked what does your mom do for fun, he wrote "sit at her puter", when asked what do you love about your mommy the most, he wrote "she teaches me the puter" Eye Opener!!! I spend too much time on my "Puter"! Now, I set a specific time to end the day so that my 3 children see their mommy doing something other than being on the phone or computer.

As far as being where I thought I’d be, definitely not. I had a lot of issues with getting the software programmed properly – that I did not do myself. I am on my third programming company, and they finally got it right! I lost a lot of time and money on the last two, but something inside me said I know I want this released, but this is just not "It". You get one chance at a first impression and the way they did it was not what I wanted to project!

RPL: What advice would you have for people with an idea or passion for a business/interest?

SM: Go For it! Don’t let anyone hold you back. Where there is a passion, there is a way! Your will and determination will get you where you want to be, just don’t give up! And I have been asked a lot about the economy and starting a business now. Here’s my thought on that: You are either 1 in 1 billion trying to make it, or you are 1 in 1 thousand trying to make it. Either way, you face the same struggles no matter when you start. Don’t let barriers stop you, rather look for a way you can get over, around or under them.

Small-Business Profile: James Wicketts and Wicketts Golf

2009-02-19T19:29:00.003-05:00

The small businesses RPL has profiled so far have several characteristics in common. As you’ll plainly see in this profile, one important characteristic each holds in common is the belief that the product or service at the core of the business adds value to clients and customers.

James Wicketts, founder and head professional of the Ontario, Canada-based golf instruction company, Wicketts Golf, was kind enough to allow RPL to conduct a brief interview recently. The interview provided some great insight into his background, business, marketing and advice for others.

RPL: What is your personal and professional background?

James Wicketts: I was born in Toronto, Canada. Second youngest of four children from English parents. I excelled at many different sports as a kid. Hockey, snooker and golf were my favorites. In my mid-twenties, I was about to turn pro in snooker before an automobile accident put a halt to that. I turned pro in golf a few years later. I have been a Canadian PGA Professional for almost twenty years now. Early in my career I realized that I had a passion for teaching golf and helping golfers enjoy their game.

RPL: When did you begin your business? What drove you to start it?

JW: I started Wicketts Golf in the spring of 2006 with the vision of giving quality golf instruction to golfers in my area and to help grow the game for golfers and golf clubs in my area. There were a few new golf courses opening but no one to teach the game. Wicketts Golf started with 3 locations in 2006 and now has 5 locations with plans to add at least one more location in 2009.

RPL: What are your goals for the business and where are you know in that pursuit?

JW: My goals for Wicketts Golf has always been to help golfers of all levels enjoy their game and to help grow the game for golfers and golf clubs. Future goals for Wicketts Golf include expanding to more locations across Ontario, Canada and to expand into other golf related services online.

RPL: You make use of the Internet and social media, like Twitter. How has such technology impacted your business? Do you see it as worthwhile?

JW: Modern technology enabled me to connect to other people, services and businesses that can help me expand my business both geographically and to provide new services. Technology also helps me to stay connected with my clients in such ways as online lessons, video analysis, scheduling of lessons, newsletters and my new blog which offers tips, lessons and golf related discussion and humor.

RPL: If you had to name one key to a successful business start-up what would it be?

JW: If I had to name one key to a successful business start-up, it would be to believe in your product or service. I believe in what I teach. I believe that by helping people play better golf, they will play more and continue to play for the rest of their lives. This will continue to help the golf industry grow and thrive in the future.

Self-Taught iPhone Application Developer Goes to #1

2009-02-18T09:57:00.006-05:00

Does this sound like a get-rich-quick scheme? YOU can teach yourself how to program and cash-in on the Apple iPhone application revolution and make up to $600,000 in ONE MONTH!

Read on and decide for yourself. It is, without question, an example of tenacity in working through life’s little speed bumps.

Ethan Nicholas was an engineer at Sun Microsystems. Great job? Yes. But, as often happens, hard times befell his family to the extent that he was barely getting by. He also had a 1-year-old son to provide for. That’s when he took matters into his own hands.

After his shift ended each day at Sun, he would begin working on developing the iPhone application (app) bouncing around in his head: iShoot, a tank artillery game. In the technology business, but with no knowledge of how to code and program an iPhone application, and without the money to buy books and programs from which to learn, he taught himself from free information found on the Internet. After his shift, he’d spend another eight hours, often with his pre-toddler in his lap, learning, coding, and dreaming.

In October 2008, his game launched, but to slow sales. He then coded a free version of the game, advertised the $3 full version inside the free program and the rest is history.

Users downloaded over 2-million copies of the free version, which converted to 320,000 sales of the full version. His game quickly rose to the Number 1 position, where it remained for nearly a month. Presently, it sits at #6.

Ok, 320,000 times $3 equals $960,000! ($600,000 coming this past January, alone).

Nicholas’ story is certainly an extraordinary one and not something that happens every day, but it provides some insight into the roads we can take when facing financial adversity. We can reach within ourselves, pull out all that is marketable, and shape it into something valuable, or, we can look to get-rich-quick schemes, fall for everything that promises the sun and moon, and rely on others to do everything for us.

Ethan Nicholas seems to have taken the first road. The only road worth taking. Get-rich-quick scheme? Not at all.

Almost forgot. He quit his job at Sun Microsystems.

Source: Wired Blog Network, "Coder’s Half-Million-Dollar Baby Proves iPhone Gold Rush Is Still On", by Brian X. Chen, February 12, 2009.

Be Financially Proactive During the Downturn

2009-02-16T22:54:00.005-05:00

This post was contributed by Holly McCarthy, who writes on the subject of the best universities. She invites your feedback at hollymccarthy12 at gmail dot com.

This past week, US officials stated that the worldwide economic crisis could ultimately be more destabilizing than terrorism at this critical point. While many of us have felt the sting of the economic downturn, it may not in fact seem to be quite as dire. There are some habits that you can adopt that will begin to help you take control of your financial situation in the recession and beyond; these things are outlined for readers below.

Save for a Rainy Day

The importance of saving money should never be underestimated, especially in tough economic times. Try to put aside a little extra from each paycheck for a rainy day because you never know when you’ll need a little extra cash to float you through a rough spot. Taking away a little bit of money from yourself now may be just what you need down the line.

Be a Bargain Hunter

There are always ways to save money when shopping, starting with coupons. Every week, the Sunday paper is full of great deals and coupons on the products you use in your daily life. Start reading labels and look at the product’s ingredients; store brands can be up to fifty percent cheaper than name brand counterparts and are just as effective. The amount you save can also go into your savings account or free up more cash for other purchases.

Think About Major Purchases

Even in the toughest economic times, there are good deals to be had if you just look. Companies are offering high-end products at good prices to boost sales and other businesses that are going under have major purchase products at unbelievable savings. Do your research before you buy, but remember—sometimes it may be better to wait it out.

Eat Out Wisely

Rather than spending a large amount of money eating out throughout the week, try cooking at home and see how much you end up saving in a brief period of time. If you have to eat out, choose your location carefully. You will begin to appreciate the time you spend out more if you do it less often and will end up having a surplus of cash as a result.

The Croc Factor: Business Idea Breeding Grounds

2009-02-15T10:34:00.011-05:00

Where are the business idea breeding grounds? They're everywhere you look, everywhere you are. Two success stories from the restaurant industry illustrate the point well.

In 1986, in a Houston, Texas market dominated by oil, cattle and big ol' steaks, Carrabba's Italian Grill was born. Two young entrepreneurs, Johnny Carrabba and Damian Mandola, brought something entirely new to their local Houston market, wood-fired, brick ovens. Doesn't sound like a new idea now, and it wasn't then in the New England market. But, Carrabba and Mandola saw the opportunity to introduce an old idea to a new location. Turns out, their idea was popular in many areas across the U.S.

Although it's not an accurate representation of life in Australia, the movie Crocodile Dundee has become a household name the world over. In 1987, as Dundee fever was at it's height, three restaurant entrepreneurs in Florida decided to capitalize and that fact, and that people still wanted steak when they ate out, despite the turn toward a healthier lifestyle. Partners Tim Gannon, Bob Basham, and Chris Sullivan started, of course, Outback Steakhouse. Is the menu authentic Australian? Probably not (almost certainly not), but it doesn't need to be. The combination of American cuisine and Australian culture has been nothing short of prime.

Whether you're a restaurateur, a blogger, cabinet maker, physician, or chimney sweep, ideas for new businesses and improvements upon old procedures are everywhere. Carrabba's looked to New England and the Old Country for something new to Houston. The founders of Outback Steakhouse found their idea in the American embrace of Australia thanks to a popular movie.

Where will you find your next big idea? For mine, I'm going walkabout right now.

Small Business Profile: Naomi Dunford and IttyBiz.com

2009-02-09T14:44:00.004-05:00

This post is a stimulus package all on it’s own. If you aren’t encouraged, inspired, awestruck and moved to action by the story and success of Naomi Dunford and IttyBiz.com, then a spending bill the size of our national debt can’t save you.

A few days ago, Naomi was kind enough to answer a few questions and tell a bit of her story to Recession-Proofing Life. Read on and hear the story.

A couple of months ago, I stumbled upon a great looking small business and marketing blog called IttyBiz.com. I quickly found that it's unlike any other (a quick look and you’ll see several reasons why). Sure, the blog is great, but the business of IttyBiz is of particular interest to you, me and countless other tiny-, even nano-businesses. With the blog, information products and consulting services, IttyBiz has dared to go where few, if any, have gone before; helping the smallest of businesses grow.

RPL: What is your professional and personal/educational background?

Naomi Dunford: We'll start with personal and education, because that's far more interesting. I dropped out of high school to have my first son. I was able to get into college without a diploma and promptly dropped out of that as well. So basically, I have no background -- well, not a relevant one, anyway.

Professionally, I temped in various corporate communications and marketing positions until I was pregnant in 2006 when I was completely sidelined by health issues and anxiety attacks. I knew I couldn't go back to work so I started IttyBiz.com.

RPL: What led you to start your business? When did you start it?

ND: Well, two things happened. The health and anxiety thing, for one. That's what led me to start A business. The reason I started THIS business is because nobody else was doing it. I'm very good at marketing, sure, but I could've been just as good at marketing for big businesses as I could have for little ones. But I decided to work with the little guys because nobody else was targeting that market. Officially, IttyBiz opened its doors in October 2007.

RPL: What challenges and successes have you encountered with your business?

ND: Lots of both, although I'm pretty sure that's everybody's answer. As far as success, I've been able to give jobs to my closest friends and family members -- we have four employees now. I've been able to move to England to be nearer to my mother, a dream I've had for a long time. And I've met some absolutely incredible people.

Challenges are a little different because what seems like a challenge when you're going through it inevitably turns into a raging success if you give it long enough. I had a miscarriage in the spring of last year, which almost cleared us out. I couldn't work and at the time my family's sole source of income was from my consulting. But that taught me that I needed sustainable income streams that didn't require me to work for every dollar that came into the house. When I learned to do that I created Online Business School and that's made six figures so far -- so what seemed like a challenge ended up being a pretty incredible opportunity.

Right now, we're changing payment processors which is so complicated and convoluted it makes my brain hurt just thinking about it. But who knows what opportunities that's going to bring?

RPL: What are some of the things that have contributed to your growth and success?

ND: I have amazing people. My husband, my mother, my fantastic assistant -- unbelievable. But before any of those people came on board I had the pleasure of meeting dozens of other professionals that have helped me in ways I can't even begin to explain. Charlie Gilkey is my creativity coach and I couldn't have put out one product without him -- I'd still be selling consulting for $75 an hour if it weren't for him. Dave Navarro is my launch coach and Online Business School wouldn't have been a tenth as successful as it was if he wasn't around.

RPL: What advice can you pass along to people considering starting a business?

ND: Read great books. Make friends with great people. Understand that the hard parts are what will make your business all that you want it to be. And know that nothing -- NOTHING -- can't be fixed. It's a lot easier to start now and figure out the details later than to sit in your day job thinking of everything that could possibly go wrong.

Something caught my attention while reading through this post before publishing it. Read back through and you’ll see "I'd still be selling consulting for $75 an hour..." I’ll bet $75/hr. sounds good, doesn’t it? Gives you an itty bit of insight into the success of IttyBiz and what Naomi does for her clients.

I’d like to thank Naomi for the interview. You can thank her too, by visiting IttyBiz.com.

Was this profile helpful? Share your comments.

Top Secret of Successful People Revealed

2009-02-09T08:59:00.003-05:00

I was recently reading Seth Godin's blog when I found that I should be one of the world's most successful people. Now, I just need to find out why I'm not exactly there.

In all seriousness, I was struck by Godin's finding, as revealed in his post, Learning All the Time. In the post, he reported that the top habit held in common by most successful people is that they read books to learn something. And, they do so happily.

It shouldn't be so earth shattering to me, after all, it only makes sense. How better to learn than from the best, assuming you have chosen wisely who to read?

That's good news for us, the people trying to get a business off the ground, trying to provide for ourselves and our families, trying to follow our entrepreneurial dreams. Good news because the top habit of successful people is so easily within our reach. As Godin points out, it's even cheap! Maybe even free if you go to the library.

Top-10 Tips to Make Money Online in '09

2009-02-04T00:01:00.004-05:00

Is there anything more like the battle between good and evil than the war we wage in going from "in debt"(evil) to "financially secure"(good)? I don't think so!

As RPL has said several times, changing spending habits and reducing debt is one front in the battle, but earning more money is the second front. With the population of the Internet topping 1 billion for the first time ever, establishing a revenue stream without some attachment to the Internet would be a mistake.

In this post from Retireat21 you'll see their top-10 tips for earning income online this year. You'll also see some of the same things RPL has been saying since our inception:

Take action (don't just think about taking action)

See the opportunities everywhere

Use Twitter.com and other social networking sites

Be passionate about what you're doing

and more

What this proves, meaning multiple sources (and there are many besides RPL and Retireat21) seeing the same things as essential to success, is that the Internet is a part of daily life. It won't go away and is a viable tool for use in business. With over a billion people using it, and that number growing every day, you'd better use it, too.

By the way, the Retireat21.com blog isn't only for people under 21. It's an inspiring read for anyone, and useful, too.

Fortune 500 Humor

2009-02-03T15:39:00.006-05:00

Might as well laugh.

It's a shame, but the recession has forced a few companies to change their logos to more accurately reflect their current status or that of the economy.

Thanks to BusinessPundit.com for the logos.

No Time Like the Present: Successfully Seeking Financial Freedom

2009-02-03T11:22:00.005-05:00

Keeping your eyes on the horizon, or looking to the future, is not a bad thing. It's great to think of all the things that come with financial freedom. Looking to the future can also be dangerous, particularly if you're struggling to get out of debt and begin gathering wealth.

It's easy to become overwhelmed by the "Big Picture". Daydreaming about family vacations free from financial worries, birthday presents for the kids absent the guilt associated with the expense, or even stopping at McDonalds to buy lunch without wondering if there's money in the bank account are all good motivators. The danger comes because daydreams always lead back to your present situation.

If you're only just beginning your ascent from the depths of debt, the present in total can be overwhelming. It's imperative to establish a plan, stick to it, and look at each day as a small battle to be won in the financial freedom war.

Sticking to your debt-reduction plan, spending plan, savings plan, all can be measured daily. You can see each day whether or not you've won. You can see progress toward financial freedom each day.

If you haven't done so, great places to look for establishing your financial freedom plan are:

If you're facing a debt crisis, you're certainly not alone. The fact you're reading this blog post indicates you are moving in the right direction, you want out. Take a few more steps and you're well on your way to a financially worry-free day on the beach with your kids.

Idea Spot: "Rags" to Riches

2009-01-29T12:26:00.003-05:00

In this post from the Golden Goods blog, see how one person is literally creating a rags to riches story.

Another example of how a little inspiration and ingenuity can go a long way. Starting a profitable business can often be simple.

How to Stay in Business in a Poor Economy: Online Tools and Web Marketing

2009-01-29T10:52:00.006-05:00

Banks get bailed-out. Auto manufacturers do, too. Even, as I heard today, some sort of yacht manufacturing industry in Florida is slated to get its share of our money if the next round of bailout funding goes through. One thing is certain: your business and mine won't get a cent. So, we have to stay afloat.

It's both a curse and a blessing that most businesses aren't using online tools and web marketing to bolster their business. A curse because they don't know about the tools and can potentially go broke, in part, because they aren't' using every tool at their disposal. A blessing because there are avenues for struggling businesses to explore, avenues that have great potential (they work for new businesses, too!). There are ways to stay afloat and prosper.

In a recent article at Times Online, Dan Cobley of Google UK (the recession isn't limited to the US) said that “If you don’t have a website it’s no longer expensive or difficult to set one up. In 10 minutes, without technical skills, you can create a basic one. You don’t need any coding and what would have cost you hundreds or thousands of pounds a few years ago can be completely free now.” Seems like RPL said the same thing a few weeks ago (never waste a chance to toot your own horn).

Despite the relative ease of setting up a website, many companies just don't do it. As I see it, they simply don't realize the potential benefit or they're under the impression it is too difficult.

According to Cobley. “A quarter of UK businesses, up to 1m, don’t have a website and, anecdotally, about half of those that do have a website don’t do anything with it.” That problem isn't limited to the UK. The 25% average is likely higher in many countries, which indicates a staggering number of companies don't use this amazingly affordable and easy form of marketing.

Even when a business creates an online presence, according to web marketing expert Nikki Pilkington, also quoted from the same Times Online article, they don't do the required marketing. Says Pilkington, “A lot of people still expect visitors just to find their website. Making your site visible to search engines is vital if you want to attract traffic.”

Even a beginner can take some simple steps to get themselves recognized online. As the experts in the article state, before paying a SEO firm and possibly eliminating the need to ever hire one, do these things:

Use keyword phrases in site text and page titles that describe your business, location, services, etc.
“If a designer is building your site ensure that they also include these [keyword] phrases in the meta description tags \.” says Pilkington.
Utilize online advertising, such as Google Adwords.
Register your site with search engines (Google will drive 90%-plus of your search engine traffic) and local directory sites.
Join online business networks.

That isn't an exhaustive list, but it can get you started. Combining those things with knowing your customers well, knowing your business products or services and knowing your competition will pay off immensely.

Today's List Sign-Up Contest

2009-01-26T10:32:00.003-05:00

You may have noticed, or not, but I recently started the Recession-Proofing Life email list. I'm getting set to publish the first monthly RPL newsletter and want as many people as possible to get it.

Each of the first 100 people who sign up today will have a chance to win a $15 iTunes gift card. I will draw the name/email tomorrow, at random, and notify the winner via email. I'll just need to know where to send it. You'll have the option of having your name and state/country featured here, but you don't have to.

You'll need to enter your name and email address in the form in the left column of this page, and then confirm your subscription when prompted, to be entered.
Each month, you'll get the newsletter, unique content before it is published here or anywhere, free offers, great business ideas, ways to save money, earn money and lots more. It'll be great and will only enhance your bottom line.

See you on the list!

Follow me on twitter: @alanlhammond

Twintors: A Do-It-Yourself Twitter Mentoring Program

2009-01-23T11:08:00.008-05:00

You have a great idea for a blog, e-book, or some other business. You may have even started the business, having some success. But, in looking ahead, you see some potential stumbling blocks that you will need help with.

It may be time for a mentor.

There are lots of mentoring programs and coaching programs available, but you may not be ready to take action. Until you find the right fit for you or until you decide you are willing and able to hire a mentor, consider using Twitter.com. At Twitter, you'll find people with a wealth of knowledge and experience and the willingness to share.

I've been using Twitter for two months or so. I am fortunate to have found and follow on Twitter some experts that consistently share information I can immediately put to use. I use these people as my do-it-yourself mentoring program.

Below are my favorite twintors (twitter mentors). Some are real-life mentors and coaches that you may find can help you, one-to-one, at some point. Most are great in their professional areas, all will show you how to make the most of social media to help your business. They are in alphabetical order by their Twitter usernames.

@barefoot_exec (Carrie Wilkerson) - Always has inspirational tweets and is the definition of looking on the bright side of everything.
@BradFallon (Brad Fallon) - Pure Internet marketing, but a good example of how it's done.
@copyblogger (Brian Clark) - Has one of the top blogs in the universe and shares a mix of music, great information on blogging and life, and his tweets demonstrate how to effectively use social media.
@garyvee (Gary Vaynerchuck) - His tweets are as high-energy as his online videos. That alone keeps me focused and moving forward. Successful in business and online, social media marketing.
@JoannaLord (Joanna Lord) - Owner of premier job search site, TheOnlineBeat.com, she is a mix of social media marketing, sharing information, and communication with followers.
@KathleenHessert (Kathleen Hessert) - Consistently posts valuable information and has great communication with followers.
@MikeGeffner (Mike Geffner) - An award winning writer who is establishing resources for up-and-coming writers. Possibly the best of all at communicating with followers.
@MrBusinessGolf (Scott Duke) - Scott helps people and businesses use golf to forge partnerships, network and grow. Making excellent use of growing his own business through social media. He's one from which you can learn a great deal.
@msleisure (Susan Hill) - This well known golf-fitness expert is also an expert at using social media to gain a following and grow her business.
@problogger (Darren Rowse) - His blog is consistently one of the most popular. Although the topic of Problogger.net is blogging, he shares posts that everyone will find beneficial.

If you were to limit the people you follow to these people, you'd have a good homemade mentoring program. Don't just listen to me, though. Use them as a base and go find your own favorites.

If you read my earlier post, Who's Who of Who to Follow on Twitter (and Why), you'll see some changes. The people on that list who aren't on this one didn't "go bad", they're still great ones to add, too. But, as time moves on, so do my criteria. Any person that makes any of my lists is there for good reason. You'll see if you follow them.

By the way, follow me on twitter.

Free Small Business Counseling from Experts

2009-01-21T12:52:00.003-05:00

I have been reviewing the website, asking present and former users, and talking with employees about what I think is one of the most valuable services available to beginning small business owners. What I found is that SCORE is an immensely valuable tool.

SCORE stands for the Service Corps of Retired Executives. The organization describes itself like this on SCORE.org, and I can't put it any better: " SCORE 'Counselors to America's Small Business' is a nonprofit association dedicated to educating entrepreneurs and the formation, growth and success of small business nationwide. SCORE is a resource partner with the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA)."

Now, that doesn't even begin to tell you about all the services they offer and the wealth of information you will receive when using them.

Essentially, you can contact SCORE through their website or at any one of nearly 400 offices in the U.S. You will then be assigned a counselor who will work directly with you personally, over the telephone, in person, via email, whatever you choose or is right for your situation.

If you're interested in SCORE services and aren't ready to commit to meeting with a counselor, or you don't think your schedule will allow it, through the SCORE website you can communicate via email with a counselor. Also, the website has a wealth of small business information, from forming your business, for business forms, articles, technology information, info on growing your business, and more.

I'm going to consult with SCORE and see if they can help my business grow. Mentoring by successful former executives and business people is certainly worth a shot.

Business Profiles

2009-01-20T22:31:00.003-05:00

Over the next few weeks, Recession-Proofing Life will be featuring several different small business profiles, much like the 14 Stix Golf profile. Each business will have a few things in common:

Relatively new businesses
Internet-related
have few, if any, employees other than the founder

The small businesses will be vastly different in what they do, but all will be great examples of how people just like us can start and be successful in a business. We can add to our income, or replace our current profession through entrepreneurship.

I hope you enjoy them. The first business profile, posted in a few days, will be an interview with Leigh Peele of AvidityFitness.com.

Be sure not to miss it. Join the email list and get it before it's published.

Small Business Profile: 14 Stix Golf

2009-01-15T12:01:00.004-05:00

Owning a small business doesn’t have to be a simple dream. All you need is a great idea and the willingness to take action. Well, you need a bit more than "willingness" to take action, you need to TAKE action, which is exactly what Doug Albers, President of 14 Stix Golf has done.

Today, at 14Stix.com, you’ll find a great Ogio golf bag at a great price. That’s all you’ll find. No golf clubs, no golf balls, shoes, rain gear, or caps, just the Ogio golf bag. You see, 14 Stix Golf only sells a certain number of one product each day. When it’s sold out, that’s all until the next day and the next product. What a great idea! Can you see the benefits this business model? Reduced overhead, no need for storage of tons of products, lower startup costs, no warehousing, few overruns, to name but a few. A great business idea put into practice by one person who took action.

Recession-Proofing Life recently interviewed Doug about his background and his company. We think you’ll find it interesting and inspiring.

RPL: Doug, what’s your personal and professional background?

Doug Albers: I grew up in a suburb of Kansas City. My parents were both very entrepreneurial; Dad owned his own pharmacy and Mom did everything from event planning to custom greeting cards to running a breast pump rental company. Umm, you don't exactly look that cool when you're in high school and your mom picks you and your friends up in a mini van full of breast pumps. Let's just say I usually tried to find a ride home from a friend to avoid the embarrassment.

I learned a lot from both of them though. They both worked extremely hard, set their own schedules and never had to answer to anyone but themselves. Their success was directly correlated to how hard they worked (I later found out that in Corporate America this is not true). I guess that same principle is what drew me to golf.

I played a little junior golf and really got into golf in high school. I didn't consider myself to be as naturally gifted as some of the other kids I played against but I really enjoyed working to improve as well as the strategic side of the game. I was pretty confident that I could out think my opponents and control my emotions and use that to my advantage.

I ended up having a decent enough high school career to end up playing in college. After a lot of deliberation I decided on Boston College. I played 2 years there before I kind of got burned out and decided that I just wanted to be a normal student. It was a great decision in hindsight because I really enjoyed my last two years but it also made me realize that there was no off-course equivalent to the competitive outlet that golf provided. I graduated with a BS in Marketing but didn't really know what I was going to do with it.

Strangely enough, about a month before I graduated from BC I played a round of golf with a friend of the golf coach at the University of Missouri. I guess I must have played well because the coach called and asked if I would be interested in coming there to play for the team. I didn't have a job lined up at this point so this was a very easy decision. I finished up my eligibility at Mizzou and got my MBA at the same time.

After Mizzou I interned for a database marketing company for about 6 months before I went to work in sales for a small hospital products company. I did that for about a year until I was asked to transfer to South Carolina. My girlfriend (now my wife) was opening up her own stationery store in Kansas City (see a theme developing here?) and felt compelled to help her get it going so I decided to leave the company and went to work in Finance for a Fortune 500 trucking company in town. I've been there for about the past 4 years and change.
That pretty much gets us to where I am today. I've been fortunate to have my wife, mom, dad, and now little sister (she recently opened her own clothing boutique) to draw experience and support from and use what they've learned in their own ventures how I can build a great foundation for my own venture.

RPL: When did you start 14Stix.com?

Doug Albers: We (my web developer Kevin Crawford and I) started building the web site around June or July of 2008. This was the first time I had ever really managed a project of this magnitude before and it was much more involved than I had really anticipated. Rather than purchase 'off the shelf' web solutions to build the site we decided to build everything from scratch, which was both terrifyingly unwieldy and exhilarating. There were really no boundaries to what we could create, but it also made it difficult to focus efforts.

It was also the first time that Kevin and I had worked together and I think there was definitely a feeling out period where we both were trying to better understand how each of us liked to work. Eventually, things started to click and I think the finished product speaks for itself. We put together a really first rate site that people seem to enjoy. The site was completed around the middle of November and we spent the next couple of weeks testing, diagnosing issues and correcting them prior to launch. We officially launched on December 1st, 2008 and we've been running smoothly ever since.

RPL: What led you to the idea for, and ultimately the launch of, 14 Stix Golf?

Doug Albers: Honestly? Boredom. My job at the trucking company is one that I could do in my sleep. It's a very process oriented job and once I refined my work processes I became pretty efficient at it - which left me with some time to explore and look for other things to keep me from going completely crazy. Around that time a friend told me about a couple of sites he had become addicted to: Woot.com, WhiskeyMilitia.com and SteepandCheap.com. They're sort of the pioneers of the deal-a-day industry. I started to watch what they did, how they did it and began thinking that it was a business model that I could replicate in other industries. I realized that one of the keys to making a site like this work is finding an niche that has an unyielding and rabid group of participants. Golfers clearly fit that mold and since it is a sport and industry that I know a lot about and a lot of people in - I decided to start asking my network of golf contacts if they thought this would be a viable channel in their industry. Almost everyone was intrigued by the concept and I was fortunate enough to have some good friends in the industry give me the opportunity to try and move some product. Of all the work that went into starting 14 STIX, calling on and convincing the people with the products to give us a shot was/is the most frustrating and rewarding part of the process. It definitely made me more resilient and helped me develop a thick skin, because for every 'yes' I heard five 'NOs'.

RPL: You don't have to divulge sources, but how can a person who wants to start a business, maybe one like yours, begin their search for their particular product niche?

Doug Albers: This is going to sound like your valedictorians commencement speech, but you have to start with an evaluation of what you know and what you like doing. Obviously, if you don't know a thing about ping pong and you generally don't like playing it, you're road to creating a business for people who play ping pong is going to be pretty difficult. You have to understand who your target audience is, where they are, what they want and how they want what they want distributed to them. This is not to say that if you identified the ping pong market as a prime candidate for this form of commerce that you couldn't create something meaningful for it's customer base - it's just going to be a longer learning curve for you. I just know that based on my personality I would not be driven to run a business in an industry I didn't care about and wasn't heavily involved in. Plus, I think that has the additional benefit of providing your customers with a high quality experience because most people can spot a fake a mile away - especially in golf. I imagine it's the same across most niches as well.

After taking a mental inventory of who and what you know, it's just about working hard and being patient and resilient. Spend some time determining the best and worst practices of similar companies (like Woot et. al) so you can improve upon their successes and avoid some of their limitations. Use it as your blueprint for starting your own. You'll be better served if you have a clear picture of what you want to build before you start construction.

I also think it's important to let your personality shine through in your work and the new push into social media (Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, blogs in general, etc) makes that easier than ever. I use these tools to spread the word about 14 STIX, keep a finger on the pulse of my industry and also let people know that the guy behind the business is accessible, engaged and somewhat normal (this is debatable according to my friends). I'd encourage people out there thinking about starting their own gig to do their homework on social media and learn to use it to their advantage. It's something I try to do everyday.

RPL: Has 14stix met your expectations or goals for growth so far?

Doug Albers: This is tough to answer because we're so new at this point. Of course, going in, I thought all I had to do was turn the site on, send out a few emails to friends and organizations and I'd have 10,000 hits a day and we'd be an instant success. Have I mentioned that I sometimes struggle with patience? Of course, things tend to start a little slower than that (who would have guessed?), but we're are growing every single day and I'm able to see the results of all the work that I'm putting into it. That's what keeps me coming back. Ironically, it's the same feeling that got me hooked on golf in the first place. Lots of practice helped me produce good shots and positive results. They're were lots of bad shots and frustrating rounds mixed in along the way, but I knew that if I wanted to get better I had to try to break down what wasn't working, diagnose the cause and work on a fix. If you continuously focus on the process and don't beat yourself up too much when it doesn't immediately produce the expected results, you'll eventually be successful at whatever it is you want to do. I think that's universally true - but there are probably 10 million golfers out there swatting range balls and swearing up a storm that would beg to disagree with me on that!

I’d have to agree with Doug; resilience, hard work, and even a thick skin will pay off immensely. We wish Doug and 14 Stix Golf the best of luck, even when we know he won’t need much (luck, that is).

Online Resource for More Than Just Any Old Job

2009-01-13T09:36:00.003-05:00

Through Twitter (what a great invention), I just found a great job search site called The Online Beat.

Everyone wants that dream-job, the one that will carry us through, happily, to retirement. Whether or not that job exists is a matter for debate, but The Online Beat will get you very close. You can search jobs across many different job boards, get assistance in marketing yourself through social media, make use of an informative job guide, and tons of other stuff, all packaged in an extremely useable and uncluttered manner (which is a huge key for me).

It's a great looking site and has the content to back it up. Take a look at it and have a go.

Debtip: Paying-Off Smallest Debts First

2009-01-12T16:11:00.003-05:00

At first glance, paying-off credit cards, loans and other debts that have the largest balance or highest interest rates before others seems to make sense. That line of thinking may be completely the opposite of what we should do.

If you haven't heard of Dave Ramsey, you should familiarize yourself with his financial advice. In his book, The Total Money Makeover, Ramsey maintains paying off smaller debts, regardless of interest rate, before others is the best way to go, and the integral part of building a "debt snowball."

Ramsey maintains that killing the small debts first provides a big mental advantage. In a nutshell, starting with the smallest debt lets us have immediate feedback and see progress at an early stage. After paying off the first debt, continue to apply that same amount to the next debt, in addition to the normal monthly payment. When the second debt is satisfied, continue to the third by paying the normal payment plus the amounts you were paying for the first and second debts. That is essentially the "debt snowball." The amount you pay toward your debts keeps growing with each successive paid-off debt.

According to Ramsey, when we're already overwhelmed by payments and debt and collection notices and collection telephone calls, it is easy to give up. Paying-down your larger bills doesn't provide the feedback of which we are sorely in need. Building the snowball provides positive reinforcement when it is needed the most.

The Total Money Makeover has been wildly popular for several years, and with good reason. Check it out.

Attacking Financial Problems on Two Fronts

2009-01-09T11:34:00.004-05:00

Imagine you've fallen into a well. It didn't take long to get to the bottom, but there you are, wet, freezing, and alone. Fortunately, the bucket and rope are there, so you can climb out, but it will take an agonizingly long time. That is, unless there's someone pulling the rope up while you climb it.

Helping you climb the rope while being pulled up at the same time is what Recession-Proofing Life does. Excessive debt makes you feel like you've hit rock bottom. It seems like it didn't take long to get there and the road out appears to be a long one.

If you simply stop incurring new debt and try to reduce the debt you have, that's great, but it will feel like climbing a rope out of a deep well; long and painful. If you find new sources of income, a small business (even a tiny, micro, nano business), or another job, it will feel like someone is pulling you out while you are climbing the rope. You'll get out of debt much more quickly and seeing the progress along the way will serve to brighten your outlook along the way.

Recession-Proofing Life searches for new ideas in beating debt, starting a business, increasing your net worth, new business ideas, adding multiple income streams and securing your financial future. You won't get rich quickly, or even see get-rich-quick programs and schemes, here. But, you will be enriched.

If you have ideas, find products of value, have success stories, started a business, please let us know. We'd love to hear about them and so would other readers, because we're all trying to beat the recession and debt. We may even be able to feature your story or article.

Before you can beat a recession, you must conquer your debt.

Just Backpack It: A Great Organization Service For Small And Large Business Owners

2009-01-08T22:43:00.010-05:00

J. Chad Barnett, Contributing Writer

I've checked out a number of online organization services in the past few days. Most are good sites that provide decent tools to help manage business activities. During my search, however, I found a diamond in the rough.

Providing an easy-to-use interface with a variety of awesome features, Backpackit.com is one of the best virtual assistants available, in my opinion. This site allows you to keep track of group members and employees, as well as create numerous pages for projects. Each page is equipped with files, pictures, and to-do lists, making organization easy and accessible.

There are a number of tools that can make day-to day activity easier for small and large business owners. Some are listed below:

Group Calendar – Can view up to 6 weeks at a time, easily add events that are color coded for each member, can create multiple calenders and choose who sees which.
Backpack Messages – Each message is constructed like an e-mail, all messages are kept in a central location, all comments are displayed below the message.
Newsroom – Keep track of the latest messages, and what other group members are doing.
Reminders – Reminders are automatically sent after doing certain activities, and you can also send reminders to one or more people independently.

With all that is offered from this site, I feel that the pricing is reasonable, and is divided into three package deals. You start off with a 30-day trial no matter which package you choose, so if you don't like it, stop using it. No harm, no foul.

Go ahead, check out the website at http://www.backpackit.com/ and watch the video. If you agree or disagree, I love feedback. So leave a comment.

A Note from the Editor:
Change your life forever with two minutes and $14 (and a pencil).
Click below for more details.

P.S. I love it!
ALH

Freelance Writing Can Put Extra Cash In Your Pocket

2009-01-06T23:24:00.004-05:00

J. Chad Barnett, Contributing Writer

Who doesn't want extra money? Especially now, when every cent counts. Like most Americans, I was taken by surprise when the depth of the country's financial woes became apparent. Deciding how to cut spending, accounting for every penny used, and finding other ways to make extra income, is something even some “well-off” people have to do now.

There are many “scams” out there that try to snare you into believing you can get paid for doing almost nothing. Common sense should tell us that nothing is free in this world. There's usually a catch somewhere.

Well, I'm here to tell you that if you own a computer and have access to the Internet, and a little free time, there is money to be made in freelance writing.....no catch.

It's simple. With all of the different websites, blog sites, etc. on the Internet, the people running them can't keep up with all the traffic, and still keep fresh material on the site. That's where freelance writers come into play. The site owners hire freelancers to write certain articles, site content, press releases, etc., so they can put more time into other responsibilities. It's win/win.

Finding the jobs are easy as well. Bidding sites, such as Elance.com, are for that very purpose. It's free to sign-up, but paying memberships enable you to bid on more jobs. These sites are great for new freelancers. After you make some contacts and complete some jobs, getting work becomes easier, and could get to the point when you don't need to use them any longer to find work.

There are also many sites dedicated to helping freelancers to better their skills. While providing helpful tips and suggestions, these sites answer many questions that new freelancers have. Certainly, Writing.com, WritersDigest.com and others are helpful, but you may want to also check out OneMinutegolfwriter.com, and also SportswriterHQ.blogspot.com, both published by the editor of this blog, Alan Hammond. Don't let the sports monikers fool you, these sites will help all freelancers.

The “catch” here is that, just like everything else in life, you get out of it what you put in. The tools are there, and other established writers are willing to help. The money is there too, so you better get started before I take it all.

J. Chad Barnett is a freelance writer based in North Carolina. He can be reached in care of this blog or at jeffrey_barnett2003@yahoo.com.

Overstock.com's Family Bailout

2009-01-06T17:51:00.003-05:00

Finally, a bailout that makes sense!

Tough economic times bring out the best and worst in companies. According to Embargozone.com, Overstock.com is exhibiting the best, a monthly $10,000 bailout for families through 2009.

The monthly prize, which is designed to help with mortgages, credit cards, and other large debts, will reportedly be paid directly to the winners' debtors. Each winner will also receive an extra amount designed to cover the taxes incurred by the prize.

Read the article here.

Twittering for a New Job

2009-01-05T15:48:00.003-05:00

It's no secret, I've recently been converted to a twitterer, a faithful believer in Twitter.com, that is.

First, if you follow the right people on Twitter, you can learn a great deal. For example, I am a tweep (twitter follower) of super-blogger, Darren Rowse (twitter: @problogger). He recently came across an article posted by another twitterer from the Wall Street Journal about how enterprising people can use Twitter to find a job.

I think that is a fantastic idea. I'm proof that it doesn't take long, a couple of weeks, shorter if you really try, to gain a following of 100 or 200 tweeps (still can't stand the twitter slang). Using the Tweetlater service, you set-up email notifications of tweets (Twitter messages) that contain certain keywords.

If you are searching for a job, let's say, in the sports writing field, you would set up your keyword search to return all tweets containing that phrase. Filter out the useless tweets and follow the people who posted ones that fit your needs. Then, just give them a tweet or reply to a few of theirs as a means of introduction and to show you are listening to what they have to say. When the time is right, make an inquiry about employment, freelance work, etc.

Here's the Wall Street Journal article I mentioned, Twitter Yourself a Job.

When you're looking for a job, every possible lead is pure gold. Twitter, mined correctly can be the rainbow leading to a pot full of the stuff.

If you have a Twitter success story or questions about using Twitter, leave a comment below and I will respond with the answer or where you can find it.

They’ll Hate You For Your Sales Pitch

2008-12-31T09:38:00.005-05:00

If you have a hobby, then you don’t need to market yourself. If you have a business, you won’t for long without a sales pitch and marketing tactics. It’s that simple.

Marketing Yourself

If you’ve been reading RPL (Recession-Proofing Life), you may have started your own weblog as a potential business, or you may have taken a skill or hobby and implemented steps to monetize it. Whatever you’ve chosen, I first wish you all the best in 2009! Because, whatever you’ve chosen, you’ll have to market yourself to make money.

Regardless of your chosen "new income stream," you’ll have some sort of email list, blog, web site, podcast, ad copy, etc., especially if writing and/or communication are components of the business.

Regardless of the medium, you’re either going to promote your business or someone else’s products in the form of ads or product reviews, or both. Rest assured, some people will hate you for your sales pitch and criticize marketing. Yes, they are likely narrow-minded people who fail to realize that most of us can’t start something and call it a business, then operate it like a hobby, for no money, just for "the love of the game." The fact remains, as long as they’re on your email list, or alive, for that matter, they continue to be potential customers. Given that fact, resist the urge to tell them what they can do with their opinions regarding how you market yourself.

How They’ll Hate You: A Case Study

Case in point, a few months ago, when I began to monetize my first blog (this one) and grow an email list, I took great care (still do) to provide my readers and subscribers with honest assessments in my product reviews. If I came across a great product with tremendous potential, I would sign on as an affiliate for the product and tell people of the benefits.

In one of my newsletters, I wrote a piece about how blogging can be a boon to any writer’s income. In the article, I included links to affiliate partners. One person took offense to what she called a "cleverly disguised attempt to peddle" my affiliate partners’ products. She went on to demand that I stop discussing blogs and provide something of real value to writers, otherwise she would stop subscribing.

Resisting The Urge

My first reaction was to take the comments to heart; "How could she insult my integrity?" "Who was she to dictate my topics?" "Does she think I do this for free!?"

I immediately began a reply email that was intended to put her in her place (in my estimation). Fortunately, I came to my senses before hitting the send button. I wrote a lengthy email, but calmly explained my position relative to income streams and marketing and, by the end, I was telling her how I looked forward to her continued business and using HER services in MY business in the future. She remains a subscriber, if not a happy one.

Play to Your Base

The bottom line is this: To have a viable business, you must use communication, verbal or written, meant to sell a product or service. You will experience some backlash from a few people who don’t understand you, your business, or what it means to live in a free-market business environment, or a free society, for that matter.

If you consistently provide honest services that don’t intentionally mislead, and you provide value to potential customers, your customer base will not mind that you market yourself and you will be successful.

Do the things that must be done and forget the unwarranted marketing criticism. It will cripple you if you don’t.

If you’d like an insightful discussion of how to market yourself and your business, read Yaro Starak’s recent blog post, "If You Can’t Write Words That Sell, You Don’t Make Money." Although I strongly endorse some of his products and feel he is a great resource for anyone starting or monetizing a blog, I get nothing from directing you to that particular blog post (in case you were offended by my "cleverly disguised attempt to peddle").

Witness the Power of Blogs

2008-12-30T15:27:00.004-05:00

In this post on her blog, corporate blogging expert Debbie Weil demonstrates just how a blog can make a difference in people's lives.

Blogs are very much alive. There shouldn't even be a debate as to whether or not blogging is dead. Just silly.

The 2009 Who’s Who of Who to Follow on Twitter (and Why)

2008-12-29T15:04:00.004-05:00

First of all, why use Twitter at all? How can a social media outlet help me with starting a business, growing a popular blog, etc? See my earlier blog post for a brief introduction. Even though the title is "Can Twitter Increase My Ebay Sales", it provides a good introduction.

If you are new to blogging, monetizing your blog, looking for a new small business, learning how to earn extra income, freelance writing, sports writing, and a host of other things that share at least some kinship, then you have no doubt encountered information overload.

Information overload is a dreaded beast. It can take the most highly motivated entrepreneurs and send them running back to their pain-free bookstore cashier job (Nothing wrong with bookstore cashier jobs, I could have inserted U.S. Senator or professional basketball player just as easily). One day, you have a couple of people you feel are worthy of reading and following as you learn the ropes, the next day you’re learning how to ambush Google Adsense, forgetting about the blog you’re starting, counting the money you haven’t yet made, and losing your focus in general. The following day, you feel overwhelmed with trying to get through the dross of marketing-ploy programs and finding who is really offering solid advice for the upstart.

Although I’ve used Twitter for only a month or so, I do have some background in spotting money-making marketers and locating the gems. Twitter is a wonderful tool; a learning tool, a marketing tool (yes, it’s ok to market yourself or your products, despite what some Internet/Twitter snobs may say, just do it in context and don’t overburden your followers), and it has lots of other advantages.

Here are my top-10 Twitterers for 2009. These people are all popular and influential in their areas, have a sizeable following, though they don’t always follow many people, and provide great information through Twitter. They are, as far as I am concerned, also worthy of following apart from Twitter, in more of a "mentor" capacity or in the service they can provide. This is not an exhaustive list and I will certainly come upon others, but for now, it is a good start.

Darren Rowse (Twitter user @problogger) Founder of Problogger.net and co-author of Problogger: Secrets for Blogging Your Way to a Six-Figure Income. Darren has a huge following apart from Twitter. Each day, he posts amazingly relevant tweets, courtesy of his blog and a long list of capable guest bloggers. He also answers many of the @replies he gets on Twitter, and their have to be tons of them. He has a Twitter following of nearly 25K.
Cali Lewis (@CaliLewis) and Neal Campbell (@NealCampbell) - Creators of GeekBrief.tv, a video blog that reviews lots and lots of tech gadgets. As long as I have watched, and bought based on their recommendations, they haven’t steered me wrong. Tweets are entertaining and certainly not heavily marketing-based.
Yaro Starak (@yarostarak) - Creator of Entrepreneurs-Journey.com, this popular and successful blogger has lots of great tweets. Sure, he has products for sale, but you wouldn’t know it.
Adam Ostrow - (@adamostrow) Editor-in-Chief at Mashable.com, another super-successful blog. He has a large following and posts some interesting and useful tweets. Following Ostrow on Twitter is also useful for keeping Mashable.com on your radar, which will help you remain on the cutting edge of what’s new on the Net.
Chris Brogan (@chrisbrogan) President of New Marketing Labs and widely recognized as a, if not "the" social media marketing expert. He also publishes ChrisBrogan.com. Brogan has an immense following on Twitter, but he responds to tons of messages each day. In fact, I don’t know how he gets anything else done, unless someone is doing it for him. Regularly shares fantastic advice.
Wayne Sutton (@waynesutton) He has some marketing in his CV, but his Twitter posts, as well as his web site, SocialWayne.com, are always entertaining and useful. In areas like social media, IT, mobile technology, podcasting, and others, he is extremely knowledgeable.
Guy Kawasaki (@guykawasaki) The early Apple pioneer turned entrepreneur is now the head of Alltop.com, which is described as "an online magazine of popular topics." He’s approaching 50K followers and regularly provides useful information and links.
Evan Williams (@ev) CEO of Twitter. Gives followers great info. Not much else needs to be said.
Lance Armstrong (@lancearmstrong). One of the most recognizable sports figures of the last decade and one of the most effective at raising money for cancer research. You’ll get glimpses into his training routine, daily life and charitable pursuits.

I hope you find value in what these people have to offer, and provide them with useful information, as well. Here’s to further gold mining on Twitter, a great 2009 for Twitter, and a prosperous 2009 for everyone.

A Word About Bootstrapping and Diversification in Business

2008-12-28T17:34:00.003-05:00

I've recently experienced the perils of underdiversification. Not in the stock market, mind you, but in business.

Having a full-time profession and trying to get a part-time one up to cruising altitude takes a lot of planning and organization. When all is well with the first, and business is booming in the second, it's often easy to forget to look to the future. I was informed, just a week or so ago, that my biggest client is working on securing funding for a huge project. Great! But, they're also suspending the articles I was writing each month in order to concentrate on the funding aspect. To put it bluntly, that stinks. The money earned from that recurring monthly project accounted for most of my freelance income.

Here is a presentation from ScottDig.com that explains how to avoid this problem, the roller coaster that is underdiversification. It's called The Diversified Bootstrapper: How To Stay Alive In Tough Economic Times.

An Article That Will Keep Hope Alive and Keep You on the Right Path

2008-12-27T23:02:00.003-05:00

Here's one of the most common sense-filled articles I've seen in a while. If you have a blog, or you're considering starting a blog, it will keep you on target and focused on success. It will also get you to where you want to be!

Something New from Todd Ackerman

Make sure you read it!

Small Business Update

2008-12-22T15:56:00.003-05:00

Career UPDATE: Here are the 30-Best Careers for 2009 and how they scored in different criteria.

I'm sure you can find something that will bring home the cash in 2009.

Can Twitter Increase eBay Sales?

2008-12-22T14:12:00.005-05:00

One of the first places to turn when trying to earn some extra cash is eBay. But, it can be difficult to get your auction items noticed without a strong knowledge of SEO (search engine optimization), Internet marketing, and social networking. Twitter may just be a great method of driving traffic to your auctions. Whether people will bid when they get there is another matter.

Everyone has junk that someone else may think is a goldmine, and eBay has capitalized on that fact for a decade or so. They have, of course, expanded a great deal from garage sale items and baseball cards. Untold numbers of auctions begin every minute and differentiating your circa 1974 hot-rod bicycle from every other circa 1974 hot-rod bicyle is tough without some help.

What is Twitter?

In a nutshell, Twitter.com is a social networking site that allows users to post short, 140-character max, messages. Sort of like mini-blog posts. Users sign up for a free account and can begin posting immediately. Unlike Facebook.com, and other such sites, people can become your Twitter "Follower" when they see something from you that piques their interest. You can also follow other people when they post something that interests you. You don't need prior knowledge of the person or some sort of prior relationship. There's a lot more to Twitter, much more than I know, and many ways for you to benefit.

How Can Twitter Help Your Online Auctions?

I've used Twitter for a week or so. Each time I post a blurb on Twitter about a new post on one of my blogs, I get an immediate jump in traffic to the blog. For example, I use Tweetburner.com to shorten long url links in each Twitter post (very important when you only have 140 characters per Twitter post) and to track traffic to each post. Tweetburner calls each shortened url a "twurl." I've made 24 twurls and garnered 219 hits to my blogs, that's just short of 10 visitors to my blogs per Twitter post. I've had an average of about 50 Twitter followers during the time I've been tracking the traffic (today I hit 100 followers).

Now you can see how Twitter can easily drive traffic to your eBay or other online auctions. It's only taken me a few days to gain 100 followers, and the number grows by leaps and bounds. It won't take much longer to build a following into the hundreds, which should drive even more traffic.

As I found out today, there is at least one Twitter auction group you can join that may even give you more tips.

Explore Twitter and other online networking sites to see the benefits each can provide and an online auction business could crop up in your future.

Risk Your Home to Start a Small Business?

2008-12-22T12:26:00.003-05:00

Should you use your home as collateral for starting a small business, or to fund the growth of an established small business? Dave Ramsey doesn't think so. In this article, A Home at Risk, Dave firmly tells one listener that despite what some financial planners may say, it is never a good idea to borrow against your home.

You can look at the "numbers", and the numbers may point to great things, but, according to Dave, all sorts of variables that can destroy you are not considered by "the numbers."

Recession Startups More Likely to Make It

2008-12-19T14:20:00.007-05:00

It makes sense, because necessity often breeds success. Owners of businesses started during a recession period are, after all, more likely to make wise decisions with their money and establish more sound business practices.

This article from Inc.com, Recession Startups More Successful, provides some further statistics.

I agree that recession startup entrepreneurs are certainly deadly serious about their business. More people truly need their business to succeed during times like these. The future for these entrepreneurs is uncertain, certainly, but their present, their day-to-day, isn't much better, which is why they started a new business in the first place. They are counting on the success of their fledgling business and are tightly focused on it's success.

Necessity breeds success.

Go Ahead and Fail, But Do It Quickly

2008-12-17T22:16:00.004-05:00

I submit that the single biggest reason most people don't act on their ideas and entrepreneurial dreams is the fear of failure. For me, I finally decided I did not mind failing if doing so meant I could write, even for a little while, but it took me nine years. Nine years wasted.

I came across this video clip courtesy of Susie Schiffli, Executive Director of the Entrepreneurial Learning Initiative, elientrepreneur.com. In this short clip you'll see successful entrepreneur Ryan Carroll, President of Lake City Plating, describe how he has not only failed in business, but he's learned to do it quickly and uses it toward his success.

Christmas Gifts for the Entrepreneur in Your Life

2008-12-15T09:40:00.006-05:00

Here are some books that will inspire the aspiring entrepreneur and help them to carry the New Year's Resolution to a new level. They'll be obvious choices to many, but to someone simply considering entrepreneurship they may not yet be familiar.

The E-Myth Revisited: Why Most Small Businesses Don't Work and What to Do About It

E-Myth is one of those books that can potentially help you start a business correctly, save an established business and change your life. You'll learn the difference between being "self-employed" and being a "business owner." There's a huge difference.

Good to Great: Why Some Companies Make the Leap... and Others Don't

Another inspiring book and life-changing book. With Good to Great, Jim Collins has written the definitive description of leadership and what it takes to lead in business and every aspect of your life.

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

This book will take you from "there's no way," to "wouldn't that be great," to "I think I could do that", to "I'm going to do it." I'm not saying I'm a big fan of the author, Tim Ferriss, I don't know much about him aside from this book, but 4HWW will have you daydreaming for months, that is, unless you take action.

Pick one or all three and there will be no stopping your entrepreneur (or the entrepreneur in you).

What do you think about these choices? Any additions to the list?

A Genuine Opportunity to Work at Home

2008-12-13T08:17:00.004-05:00

As corporate belts tighten, they must continue to look for ways to maintain and improve customer service to remain competitive. Finding high-quality representatives has always been both essential and difficult. Until these days.

Recently, there has been a groundswell of retirees, work-from-home moms and dads, and people simply trying to avoid a time- and gas-consuming commute in favor of home-office customer service.

This story from the Washington Times describes the current state of this great opportunity in a struggling economy.

Real opportunities are out there.

Flipping Out on Domains

2008-12-12T21:56:00.002-05:00

Domain flipping has been around for a while. It’s a simple concept: Buy domain names and either hold them until someone comes along to buy it, or do a little to develop it and sell it.

At first glance, it doesn’t seem like domain flipping could be big business, but it certainly is. Flipping domains is reportedly a $2 Billion per year industry. As easy to remember, i.e. short, domain names disappear, even blogspot names, there's a premium placed on them. Even the name of this blog is too long to be a "premium" blog name. Of course, there are other factors that dictate the popularity of a domain, but the scarcity of short, easy to type, easy to remember names is the primary driver.

Domain flippers, or “domainers”, as they call themselves, probably don’t buy the $6.99 specials at GoDaddy.com. They’re buying premium domains from hosting companies (sites like GoDaddy.com also sell premium domains), at auction or direct from the sellers.

As you can likely tell, if you don’t know what you’re doing, you could loose a bundle. There are programs that teach interested parties everything they need to know from the basics to advanced principles of flipping. One such program, One-Hour Wealth Builder, was recently featured on the Fox News Channel. When major news organizations have caught on, it’s usually a well-grounded and well-established business.

I’m not a master, or even apprentice, when it comes to domain flipping, but with all the buzz, it’s certainly something I’ll be checking into.

Information Products and Partnerships

2008-12-10T16:29:00.005-05:00

I’ve recently written about how information products can be a good earner for you. Regardless of your skills, you can write about something of interest to others. If you feel like you are lacking in the “expert” category, and don’t have the time to spare to get yourself recognized as an expert, consider partnering with someone who has some name recognition.

Let’s say, for example, you are an excellent cook and you have an idea that will save countless mothers (or fathers) a lot of time and energy in the kitchen this Christmas. Why not contact Paula Deen, currently a hugely popular cooking expert that will give an e-book instant, uber-credibility?

The absolute worst thing that will happen if you contact Ms. Deen is that she will say “No, thanks anyway.” Sure, she probably doesn’t need the money or exposure, but she might say “Sure, honey, that’s a great idea.” Especially, if you offer to write the book (or have it written), let her approve it before publication, build a website for it, promote the book (through affiliate marketing and maybe Google AdWords), and give her half of the money or so for doing nothing.

Some questions you may have:

Won’t all that cost a lot of money? Not necessarily. Writing an informational ebook can be as simple as offering a good ghostwriter a 2 or 3-percent royalty on each book sale, thus nothing out of pocket. Have a reputable web designer you find on Elance.com build you a website and set the checkout system up through ClickBank.com, who will also provide you with access to tons of affiliates that will help you sell the book for a commission on each sale. ClickBank also takes care of commission distribution. A two- or three-page website can cost as little as $150 to $200 to have built.

How can I do it with no knowledge of Google AdWords? What is that, anyway? With Google AdWords, you set up short ads that are placed by Google on their site and other sites that match your target audience. You choose your keywords, decide on an ad title and ad text, and the amount of money you will spend each time someone clicks on your ad, called pay-per-click or PPC advertising. Google AdWords is one of the simplest things I have done, and I am no marketing guru, either.

But, if I’m giving everyone a piece of the pie, I won’t have much left at the end, will I? Let’s see. If you sell the ebook for $47, and with a recognizable partner that won’t be difficult at all, 50% to the partner, ghostwriter gets a 2% royalty of the retail price, the web designer gets $200 flat fee, 30% to affiliate commissions on ClickBank and a 3% transaction fee for them as well.

Here’s how it may break down per sale:
$47 retail price
$23.50 to partner
.94 to ghostwriter
$14.10 to affiliate
$1.41 to Clickbank
$7.05 per sale goes to you.

Doesn’t sound like much. But, if you sell 20 per week, that’s an extra $141 per week. If you are lucky enough to get someone like Paula Deen to sign on with you, then the $141 will actually be small change.

Those figures are conservative estimates. You can likely do much better on the partner share, affiliate commissions, ghostwriter fee and possibly even the sale price. Researching your market ahead of time, by using tools like Google’s Keyword Tool, will give you a good idea of the size of your market.

Look Who's Blaming Us

2008-12-04T22:58:00.006-05:00

Something has been trying to get out of the back of my mind since all this talk about the mortgage business, the credit crisis, the recession started many months ago. I just need to let it out.

Not long after the housing market began to go sour, sometime in 2007 or so, when Countrywide, one of the largest mortgage lenders was in trouble, the blame shifted from mortgage companies, to banks, to Washington, to the consumer. The buck landed in our laps and stopped there.

It was only a tiny pebble in my brain then, but I recall thinking that, sure, people have to reign in their spending, but laying it all on our laps as consumers was ridiculous. That tiny pebble of a peeve has steadily grown because now every conversation on radio, television, in print, includes as a major precept how people simply bought more house than they should have.

Even some of my favorite commentators essentially say, "They should have known better," and "such people deserve what they get." To borrow a Saturday Night Live saying, Really? Really?

Again, yes, people are ultimately responsible for their own actions, but let me provide my own story. A few years ago we were in the market for a larger house. I went to my bank to get, what the banks call "prequalified." I received a call sometime later from my banker, who said, "Mr. Hammond, it appears you'd be safe with a mortgage of around $450,000." I laughed in his face (through the phone). I told him even if I could afford the payments, I'd be a moron to borrow that much money.

The point is that, when people are staring at their dream home, and someone who is in a position of trust (loan officer) at a trustworthy institution (bank) says they can afford it, and offers them the money, many people are convinced they can swing it.

I consider myself fortunate to have not taken that road. But every expert out there needs to take that buck out of the consumer's lap and drop it somewhere else. Send it to the people in Washington who claimed that the mortgage industry was in fine shape. Send it to the banks who knew what they were setting up and greedily proceeded to exploit (don't get me wrong, I'm a free market guy. It's excessively greedy people who always screw up a good thing).

Consumers should take their medicine. You had to be an adult capable of making your own decisions in order to receive a loan, but the deck was getting increasingly stacked against you/us. If you're someone pontificating on the subject, spread the blame around, leave most of it with the people in positions of trust, don't pile it all in our laps!

What do you think? Do you agree? Disagree? I'd like to hear if I'm on target or off-base.

Foreclosure Cleanups are Becoming Big Business

2008-12-04T10:33:00.003-05:00

I ran across this in a recent Associated Press article. Sounds a little opportunistic, but it's actually a valuable service. The state of the mortgage industry these days makes it a great, profitable revenue stream to explore. Read on.

It seems that companies and individuals are now contracting with lending institutions, i.e. banks, local law enforcement offices, real estate firms, or whoever the task falls to in a given location, to clean up vacated homes in foreclosure. It seems that once foreclosure proceedings begin on a home, the owners loose interest, leave the home in a mess, and leave town. A dirty, sometimes trashed, vacant home is left behind for the banks to deal with. Opportunity knocks for some enterprising individuals. A service needed, a service provided.

According to the article, “Web sites aimed at wannabe entrepreneurs — like http://www.explorestartups.com — frequently suggest starting up a foreclosure cleanup business as moneymaker. Entrepreneur Magazine even picked a foreclosure cleanup business called Cyprexx for its 2008 ‘Hot 100 Fastest Growing Businesses’ list.” [Add Recession-Proofing Life to that list of web sites who think it's a moneymaker]

Sounds like a great idea and it is apparently working out well for lots of people. There’s really no exploitation of the homeowner, since they’ve left town and abandoned their home. You could even back it up a step or two, find people who are preparing to sell their homes, to avoid foreclosure or otherwise, and help them prepare it for sale. Locating those people can be as easy as noticing yard signs and looking at the home seller section of the local newspaper.

There really are lots of opportunities out there. I had never thought of this one.

Make "One Million Per Year" Less Intimidating

2008-12-01T09:41:00.001-05:00

First things first, I certainly do not make $1 million per year. Wow, that's a great goal though.

I read an article this morning, "How to Make a Million in Your Small Business", and point #8 really stuck with me. The whole article is good, but here's my interpretation of #8 in a nutshell.

Take where you are today. Do you earn $150, $75, $200, $400 per day, more, less, zero? From whatever that amount is for you, getting to $4,166 per business day, which equals one million per year, seems like a long, long, long way. However, if you spread it over two years (or three), it becomes more manageable. Consider finding new services you can offer, new products you can sell, that will add to your daily total.

Passive income (I DESPISE catch phrases like that one, but it's necessary here) is a great way to ensure that every moment of your time is earning money.

How do you create passive income that acts as a new revenue stream (catch phrase again)? Regardless of your skills or interests, writing an e-book and selling it through ClickBank, e-junkie, or some other affiliate marketing program is easy. If you're not a good writer, consider hiring a ghost writer willing to help for a percentage of your profits (nothing out of pocket), or pay them outright.

Establish a website that sells your ebook(s), shorter reports about your specialty, use affiliate programs to promote other products and earn commissions (which can be another revenue stream).

With a little time, a bit more learning, you can have several streams that produce income in addition to what you already have. They say that's how the rich got wealthy, multiple revenue streams.

Get a few going and $1 mil per year can seem easier to attain.

Awesome Power of the Pencil

2008-11-26T13:50:00.000-05:00

For a writer, web-publisher, or entrepreneur, being organized is a key to getting things done. Many a project, article, business, undertaking has fallen flat before getting started due to our inability to organize thoughts or anything else and put them into action. That being the case, todoodlist will potentially change your life.

At the very least, it will give you a clarity you didn't have before, unless you were previously a CPA and you were supremely organized from birth. If you are like me, you need the help. This is that help.

There are plenty of other books at Amazon or Borders that have garnered a lot of press, but this little tome beats them all. todoodlist is the only one that has helped me and I love it for that.

It's only 14 bucks, so give todoodlist a try. I wouldn't give it such high praise unless it can deliver the goods. With the new productivity and earning capacity you will possess, you'll probably be able to buy the rights to it before long.

Put down the PDA and pick up a pencil! Click here to view more details. You can get started changing your life today!

Mvelopes Update

2008-11-19T14:37:00.000-05:00

Several days ago, I posted a blurb about Mvelopes, a personal money management system I was going to try. We're just beginning our 30-day free trial and it looks to be a fantastic system. You can securely tie all of your income and spending accounts into the Mvelopes system, pay bills directly from it, allocate funds to as many areas as you have, and lots of things I haven't even explored. In short, you can direct where your money goes, rather than letting banks, utility companies, creditors, and chaos dictate it for you.

There's good reason why Mvelopes was one of PC Magazine's Top-100 Products of the year.

I don't endorse a product unless I have first-hand knowledge of it's benefits for the folks (I'm a "folk," too). If this thing continues to be as nice as it appears, you'll see a glowing endorsement and probably a few advertising links.

Beginners Suffer from Technoparalyis

2008-11-18T20:41:00.000-05:00

Have you ever seen a particularly aesthetic website, not a “busy” site with lots of techno-features, but a simply great site? If you’re ever on the net, you’ve seen at least a few. If you’re like most Generation-Xers and older, you have no idea how it’s done. You may even feel like you could have a successful blog (by my own definition, one that’s fun to maintain and earns money), website or business if you could do what they do.

Little secret: You’re right and you can. You’re just suffering from technoparalysis, which I define as a condition caused by the fear of technology and resulting in an inability to engage in technical endeavors(paralysis by technology).

At this point in my online career, I have very little ability in building websites, creating blogs, etc. Sure, I can create the content, but the physical structure and appearance remains largely a mystery. Still yet, I build websites, create blogs, etc. Techies may know how to build a better website and professionally build and implement a weblog, but I am accomplishing something better at this early point in my online journey.

I’m slowly learning how to do more for myself in such areas as adding new tools to my blogs, e-commerce to some websites, and so on, but I am inexpensively learning how to create better content and content that gets noticed, and also how to best drive traffic to my creations.

You can do it. Most of you are starting where I did, and I’m not that far ahead of you. For every website you want to have, there’s a hosting company just waiting to get you a domain name, host your website and help you build it, all for just a few dollars per month. No special knowledge is required. I have most of my web sites hosted at GoDaddy.com. The most difficult thing I have done is try to learn how to navigate my way through their supremely confusing website, their reliability and excellent customer service more than makes up for any other shortcomings. When it comes to building a site, if you can pick colors and click boxes, you can do it quickly.

Do you have an idea for an online business? Have a product to sell? A service to provide? Then you can be doing it by this time tomorrow. Unless you’re totally cash-starved and can’t even afford to expend the calories it will take you to walk to the nearest library and set up a free site with Bravenet.com (a good website hosting company), then you have no reason not to do it.

Worry about having the perfect site later on, when you’ve built a following, lots of traffic and you’re generating some income. Then, you can have someone help you design a killer web site.

The cure for technoparalysis is to just do it. Tear a page from the activists’ handbook and take action now! Unlike most activists, you’ll begin to see some fruits of your labor.

Sticky Business Contest

2008-11-17T20:38:00.000-05:00

If you're considering beating the recession by creating your own business, just put your best words forward.

The guys at the Men with Pens blog are conducting a contest intended to encourage people to consider starting a business, while planning its conception and implementation. They will choose first, second and third place winners. First prize is a great prize package valued at nearly $12,000.

Entrants will complete four tasks, which will be delivered to them via email and have a time limit for completion. The tasks will force entrants to think about their business concept and put it into words. At the very least, after completing the tasks, we (yes, we. I've entered the contest, too) will have a clearer vision of our potential business, where we want to to go and what we want it to be.

Now, more than any other time in recent years, is the time to explore and act on what has been locked away in the back of the mind for years, sometimes even decades. Men with Pens has realized one of the biggest obstacles for people who want to start a business, lack of planning. They've created a fantastic contest.

An Example of a Creating a New Revenue Stream

2008-11-14T12:54:00.000-05:00

Oh, what a niche! The couple described in this article have taken action and hit upon a really good thing, especially for our economic climate.

"South Elgin couple find business niche: Christian-based couple crafts mini-me pins for profit, charity"

Inspiring for the rest of us.

Being a Solo-E

2008-11-14T10:20:00.000-05:00

In this article from GetEntrepreneurial.com, a Solo-E is defined. I'm a Solo-E and wasn't aware of it. You may be, too. From the article, it's a great thing to be!

What is a Solo Entrepreneur?

Self-Employed?

2008-11-14T10:07:00.000-05:00

Here are some tips to help you attract new business and keep customers during this crappy economic period.

Websites, Blogs and Newsletters

2008-11-06T21:52:00.000-05:00

As late as the early 1990s, if you were a carpenter, attorney, doctor, or plumber, all you needed to support your business was to hang out a shingle and place a few newspaper ads. Nowadays, you need to do much more. Even basic websites, blogs and newsletters can help you stay competitive.

In fact, whether, you're taking up carpentry as your second occupation or it is your main source of income, websites, blogs and newsletters can do much more than keep you competitive. They may even provide a significant revenue stream that rivals or surpasses your main source of income.

Through the use of affiliate marketing, placing ads and content links of others on your sites/blogs/newsletters, you can earn commissions from other related products.

For instance, if you are a home repair specialist, collecting email addresses from your customers is simple and rewarding. With those email addresses, you have a built-in subscriber list for an email newsletter, which costs next to nothing to distribute. In that newsletter, you can use articles and tips from article directories (no cost), your own tips (no cost) and include links to companies like Home Depot and others that pay you a commission when someone clicks one of their ads or content links in your newsletter and buys something from them. A good place to find good affiliate programs is through ClickBank.com, LinkShare.com, and CommissionJunction.com.

You can do it with a newsletter, a website (very inexpensive nowadays and simple to build) and blogs (again, no cost to you).

The Sun Can Fill Your Wallet

2008-11-06T10:44:00.000-05:00

Uncertain economy, rising energy costs, gasoline prices, and the price of consumer goods all combine to more than negate any yearly cost-of-living pay increases we may get, if we're lucky enough to get them at all. At least one person says that you can do something about the energy prices by harnessing solar energy cheaply.

If we're truly going to go green, it will only happen when the folks see some immediate benefit in the wallet. After all, who is going to risk losing the house to place expensive solar panels on it?

Two companies claim to provide such a benefit. Earth for Energy and Off Grid Living both say that solar panels can be built cheaply using materials found at the local Home Depot or Lowes.

According to Earth for Energy, panels that can run everything from large appliances to your entire home can be built for as little as a couple of hundred dollars each. Of course, multiple panels would be required for to power a home, but the cost still remains well below the 10s of thousands of dollars professional installers are rumored to charge.

Off Grid Living boasts that homes using solar panels can not only reduce their electricity bills significantly, they can end up receiving money from the power company.

It will take more research into the claims to provide an endorsement for either company, but there is potential for saving money or a second income if you're looking for a second income stream. Learning to build and install solar panels cheaply, which is what both companies assist people with, could be a lucrative endeavor in the months and years to come.

Blogging for Money

2008-10-31T22:57:00.000-04:00

Starting a blog based on your interest and passions is great, sort of why I started RPL, but keeping an eye on the goal of revenue production is of prime importance. By all means, start that blog about popular architecture, but find one that gives you income.

Here's a great review of the book Blogging to the Bank at Entrepreneurs-Journey.com.

The review gives an in-depth description of some of the main points in the book and is quite revealing.

Simplest Way to Keep Track of Your Money

2008-10-30T22:30:00.001-04:00

Keeping your finances in order, yes, the simple act of ensuring you know where your money is going on a daily basis, can actually save you money.

If you and your spouse have a joint checking account, both of you have your own checkbook, both of you have your own ATM card, and both of you use them both, it is a monumental undertaking to keep good accounting of how much money is in your account at a given time. That can lead to overdraft fees, which are generally significant. If the balance is low and a big bill is due, you may have to wait a few days to pay the bill, which may also incur a late charge. A few of those each month and you're easily into the hundreds of dollars in budget-busting fees.

After completing Dave Ramsey's popular program a couple of years ago, we became hooked on the "envelope system." We prepared envelopes for several categories like groceries, gas, restaurants, gifts, etc., and each pay period we put money in each. Once the money ran out in, say, the restaurant envelope, we wouldn't eat out until the next pay period.

Though Dave is a big believer in the actual paper envelopes, I believe that Mvelopes Home Budgeting Software is far easier and more convenient. It appears you can link your bank accounts to the software, keep track of your spending and budget in categories you establish, and every responsible person in the household can access it from anywhere, including your cellular phones.

If you are planning to eat out for lunch at work, according to Mvelopes, you can log in to the Mvelopes program via the Internet or, as mentioned, your phone, and see how much money you have available in that category.

Should you have a flat tire on the way home from work, you can quickly check to see if you have the funds to cover the repair. The list of possibilities is endless. You can sign up for as little as $7.90 per month, based upon a two-year plan, or $13.20 per month if you elect for the quarterly plan.

They offer a free, no obligation, 30-day trial. We're getting ready to start ours right now and will at least be trying the quarterly plan.

Most programs like Quicken or MS Money are geared toward seeing simply where your money went. Mvelopes seems to be forward looking in that it helps you direct where the money will go. It looks great. We shall see.

Find Your New Income Stream

2008-10-29T15:12:00.001-04:00

If you've read my profile, you've seen that I am a freelance writer, which is my "spare-time" job/hobby. Even though it isn't my main source of income, it has been very rewarding. As far as increasing my bottom line, I wouldn't want to do anything else. That's just my preference.

I'm not a fantastic writer. I simply have a desire to do it and earn extra money. In the beginning, I had no particular expert status in my chosen writing niche (golf), but I had the desire and willingness to find it. And, I did.

Every person who has the willingness to write can do it. It doesn't need to be your passion, but there has to be a driving force behind doing it. Whether that be using freelance writing as a get-out-of-debt second job, contributing more to your retirement funds, college for the kids, or whatever.

Every person also has something about which they can write. I chose golf, but you may like tropical fish, or web site design, or proper cat care, or jewelry, or world events, or DIY (do it yourself) projects, snakes, bugs, or UFOs.

I won't offer to sell you anything here, that's not the purpose of this post. But in my free email newsletter, I offer tips on how to get started in the freelance writing business. It's simple. It mostly requires only your willingness to succeed. If you're interested in the newseletter, just drop me an email (ashwriting@insightbb.com) and ask to be included in the email list.

There are many ways to succeed, as this blog will demonstrate, writing is just my personal recommendation.

What is Recession-Proofing Life?

2008-10-29T14:23:00.000-04:00

It's pretty simple. At best, economic conditions are uncertain. At worst, we are on the brink of calamity. At least, that's the range of opinion you'll find the economic pundits espousing on all the news channels.

What is certain? The world is in the midst of a transformation to a global economic system. Unlike in the past, what happens in Bangalore is relevant to Tokyo, and what happens in Tokyo matters in New York, and what happens in New York has an impact in Sydney. In short, and like it or not, we're all interrelated and increasingly co-dependent. Without planning, and action now, our security will be linked to the whims and circumstances, rises and falls, peace and upheaval, at home and abroad.

What this blog will do is present you with ideas for helping insulate yourselves from the wild swings in economic conditions that we are sure to keep seeing. Whether it's helping you tap into your own knowledge base to start a part-time business and new revenue stream, or a ways to simplify and manage your budget, this blog will seek it out and give it you here.

There will be winners and losers in the coming days, months and years. There are many who claim to have our best interests in mind, but depending on them will almost ensure defeat. Some famous words come to mind when thinking of how we can each best prepare our lives and our future: "Be the chess player, not the chess piece." In other words, take hold of the reigns and protect yourself. You'll have a better chance of being one of the winners.

Recession-Proofing Life intends to be a tool for you to use in that quest.