Tag: investment club

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

May 17, 2017

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Items in italics are direct quotes from the articles below

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-buy-bitcoin-using-coinbase-2017-5

A year and a half ago, the idea of buying the virtual currency bitcoin was laughable. After a rapid rise in value in 2013, the cryptocurrency’s value more than halved by mid-2015. At its lowest point, one bitcoin was equal to about $230. But now Bitcoin is at an all-time high, and rising. Within the last month, the price of one bitcoin has climbed from $1,280 to around $1,480. Given the currency’s covert nature, the average person still may not understand how buying and selling actually works. Using the app Coinbase, which lets anyone trade bitcoins for a small fee, we decided to find out. A brief warning: If you’re going to do this, tell your bank you’re about to buy bitcoin. More on that later. This article provides a step by step process of buying Bitcoin, so I recommend reading the article if you’re interested in purchasing it. The author also has his reservations about using Coinbase, however I personally am going to use this site to buy Ethereum. It is another cryptocurrency. If you’re interested in forming an investment group with me, then contact me.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/7-money-making-lessons-from-the-richest-man-who-ever-lived-2017-05-02

Jacob Fugger was a German banker who financed kings, explorers, bishops and popes — and along the way made the biggest fortune ever amassed by a business person. The grandson of a peasant, he persuaded Leo X to legalize for-profit lending. One of his money-making schemes provoked Martin Luther to write the 95 Theses and kick off the Reformation. He played kingmaker in the 1519 election for Holy Roman Emperor. Jacob (Jakob in German) Fugger and his money gave the vote to Charles V of Spain and put Charles atop an empire as big as Napoleon’s. Fugger was worth about $400 billion in current dollars at the time of his death in 1525 — or 2% of Europe’s GDP at the time. (John D. Rockefeller was close in dollar terms, but his wealth equaled a smaller part of the U.S. economy.) Here are some of his secrets: invest when others fear, be indispensable, know the facts, know the numbers, get a good education, keep cool, and give something back. It’s best to not let fear or analysis-paralysis stop you from making a move when it comes to investing into your future. Do you have a vision? Do you have a mission? Do you have it written out? Be indispensable not just in your work place, but in your life. If you have integrity then people will trust in you and be willing to help you. Do what you say and say what you do, but make sure you think before you speak. Knowing the facts and the numbers will help you stay grounded. Getting a good education will help you draw out the person you are destined to be. Study what you love even if it’s for free, but think about how can you turn it into an income generating asset. How can it generate passive income or any form of income? Keep cool and use your will to stay focused on your plan whatever it may be. However, in the end, look at everything through the lens of eternity and legacy. There’s no sense in amassing great wealth with no plan on how you can help humanity. Fugger is best known as the creator of the Fuggerei, the world’s first affordable housing project. He thought anyone who worked deserved to have a roof over their head. Rent came to one quarter the market rate. The Fuggerei remains in operation and is the largest tourist attraction in his home city of Augsburg. Greg Steinmetz is the author of “The Richest Man Who Ever Lived: The Life and Times of Jacob Fugger.” I encourage you to read a book on a topic that interests, and a topic that is challenging to read to keep feeding one of your greatest assets: your mind.

If you need are interested in creating a budget, then contact me for a financial checkup in the contact me section. Also, learn more about the self-lending principle in the mustard seed section.

For this week, I’ve included MOTIVATIONAL VIDEO – LIVE LIKE A KING from MulliganBrothers YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”

Proverbs 28:26 MSG

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

May 10, 2017

Posted on by jamesmachawk

Items in italics are direct quotes from the articles below

http://www.investopedia.com/financial-edge/0412/5-tips-on-when-to-sell-your-stock.aspx

Buy recommendations are prevalent and stem from a wide variety of sources, including investment newsletters, analysts, stockbrokers and investment managers. However, few offer much advice on when it is best to sell a stock. Here are five tips on when it might be time to sell. It hits your price target, a deterioration in the fundamentals, a better opportunity comes along, after a merger, and after bankruptcy. Obviously selling a stock when it doubles is a good idea, but when you are selling it when it doubles you are saying that the company is undervalued by 50%. I’ve said in previous blogs that understanding the numbers is important. The reason you should understand the fundamentals is to save yourself from losses when it looks like a company is deteriorating. Always look for better opportunities and factor in the opportunity cost. Take the time to read the final tips, but also consider how these tips factor into your investment portfolio. What is your asset class? Where is your focus? What lens are you looking at your life through?

http://www.businessinsider.com/how-to-stop-burnout-before-it-ruins-your-professional-life-2017-4

Hard work is as American as apple pie. We pride ourselves on pulling 12-hour days — getting in a workout before heading to the office before running to the PTA meeting and making it home in time for the evening news. Being stellar at the office, exceeding expectations, and climbing the ladder are all a part of the American dream. Until suddenly you hit a wall. You’re mentally and physically exhausted. Going through the motions day in and day out, forgetting self-care and ignoring pleas from friends to “slow down.” You are burned out. This article is a reminder of the dangers of stress on our daily life. Whether you have an educated background or not, you will find yourself in a stressful work environment. Stressful jobs contribute to 120,000 deaths each year and cost U.S. businesses up to $190 billion in health care costs , according to a 2016 paper from researchers at Harvard Business School and Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. Regardless of age, American workers are unwilling to take vacation time, because they want to protect their job or they feel like they must keep up with the pace of work. “Burnout is primarily caused by systemic factors in workplaces,” says Chicago-based clinical psychologist Dr. Adia Gooden. “Jobs that put more pressure on employees without support and useful feedback are more likely to see employee burnout.” Here are six keys to spotting burnout: know the signs, see how the office or work environment impacts you and others, consider how technology plays a role, know that workouts help but only so much, when to speak to management, and seeking professional help.

Research shows that burnout has three dimensions:

  • Emotional exhaustion: Feeling used up and spent; sometimes physically and mentally, as well. You may have trouble sleeping, get sick often, and become irritated at the drop of a hat.
  • Depersonalization: Feeling alienated and disconnected to others at work.
  • Reduced personal accomplishment: Feeling apathetic and losing confidence in yourself and your abilities at work. Your capacity to perform is compromised.

Be mindful of the workload of your environment, and know when to set boundaries around your time away from work so work can’t creep into your personal time. It is healthy to work out, but it’s also important to eat properly, and to engage in practices that allow you to unplug from work even during the work day. Personally, I’ve taken up listening to motivational videos, or relaxation music through YouTube. For me, these strategies come alongside my primary response to exhaustion which is prayer, reading the Word, and listening to worship music. What works for me may not work for you but if it helps you engage in the principle of rest then it’s helping you pay back your time deficit. Build into your life time margin so you can truly rest and replenish your strength, and in doing so you may see a problem from a different point of view and solve it.

For this week, I’ve included Arnold Schwarzenegger – THE STORY SO FAR – Gym Motivation – Motivational Speech from MulliganBrothers YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”

Proverbs‬ 28:26‬ MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

March 8, 2017

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/this-is-no-1-financial-regret-of-older-americans-2016-05-17

Most Americans are filled with regrets — financial regrets. Fully three in four, in fact, admit they harbor financial regrets, according to a survey of more than 1,000 adults by Bankrate.com. Their biggest regret: not saving for retirement early enough (nearly one in five Americans put this in the No. 1 spot). What’s more, among those 65 and up, 27% said this was the biggest regret, compared with 17% of those aged 30 to 49. The author goes on to show the consequences of waiting to save comparing the difference of saving at age 25 vs 35. According to 2015 data from the Employee Benefit Research Institute, fully 28% of workers say they have less than $1,000 saved and 17% have between $1,000 and $9,999; meanwhile, just 14% of workers have $250,000 or more saved. That’s far too little, according to many financial advisers: Guidelines from Fidelity, for example, state that by the age of 30, you should have your entire salary saved; by 40, three times your salary saved; and, by 50, six times your salary saved. Other financial regrets include not having an emergency savings and too much student loan debt. It’s important to have a budget to know how much is coming out and when it’s coming out. Make sure you have positive cash flow at the end of the month. If you do, I recommend a simple 10-10-80 strategy and just as important starting to use the self-lending principle.

We’ve all heard the stories of young entrepreneurs who start a successful business from their parents’ basement. But how do you build a business from inside a van? Mariah Coz knows. She built a seven-figure business in a 35-square-foot van–that’s about the size of a small bathroom!–which she shared with her boyfriend as they traveled across the country. They spent about a year and a half on the road, visiting nearly every state in the continental United States. Among her favorite experiences were hiking in Yosemite, exploring Yellowstone, and seeing the Grand Canyon. Mariah took her expertise of living in her camper and turned into an online course, and began teaching business strategy through her company Femtrepreneur. She teaches others interested in freedom how to build online business and offers six important tips. The tips are: be flexible, pick one day a week and block out five to eight hours for work, figure out what chains have the best Wi-Fi and become a repeat customer, do less with more impact, set realistic expectations and goals, and focus on mobile-friendly marketing. You must be able to systematize your business so it will run with as little involvement from you as possible. The author suggests setting aside a block of time to complete all your tasks for the week which will allow focus and productivity. If you are going to use a business’s Wi-Fi I suggest that you have a good identity theft protection plan in place, because your information is on an open network and can become compromised. “When you have limited time to devote to your business, you have to focus on the high-impact activities and cut out all the rest. That means applying the 80-20 principle–focusing on the 20 percent of activities that bring in 80 percent of your revenue. Focus on just one product, one marketing channel–one thing at a time,” she says. Finally, it’s important to set realistic goals while at the same time making sure that your marketing is convenient for your needs if you are constantly traveling. Mariah believes everyone has unique life experiences and skills that can help people and can be monetized. And the good news is, it doesn’t need to take a lot of time or money to get started. As she puts it, “You can start now with what you have, where you are, no matter what situation you are in!” It’s important to act, and to not waste your days because they are measured. Ask yourself how can I take advantage of my unique gifts and knowledge, how can I reach the world and make it better, and how can I do it just once and have it accessible to the world? If you can figure out how to answer these three questions, then in my opinion you can build a business.
Items in italics are direct quotes from the articles above

If you need are interested in creating a budget, then contact me for a financial checkup in the contact me section. Also, learn more about the self-lending principle in the mustard seed section.

For this week, I’ve included Retrain your Mind from the Be Inspired YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs 28:26 MSG

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

November 9, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.investopedia.com/advisor-network/articles/110316/7-ways-grow-your-account-balances/

One of the common top concerns that I hear from individuals is how they’re not able to save. A consistent savings plan helps you build a solid financial foundation. But where do you begin? Here are seven ways to help you grow your account balances. Your strategy starts with your spending plan. (For more, see: 3 Smart Ways to Update Your Investment Plan.) The seven ways are: create a budget, set up a savings plan, considering opening a CD, consider opening an online FDIC-insured savings account, maximize your contributions, consolidate your retirement accounts, and invest early and often. I believe creating a budget is the first and most important step in not just saving money, but money management period. How do you know how much you can save when you don’t know how much you have after all your bills are paid? Your budget should have enough room to save money. There are four steps in my process, and if you’d like to learn about it, you can reach me at the contact me section. The author states that a savings plan should include three to six months of expenses. In my opinion, you should set aside income instead of expenses. The reason is you are more likely to earn more than you spend. Setting aside three or six months’ worth of income will create an additional buffer for unforeseen large expenses. A CD will give you a higher yield vs your savings account, but it will often require a higher amount to open. In regards to savings accounts, your online savings accounts will have a higher annual percentage yield (APY) vs a standard savings account you’d get at your local bank. Personally, I use Ally Bank, but I recommend you use websites such as www.nerdwallet.com or www.bankrate.com to check your rates. Three ways you can maximize your 401K is by maximizing your contributions, consolidating retirement accounts if you’ve moved between jobs, and finally to invest as often as you can early in life. In my opinion, you should invest enough to ensure that your company is matching your contribution. Be sure to check with your HR department to find out how high they will match your contribution. I recommend that you increase your financial knowledge to invest in not just paper assets, but in assets that will produce income. One day you will retire, and it’s better to have multiple streams of income.


https://www.entrepreneur.com/article/278848

Nearly all marketers agree on the importance of social media marketing for business growth. And considering that 33 percent of millennials today say social media is one of their preferred channels for communicating with businesses, I expect it will become even more important over time. That said, a lot of brands still don’t know how to use social media to engage audiences and help their own bottom line. There is, however, a right — and wrong — way businesses can share their content on social media. Since there is a lot of valuable content in this article there will be a lot of quotes, and I highly recommend that you read this article. The right way is having a business share its content on the platforms where its target audience spends the most time. The author recommends that the business do research into the demographics of different platforms. It’s best to have two focused social accounts to build your business vs. having multiple unused accounts. Even if you have the same end-goal for your content across social media, you should optimize it for each platform’s characteristics and strengths. For example: Videos tend to outperform images on Facebook. Twitter posts, while no more than 140 characters, should be even shorter if you’re including an image. (Luckily, that should be changing soon.) LinkedIn doesn’t support hashtags, so don’t use them. For Twitter and Instagram, hashtags are a necessity. Using visuals can help when you post on any platform, so be sure to use imagery. The author does also state that it is wrong to not vary your content. With the rise of paid social options, it’s no surprise that organic reach has become more difficult for brands. But you can still get the most out of your organic posts by sharing them at optimum times, which tend to vary by platform. Finally, the wrong thing to do when using social media is to spam newsfeeds. Keep in mind having an online presence doesn’t give you a presence in just your local community, with the right infrastructure you could have a global presence. Think differently, and think how you can create an income producing asset. Think about how to increase cash flow, and how to preserve assets. Always keep in mind wealth is a measure of how long your riches will last you. If your income from your assets is greater than your expenses, then you can quit your job and retire rich.

If you need a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included How to be successful – the success cycle (Tony Robbins) from The Internet Marketer YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs‬ 28:26‬ MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

October 26, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/12/marcus-lemonis-common-pitfalls-any-franchise-must-avoid-to-be-successful.html

The franchise model has long been a way for companies to rapidly expand beyond what might be possible if they opened every location on their own. But rapid expansion can be just as much of a curse as it can be a blessing if a franchisor rushes into an unproven concept without the ability or the gumption to assist unhappy franchisees in hard times, according to serial entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis. Four common pitfalls to avoid are: don’t rush to expand an unproven concept, don’t ignore fanchisees, don’t under-equip franchisees, and don’t try to franchise something you’re not passionate about. When converting, a store into a franchise don’t do it until you have a proven model. Your business isn’t to just sell franchisees, it’s to have a model that you can first turn a profit and then build a system around. If you focus on expanding too quickly you could be left with a lot of debt that can’t be paid. When you have someone buy a franchise from you, you are obligated to be available to make sure they are successful. They are investing their money, time, and energy to buy your system, and they’re doing it to replace their current income or supplement income. Franchisees want to succeed. Ensure that you equip your franchisees with enough tools to succeed, and be willing to take in the franchisees input. A franchise is a business system and if that system isn’t working properly then the system will over time fail. Marcus makes a good point when it comes to any business you start, and especially one you want to franchise. “Why get into a business that you’re not excited about?” Lemonis asked. “You just want someone to feel passionate about what they’re doing. If you don’t have passion for it, it’s going to show to the customer,” and ultimately any potential franchisees.

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/10/19/marcus-lemonis-shares-3-simple-tricks-to-increase-your-sales.html

Retailers looking to replicate the efficiency of bigger players like Apple would do well to focus their attention on one key measurement of success, according to entrepreneur Marcus Lemonis. Advising struggling New York-based Bowery Kitchen Supplies on the latest episode of CNBC’s “The Profit,” Lemonis reveals straightforward ways for any merchandiser to improve profits and evaluate its progress. Three simple techniques to increase sales are: develop a merchandising plan, lead with recognizable brands, and simplify the store’s layout. In the case of this business, the company experienced a loss due to having too much inventory that was spread throughout the store, and the products were acquired based off the desires of the owner vs. profitability of each department. A way to develop a merchandising plan is through analyzing sales data and from this data determine what departments are necessary and structure inventory around this data. After identifying the key departments customers appreciate most, Lemonis develops a strategy centered around “anchor tenants” — products meant to boost profits for a entire department by establishing the product offering’s legitimacy. By anchoring a department with well-known brands, you can then add brands that aren’t established with good margins. The final step is simplifying a store layout through clear signage and organization which will make the shopping experience easier for the customer. The more comfortable and visible the experience, the more likely you will generate sales.

If you need a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included Design Your Dream Life Through Passive Income from TEDx Talks YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.”

Proverbs‬ 28:26‬ MSG‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬‬


Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

October 19, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.inc.com/minda-zetlin/4-smart-habits-that-made-warren-buffett-a-billionaire-and-will-work-for-you-too.html

What makes Warren Buffett one of the riches people in the world? Unlike fellow billionaires Bill Gates, Mark Zuckerberg, and Jeff Bezos, he did not create a ground-breaking high-tech product. Instead, Buffett’s wealth began with a series of small, simple habits that anyone can follow and that are guaranteed to bring you greater wealth. The personal finance site GOBankingRates has identified some of the smartest habits that have put Buffett in every top-five list of wealthiest humans. Here are my favorites. You can read the full list here. The four habits are: think like an entrepreneur, invest even small amounts, borrow as little as you can, and live below your means. Being an entrepreneur does not mean you have to quit your job. Instead have an entrepreneur mindset, look for opportunities. Specifically look for ways to create assets that will generate cash flow; ideally assets that generate passive income. If you can’t afford it, then create it. It’s about looking at this abundant world and using your God given gifts to make it better. It may require sweat equity but it’s worth the effort. You don’t need a huge amount of money to become a successful investor. (In fact, here are some excellent investments you can make with $500 or less If you have your own business, either full-time or on the side, investing some of your earnings back into your business is one of the smartest things you can do. Buffett did just that when he and a friend bought a pinball machine for $25 and placed it in a local barber shop. When it earned money for them, rather than spend it, they bought additional pinball machines. In time, they had eight machines in different barber shops. When they sold that business, Buffett used the proceeds to start another business. It’s also important to carry as little debt as possible. Liabilities will create an expense which will reduce your income. I suggest if you must have debt, create your own debt and become a self-lender. My mustard seed app can show you how. You can learn more about it by contacting me. Finally, the hardest part is living below your means. The best way to do this type of living is to have a budget, and be content with what you do have.

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/07/debt_to_income.asp

Your debt-to-income ratio is a personal finance measure that compares the amount of money that you earn to the amount of money that you owe to your creditors. For most people, this number comes into play when they are trying to line up the financing to purchase a home, as it is used to determine mortgage affordability. (For more information, see Mortgages: How Much Can You Afford?) Debt to income is a common ratio you will see whenever you go to apply for a loan. Any lender will be looking at this ratio, and this ratio is a good measure to use in your own life. This article does adequately explain how to calculate the ratio so I’ll quote heavily from it. For example, if you earn $2,000 per month and have a mortgage expense of $400, taxes of $200 and insurance expenses of $150, your debt-to-income ratio is 37.5%. The more encompassing measure is to include the total amount of money that you spend each month servicing debt. This includes all recurring debt, such as mortgages, car loans, child support payments and credit card payments. Lending is always based on gross income, which is income before taxes. However, I will add that banks will factor in a standard living expense into their calculation as well factor in taxes. The article states that net income (take home pay) is income after taxes and deductions. I call net income the income after all your taxes, deductions and expenses are paid like a true business. In my financial small groups, I’m clear to make that distinction to avoid confusion. So, what is a good ratio? Traditional lenders generally prefer a 36% debt-to-income ratio, with no more than 28% of that debt dedicated toward servicing the mortgage on your house. A debt-to-income ratio of 37-40% is often viewed as an upper limit, although some lenders will permit ratios in that range or higher. However, although lenders may be willing to give you the loan, that doesn’t mean that you should take it. Another good ratio to keep in mind is your take home pay (gross profit) or what is deposited into your account divided by your fixed expenses. Fixed expenses are expenses you have to pay every month (mortgage/rent, insurance, cell phone, water, electricity, gas etc.) If your fixed expenses are greater than 50% of your take home pay, then you could be in trouble. These expenses don’t include living expenses such as food, or debt payments. The danger is if your ratio is this high you are likely to stay in debt, which over time could lead to financial ruin. Knowing your debt to income ratio and keeping it low is the key to having more income and less stress in your life. Have more contentment with less.

If you need a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included Business Advice from “the Profit”, Marcus Lemonis from LinkedIn Marketing Solutions YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs 28:26 MSG

 

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

October 5, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.cnbc.com/2016/09/28/marcus-lemonis-highlights-a-distribution-mistake-that-can-cost-you-a-lot-of-money.html

Before you hire an outside party to distribute your product, think twice — they might be unnecessarily costing your business an arm and a leg. That’s the lesson Max Kater, CEO of Murchison-Hume, learned on this week’s episode of CNBC’s “The Profit.” Over the past few years, Kater had been using a convoluted process to get her fleet of upscale, nontoxic cleaning products — ranging from glass cleaners to dish soaps — from the factory floor to consumers’ hands. The business had been creating the product in Skokie, Illinois and then sending the product to a third-party logistics center in Dallas, Texas. This distance was costing the business an extra 50 cents per unit. Even though this amount seems insignificant; in the wholesale business it will add up. “Murchison-Hume, like any wholesaler, sells to retailers at twice its cost, meaning that the 50 cents turns into $1 by the time it gets to the retailer,” Lemonis explained. The retailer then marks up the product, so that $1 becomes $2 in the eyes of a customer. As a result, the price of Murchison-Hume’s product becomes $9. A price that will cause customers to pass on the product. To solve the problem, Lemonis suggested Kater work with a partner that manufactures, packages and distributes products all under one roof, streamlining the process and saving Kater an extra 50 cents on the cost of goods sold. This change creates a 22% savings to the customer which means a more affordable product. It’s important in business to not just price your product, but to properly price your product. It’s important to understand logistics and figure out how to improve processes. Ultimately it’s about how to properly manage working capital and more importantly manage human capital.

http://www.inc.com/damon-brown/how-to-stop-burnout-with-one-simple-rule.html

There’s a reason we are comfortable sacrificing it all to make our businesses a reality: We assume we’ll get a break tomorrow. To paraphrase Orphan Annie, tomorrow is always a day away–but meanwhile we could end up being useless to the very people we say we are sacrificing everything for. Consultant Alan Weiss calls this the Oxygen Mask Principle. If you’re in an emergency situation on an airplane, you are told to put your oxygen mask on first before assisting a less competent companion. He breaks it down in his podcast, The Way I See It:

You can’t help the client or your family, you can’t do pro bono work, you can’t help others in the profession, you can’t help anyone unless you yourself are comfortable. You need a healthy selfishness.

Rest is extremely important. If the human body was intended to work 24-7, then you wouldn’t see people with health issues or in some cases, die from exhaustion. Personally, I’ve taken on the habit of engaging in work 6 days a week, but I also take one day of rest. Rest for me may be going to church, sleeping, or doing some form of relaxing. I encourage you to make sure that you take the time to rest so that you can recharge and be more effective. Mr. Brown’s tactics to putting on his Oxygen Mask is to build in minimum viable days, create blank spaces in his schedule, and say “no” early and
often. Honoring the principle of rest will allow you to enjoy life more, and you’ll find that you’re still productive even with the rest.


If you’re in need of a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included The Profit Principles with Marcus Lemonis from CNBC Prime YouTube channel.

“If you think you know it all, you’re a fool for sure; real survivors learn wisdom from others.” Proverbs‬
‭28:26‬
‭MSG‬‬‬‬

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

September 14, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.investopedia.com/articles/fa-profession/090816/cash-value-vs-surrender-value-what-difference.asp

If you read the contract for your annuity or permanent life insurance policy, you will encounter insurance industry terms that sound similar but mean very different things. This is the case with terms such as face value, cash value, cash surrender value, surrender cost and account value. The differences between these concepts are sometimes small, but they can make a large difference if you need to pull money from your policy. The cash value or surrender value is equal to the sum of money built up within a cash value-generating annuity or permanent life insurance policy. Your insurance or annuity provider allocates some of the money you pay through premiums toward investments — such as a bond portfolio — and then credits your policy based on the performance of those investments. It should be noted that it is technically illegal for a life insurance policy to be promoted as an investment vehicle, however policyholders will use their whole, universal, or variable universal life insurance policies to grow their tax-advantaged retirement assets. As a reminder, term life policies do not build cash value. The surrender value is the actual sum of money a policyholder will receive if he tries to access the cash value. This is also referred to as the surrender cash value or, in the case of annuities, annuity surrender value. The cash value and surrender value are not the same as the policy’s face value, which is the death benefit. However, outstanding loans against the policy’s cash value can reduce the total death benefit. I’ve included an example of cash vs surrender value from the article:

Suppose you purchase a whole life insurance policy with a death benefit of $200,000. After 10 years of making consistent, on-time payments, there is $10,000 of cash value in the policy. You consult your insurance contract and see that the surrender charge after 10 years is equal to 35%. This means if you tried to cancel your policy after 10 years and withdraw your cash value, the insurance provider will assess a $3,500 charge to your cash value, leaving you with a surrender value of $6,500

It’s important to consult with a life insurance agent, and discuss what type of policy would work best for you. Ultimately you want to have a vehicle in place to provide for your family in case anything happens to you, and you have a large number of liabilities and no true assets that will provide income. Also it’s important to have a last will and testament and if necessary a trust to make sure your assets will be protected. If you want more information, you can reach me in the contact me section

http://www.forbes.com/sites/hannahsparks/2016/09/12/ultra-premium-japanese-beef-arrives-in-nyc/

Last Wednesday marked the first day of “Hida Beef Week” in New York City­­­­—a festival and publicity tour for ultra-premium Hidagyu—presented by Gifu Prefectural Government, Japan. For the next week and a half, “or while supplies last,” a selection of renowned Japanese restaurants in New York will feature Hidagyu in dishes and tastings. It was just last October that the meat provided by JA Hida Meat (Hida Meat Agricultural Association) was approved for American markets, thus making Hidagyu now regularly available. This Hida beef is on par if not better than the well-known Wagyu (Kobe) beef. This beef is a black-haired cattle breed from Gifu Prefecture, Japan. These particular cows drink from fresh springs against a mountain backdrop. Hidyagu is raised for at least 14 months or more. This promotes soft texture, delicate flavor and a unique marbling pattern that extends across the steaks, flank, shoulder and round. It’s this thin and thorough marbling that gives the beef a distinctly tender texture, and the fine webbing of fat that seals the meat’s juices like a spider’s nest. At the time of this article, there are multiple restaurants that are offering this type of beef in New York. The traditional way to eat this type of beef is as a steak or filet, but it can also be used in Japanese barbeque. In closing, Durvett seemed enthusiastic about the arrival of Hidagyu. “It just melts in your mouth like butter,” she remarked, “I want to eat some just thinking about it.” This particular article shows the benefits of having a higher quality of life. Is this possible for you? I believe so. It begins with knowing your numbers, controlling your numbers and making your money work hard for you. I suggest a financial checkup to properly assess your financial health.

If you have a prayer request, or if you’re in need of a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included an animated book review of the Richest Man in Babylon by George Clason from the TheJourney Youtube channel.

“But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, ” GOD is great—everything works together for good for his servant.” I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.”

Psalm 35:27-28 MSG

Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

August 24, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

www.inc.com/marcel-schwantes/5-signs-youre-going-to-fail-as-a-leader.html

The best leaders I have witnessed over the years are committed to understanding how to meet the needs of employees from every generation. Have you noticed how drastically different a Millennial needs to be led versus, say, a baby boomer? I have also noticed that the best leaders have a keen sense of the things they need to avoid doing to keep leading at a high level. This is the focus of my article today. There are five mistakes that leaders can hurt overall morale: squashing the talents and strengths of team members, hoarding information, micromanaging, getting the last word, and not making themselves available. It’s important for a leader to recognize the unique gifts of each employee and put them in position to not just succeed but lead as well. Bringing out the best in each employee will not only increase productivity, but efficiency as well. “For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” (Psalm 139:13-14 NIV). Hoarding information can kill trust, but a leader who is willing to share and be transparent will create a more relaxed work environment. Micro-managing is about power and there are three ways to avoid this tendency. First is by being a part of the hiring process and making sure the person fits the culture. Second is by making sure the team is trained properly and ensuring there is a process in place that encourages a team environment. Finally listen to feedback and fulfilling staff needs as needed and making sure that the added staff is equipped and empowered. Getting the last word exhibits the possibility of low emotional intelligence. This type of leader doesn’t have a vision, and doesn’t listen to the collective voice of the team in pursuing the vision. By doing these things, the team will not feel respected or cared for. It’s important as a leader to make yourself available and to allow one on one time with team members to show you do care. The best way to do these meeting is by building a time margin of at least 15 minutes into your schedule.

http://www.forbes.com/sites/ceciliarodriguez/2016/08/20/at-1-1-billion-the-most-expensive-house-in-the-world-in-france-goes-to-market

What can justify a $1.1 billion price tag for a house? Before searching for the features behind the number, let’s clarify that in this case, “the house” is rather a large, opulent mansion on the French Côte d’Azur, set in a “small” privileged refuge between Nice and Monaco frequently described as the ‘billionaires’ playground.’ First, there’s the house itself, with the understated name Villa Les Cèdres—The Cedars—at the center of Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat, known in French as a “presqu’île,” or “almost island.” This magnificent property in the French press has 10 bedrooms, a ballroom, concierge, a chapel, 50-meter swimming pool dug into the rocks, a winter garden, and stables for 30 horses. One of its most valuable aspects is its botanical garden with 35 acres and 20 greenhouses, which is overseen by 15 gardeners and features 15,000 rare tropical species. Then there’s the location. Saint-Jean-Cap-Ferrat now has the most expensive price per square meter—more than €200,000 at the top end—in the world, according to le-gotha.com: “More than 50 of the most beautiful villas of the 600 on the presqu’île are worth their weight in gold. This property has been visited by various celebrities and has its own unique history. The fact that this property is listed at this price shows the value of real estate, and is a reminder that value is in the eye of the beholder.

If you have a prayer request, or if you’re in need of a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included an animated book review of Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill from the FightMediocrity Youtube channel.

“But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, ” GOD is great—everything works together for good for his servant.” I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.”

Psalm 35:27-28 MSG


Posted in Pursuit of Excellence

August 17, 2016

Posted on by jamesmachawk

http://www.investopedia.com/news/whats-value-blue-lobster/

Imagine heading out for a day’s work and returning with a gem that stuns fishermen across the nation? That’s exactly what happened to Wayne Nickerson, a commercial lobsterman from Massachusetts, when he caught a very rare lobster this week. A two-pound blue lobster to be exact. If you’ve watched the show Deadliest Catch, then you’ve seen the story of ship captains that make a living catching Alaskan snow crabs. I found this story and wanted to share it. The odds of finding a blue lobster is one for every two million. Blue lobsters are actually edible and have their discoloration because of a genetic mutation. They’ve been priced as high as $500 on eBay, although that listing failed to attract a single bid, so it’s safe to say the worth of blue lobsters is debatable. Lobster experts also find it difficult to put a price tag on this beautiful creature (“There is no monetary value,” Dr. Robert Bayer, executive director of the Lobster Institute at the University of Maine, told us.) When restaurant Per Se featured its blue lobster and wagyu menu, it was priced at $560. For about that same amount, you can also buy a pair of rare Nike “Blue Lobster” sneakers. Value is in the eye of the beholder, and sometimes value is transferred by belief. “The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field. When a man found it, he hid it again, and then in his joy went and sold all he had and bought that field. (Matthew 13:44 NIV). When you find something truly valuable make sure you protect it, and pass it on to the next generation.

http://www.inc.com/quora/1-financial-secret-of-the-worlds-wealthiest-people.html

The only way to get rich rapidly is to understand the principle of leverage.

Financial leverage works this way: You spot widgets for sale in bulk for only a dollar. You know where you can sell them for two dollars. You’ve got a hundred dollars, so you buy a hundred and make back $200, clearing $100. If you had borrowed $100 from your banker, paying back $110, you could’ve bought two hundred and cleared $190 for your total outlay of $100 plus $110 in loan and interest, quite a bit better return for your effort and putting your $100 at risk. Often when I look at leverage I’m looking at it from a lending aspect, however you can also leverage your time as well. If you operate as a single small business owner, you can only do a certain number of jobs per day because there’s only 24 hours in a day. If you properly create a system that duplicates and automates your service, then you can have employees do multiple jobs for you and triple your bottom line. When you can leverage your time and your money and then put your money to work, you are on the road to riches. Ask yourself daily how can I do the best for the most number of people and set out to achieve it. When your reason or why is strong enough it will create a spirit that is determined to accomplish the goal. Faith is a very important and necessary to accomplish anything in life.

http://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-06-13/london-s-lonely-unicorn-two-frugal-expats-and-their-billion-dollar-startup

When Taavet Hinrikus moved in 2007 from Estonia to London as an employee of Skype, his paychecks didn’t come with him: He still got paid in euros, via an Estonian bank account. Every month, Hinrikus had to wire money to himself in Britain, and each time he felt ripped off—by expensive and arbitrary fees and by an infuriating exchange rate. In 2010 Transferwise was formed by Taavet Hinrikus and Kristo Klaarmann as a way of transferring money across international borders. Customers who want to send money across borders are promised the “mid-market rate,” or what banks themselves pay when trading a given pair of currencies. When possible, TransferWise’s software pairs customers who are making equal and opposite transactions, a so-called peer to peer match. It’s like Hinrikus and Käärmann’s original swap, but it’s invisible and at bigger scale. Originally this company was targeting the consumer, but as of this article Transferwise is marketing to small and medium sized businesses that need to pay for things in foreign or pay staff that are working overseas. Even though TransferWise is innovative, it is a company that should be observed carefully. TransferWise isn’t profitable—it lost £11.5 million in the 12 months through March 2015, the latest period for which figures are available. But the same is true for many fast-growing startups, and sniping over perceived inventiveness could say more about jealous rivals and today’s tightening venture capital environment than anything else. The concept of this company is to not charge outrageous fees to allow people to have access to their money if they have to exchange it to a foreign currency. It’s the idea of how can I impact a large number of people for the greater good. Everyone has a Big Idea…a millionaire dollar innovative idea. The question is not the product, but the market. If you have a life changing idea, I suggest you keep your day job and build your business part time. But before you even begin to build your business, make sure you have your finances in order and have a budget in place. Getting a financial checkup is the first step to knowing your financial condition.

If you have a prayer request, or if you’re in need of a financial checkup you can reach me in the contact me section.

For this week, I’ve included an animated book review of the 4-Hour Workweek by Tim Ferriss from the FightMediocrity Youtube channel.

“But those who want the best for me, Let them have the last word—a glad shout!— and say, over and over and over, ” GOD is great—everything works together for good for his servant.” I’ll tell the world how great and good you are, I’ll shout Hallelujah all day, every day.”

Psalm 35:27-28 MSG