A) If you are going to transform yourself into a financial wizard, with money, security, and assets, then you need to begin this transformation by clearing out the cobwebs, and making way for a new tomorrow.B) We are all perfectly capable of becoming "Financial Wizards." None of us are without the ability to amass vast quantities of prosperity and wealth, in an easy, painless fashion. Benjamin Franklin believed that we are all equal, entitled to...more
Bridging finance, also referred to as "bridge loans" and "bridging loans", have nothing at all to do with re-constructing the London Bridge. Bridging finance is typically a short-term loan that a business uses to supply cash for a real estate transaction until permanent financing can be arranged. The word "bridge" conveys the fact that the loan is designed to get you over a temporary obstacle. A typical use for a bridge loan is to cover...more
The single most expensive stock market trades are those made with emotions, but, of course, you are not an emotional trader are you? Before you bought that stock, mutual fund or Exchange Traded Fund (ETF) you did your research to be sure that what you were buying would return a good profit over the long haul. You bought it and over time you look at it less and less. Ask yourself: when you plunked down your hard earned money did you have any idea where you would sell it or where you might exit the trade should the stock go down instead of up? And suppose it has gone up have you made any plans to protect those profits? There were many geniuses in 1999 who bought a tech stock at $20 and saw it run to $200 only to come back down to $2. Those who had an exit strategy probably sold out as it turned over and dropped like a rock. They kept most of their profits as well as their original investment. What kept those BuyNholders in? It was emotion. They fell in love with the stock because they "knew" it was worth more and would "come back up". Investing is not an "I hope, I hope" business, but it is a business. Never become emotionally attached to anything you buy. If you were in the buggy...more
Towers Perrin, the corporate benefits consulting firm, surveyed over 1000 American workers and found the following: Only 51 percent of all workers trust their organizations to tell the truth in employee communications Only 48 percent of all workers with more than five years of tenure believe their companies are honest in their employee...more
We consistently face new and ever growing challenges in the workplace such as reorganizing, downsizing, and "left out sizing." We are faced with the question, "How do we lead in this storm of change?" It may seem difficult at times and the decisions we make define our short-term and long- term outcomes. I will share with you five leadership...more
How many times have you heard something similar to this in a customer service situation? Customer: "Why don't you just do it this way, and it will take care of the situation." Customer Service Person: "I understand what you are saying, but we can to do it this way." Then the situation magically goes downhill from there and it is difficult to win back the customer. What Happened? The customer service person used the one word that has a powerful negative effect when dealing with customers. The one word, if you can imagine, brings out the horns on the customer's forehead, turns his face red, tightens his teeth, and clinches his hands the word is but. This is because but is an exclusive word. The use of but negates everything that was said previously by the customer. The customer then feels alienated and disrespected. It says to the customer, "You discounted or ignored everything I just said and you are going on with your agenda. Well, you don't respect me, so I won't respect your solution." The Solution Replace the use of but with this powerful, positive word that will make the customer feel like he is are a part of the solution, put a smile on his face, and change the mood to the...more
Recently, a business associate, Mike, mentioned that he was doing a show at a local university and stopped by the faculty dining hall to get lunch. He said that, while waiting on line, the service was poor. The line moved slowly, the counterperson...more
Recently I was facilitating an Outstanding Customer Service program and broke for lunch. Knowing that the restaurants in the area had much to desire as far as service I gave the students an extra fifteen minutes for lunch. Sure enough a group of four...more
Recently on the television reality show, The Apprentice, Donald Trump would give the ultimate winner the dream job of working for him, running one of his divisions and earning $250,000 per year. On the final episode, the choice came down to two...more
Recently, I was watching a rerun of the successful television show, The Cosby Show. The patriarch of this professional family (He is a doctor and his wife is a lawyer.) played by Bill Cosby, was just told by his college-bound daughter that the...more
One hot summer day my daughter and I ventured to our local craft store with one mission in mind - purchase velvet covered coloring panels called fuzzy boards. Little did we know this simple trip would turn into such an adventure. The store advertised...more