CONFESSIONS OF A POOR, INSANE, FUTURE MILLIONAIRE

Striving in Arnold's World is the Key to Success

2012-02-02T11:30:00.002-05:00

A huge part of your success, in becoming a futuremillionaire will be your ability to Separate the Real World from Arnold’sWorld.

HOW I CAME ACROSS ARNOLD’S WORLD

Arnold’s World is a place that I have just recentlyentered. A reader of this blog DeuceCarter has a Tumbler site with some interesting motivational pictures.

One of them is the Screen saver below of ArnoldSchwarzenegger. Despite his recentissues – here is a man that has conquered everything he’s ever tried. Physically, mentally and politically. A man who barely spoke English ended up beingthe Governor of this country’s largest State. In Arnold’s World physical & mental perfection along with financialfreedom were mandatory. Once I removedmy computer background and replaced it with Arnold – I conceptually enteredArnold’s World.

In order to stay motivated, you must separate Arnold’s Worldfrom the Real World.

Living in – Arnold’sWorld

If you are doing what it takes to push yourself to the nextlevel, you should feel special, but unfortunately that “specialness” won’ttranslate to the real world until you have reached real world success. Confused?

In the Arnold World people are rated on a differentscale. People are rated on their abilityto push themselves to the limit in all aspects of their lives. In Arnold’s World, when a person gets homefrom their 9 to 5, they are expected to further their education, take care ofthemselves physically and strive for financial Freedom. Those are the expectations. In fact, that should be the criteria forreading this blog.

Let’s list those again shall we: AWE (Arnold’s WorldExpectations)

1. Further their education

By no means does this mean gradschool, college etc. This could meanlearning about your business, reading forums, magazines, anything that willmake you better at whatever you will end up doing for your financialfreedom. Learning about your craft.

2. Take Care of yourself physically

This doesn’t mean hitting the gymevery day, but it does mean doing some physical activity a few times a week,and eating healthy. A healthy body goeshand in hand with a healthy mind.

3. The Strive for financial freedom.

Basically working to be a futuremillionaire. That’s why we are hereright? Google the term “FutureMillionaire”? Guess who comes up in the number two spot in the searchresults???

If you are here, you are at the right place becausethere is no place on the internet where the struggle is understood better thenhere. Period.

You can remember the three expectations by simply keeping inmind: Work harder on yourself than you do on your job.

HOW DOES ARNOLD’S WORLD COMPARE TO THE REAL WORLD?

To be great in the Arnold World you are doing items 1 thru 3 to the bestof your ability, until you reach success. Constant effort over time! Nowlet’s compare yourself to your fat, out of shape co worker. You and him are in the little kitchenettearea at work – you know that annoying little place with the microwave andtoaster oven, and over packed refrigerator with everyone’s labeled lunchbags. You are there heating upvegetables and chicken and your co-worker is heating up a left over cheesesteakand fries.

When he went home last night, hewatched 4 hours of TV, ordered 2 cheesesteaks from the delivery joint down thestreet, talked on the phone to his buddy about the weekend for an hour and thenplayed Star Wars Old Republic for 3 hours and then crashed for the night.

When you got home last night, youhit the gym, showered, cooked dinner for yourself and made lunch fortoday. Then you started working on yourmain project until about 10:00. Then youattended a Webinar for an hour, and then Skyped with your programmers in Indiauntil 2:00 AM.

In Arnold’s World – you are like the Mayor! You are revered because you are able to stayfocused, eat right, hit the gym and survive on almost no sleep. Your co-worker is seen as a lazy piece ofcrap. He’s the equivalent to someone whois unemployed, on welfare and refuses to even look for a job, because welfareis covering his bills. He’s everythingthat you Arnold’s World hates!

If you translate that into the real world – You and yourco-worker are even. Huh? Doesn’t sound fair does it. Although you accomplished a lot last night,you are not earning money with your projects. In fact you are losing money because you are investing in time andresources. Your co-worker is shovingmoney without thinking in his 401 K. Hedrives a better car then you, and hangsout after work with the rest of your co-workers so in fact, his status ishigher than yours.

That is your challenge. Day in and day out, you have to accept that in society, until your bankaccount has grown to the KMAM (Kiss My ASS Mark), you are on par or less thanthat of the guy who does the same job as you do at work. It’s a hard pill to swallow, but it’s alsowhy you know that you need to be doingmore. Let that thought fuel you topush yourself to succeed. If you quit it will all be for nothing, Youwon’t fail unless you quit.

DANGER ZONE

Being able to separate the worlds are key. You are no better of a person because you arein Arnold’s World. Everyone doesn’t wantthe same things as you do. It doesn’tmake you better than them, and they don’t deserve less respect. It’s a choice. Because your mom doesn’t go to the gym,doesn’t mean you don’t respect her less. We live in the Real World and everyone deserves respect until theyun-earn it. (But in Arnold’s world, YOUARE BETTER THEN THEM).

If you are reading this and don’t have a “project” – GETONE!

Like the great Jim Rohn says,

If you don't design your own life plan,chances are you'll fall into someone else's plan. And guess what they haveplanned for you? Not much

The Re-reading of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

2011-12-20T15:27:00.002-05:00

As a Future Millionaire it’s something that you should do often. Mainly because it’s a hard concept to embrace. It tells you everything that you ever learned about making money is false….similar to what I do here on this blog. When you get through the first two chapters you start feeling one of three ways:

1. Rober Kyoski is full of sh*T

2. Why didn’t I read this sooner, I feel so dumb.

3. Glad to know I’m on the right track.

In no uncertain terms, Mr. Kyoski basically says that going to work everyday makes you a Jack Ass. He portrays it as having a carrot dangled in front of you while you pull the cart. You identifiy yourself with that donkey, pulling the corporate American cart. I shouldn't say that going to work makes you a Jack Ass, but going to work and expecting to make it something it's not makes you a Jack Ass.

That’s not where you want to be.

In the middle of the book you start to think, “I want to be the farmer with the carrot”.

That’s not toally true either. You are still working everyday. You still have to get up in the morning, load the cart, put the carrot on the string and dangle and walk for hours.

Yes you have all the carrots you can eat so you are better off then the mule, but you still had to get up at the butt crack of dawn to make that happen.

WHERE DO YOU REALLY WANT TO BE?
You want to be the guy who owns all the farms. You buy and work the first farm. You get it to the point where it is making $2000.00 per month. You streamline the process and pay someone $1500 per month to run it.

Move to the next farm. You get it earning $2000 per month, you pay someone $1500 to run it. Move to the third farm and fourth farm. You are good at this so you do it with less work in less time. Now you have four farms, with four farmers working them. Each one is happy to make $1500 per month, and you are making the same $2000 you were making before, but you get up at noon now.

You play golf and spend time with your family. You have four farmes with their mules handing out carrots.

The Owner, the Farmer, the Mule. Don’t kid youself, just because you hanve an MBA, a big office and a good job, but a slong as you have to go to work every morning you can still be a jackass!

-MJL

You Must Be Crazy to Dream Big

2011-10-19T16:12:00.002-04:00

I realized the bigger your dreams are, the crazier you must be. Period.

Over the past week, week and a half I have been reading and watching about Hitler and Steve Jobs. Not to compare the two, because as we all know comparing anyone to Hitler will get you kicked off of ESPN, however there are similarities. Ouch!! Wait…..hear me out.

There was a show on the History channel that dove into Hilter and the architecture that surrounded him in the 1940’s . That man was crazy. You couldn’t tell him what to do or what not to do. He wanted a dome over his capital building that was so big you could fly a mini helicopter in it. He would not take no for an answer . Steve Jobs, same thing. He wanted to do away with the keyboard, and I think if you gave him five more years, he would have done it. I have to imagine Thomas Edison, Leonardo Da Vinci, these guys were visionaries cut all of for the same cloth.

How Does this Apply To Us?

The world pushes you into what it thinks you should be, what it thinks you should do, how it thinks you should act. The more in line you are with that the less crazy you have to be. If your dad went to college and became an Engineer and you want to be an Engineer – that’s not crazy. That’s normal.

If you want to be a Lawyer and your dad was an Engineer, that’s ambitious but not crazy.

If you want to be a Rock Star and tour Europe, that’s Crazy. If you want to be a multi-billionaire. That’s considered crazy. Get it?

Crazy is Good

If you are not the right level of crazy then you won’t make it. The bigger your dream the crazier you must be. I want a net worth o 1.4 billion dollars. So how crazy am I? I’m down right nuts. I sleep, eat, and crap this dream. I don’t have regular friends anymore, I don’t watch Sunday football, I sleep 3 to 4 hours per night. I’m insane. I won’t take NO for an answer. You WILL NOT tell me this dream is not going to happen. Period.

I’m INSANE! You need to be INSANE. If you want a promotion at work, you just have to be a little crazy, so there is no reason for you not to get it. If you want to quit you job and start your own company- YOU HAVE TO BE CRAZY. The amount of sacrifice, and hard work cannot be summed up in a book . You will be working hard with no payoff for a long time. Saving money, going without sleep, getting setbacks all while you are pushing ahead. You must not take NO for an answer. Move smart, but move crazy. You will know when you can quit your day job. You can layout a plan that is safe, but crazy to execute. Then GET CRAZY and execute it.

There will be more to come on this.
-MJL

Surviving Time in Corporate America for the Entrepreneur

2011-03-29T15:57:00.006-04:00

“Surviving” is a difficult task because it is a conflicts with our current goal and mind set. We spend most of our time plotting our escape, that we don’t actually focus on “how to survive” (until we can escape). This is an essential ingredient because by surviving well, we expend less energy, that we can use to then better plot our escape.

Got it?

The thought actually came to me while watching a prison show on “Hulu” that was on The National Geographic Channel. They were profiling an inmate who was a shear mastermind. He was your standard white guy, baby faced, imprisoned with Blacks and Hispanics (race will play a part in just a second, that’s why I’m mentioning it). He looked like he couldn’t hurt a fly. They showed him in the dining area eating, showed him in the yard playing softball, depicting him as a pillar of the prison community. In every scene he actually appeared genuinely happy.

Then they hold up pictures of some guy that was bludgeoned almost to death. Then they show another, and the voiceover states that the Baby-faced white guy was responsible for every one of those beatings. WHAT!?!?!!

Then they pan to a shot of this guy in his cell. On top of his bunk he has a variety of snacks. Honey Buns, BBQ chips, Reeses, Snickers and any other snack you could think of. He proceeds to explain how he gets his cell floors swept and waxed for the price of a few honey buns. He gets his prison uniform cleaned and pressed, for a few bags of BBQ chips and a Snickers bar. That night he was hosting a dinner party in his cell where they were having Mexican food. They found a way to cook tortillas right in the cell. This guy was hosting dinner parties in prison!!!

How did he do this? All by the power of persuasion, keeping his emotions in control and bending a seemingly rigid prison system, to cater to his needs.

That’s how you survive in Corporate America. As an Entrepreneur your goals have changed. You don’t want to be a CEO. You don’t necessarily want to be moved up. You just want to earn your check – do an adequate job, and get home to work on your other endeavors. Instead of letting the place frustrate you with its policies, procedures and politics, use them to your advantage and mold them to help you in your journey out of there.

WANT EXAMPLES? “Sure”

Although the place I work is frustrating and the people are frustrating there are a few really bright, really experienced people who work there. Gain the trust of these select few and talk with them frequently. Run ideas and business strategies by them. It’s like free counsel. Trust me, if they are really intelligent, they will welcome the discussion and began to vicariously live through you, thus really wanting to see you achieve your goals.

Printers, Xerox Machines, Fax machines

They are all accessible to you to a certain extent. Use them after or before hours to give things you are working on a certain professional flare.

Company laptop

It’s a laptop. Great!!! Now you can postpone buying one and use this one for generating your business plans and excel spread sheets for your ideas. Use it for a change of scenery when you are home working, and take it to the local coffee shop so you can keep working. Keep grinding, keep getting it in!

HAVE FUN

You are launching a new business; you have a great idea that’s going to take off in just a few months, or years (whatever your particular sentence is). Knowing that should put you automatically in a good mood. It’s as if, someone told you that in January, you would be inheriting 800,000.00. Not enough money to quit, but it’s a nice chunk of change! That would make coming to work a lot easier, you would be a lot happier, and everyone around you would notice. You wouldn’t stress out over reports, presentations, or reviews. You would just make it happen to the best of your ability and let the chips fall where they may.

Hopefully this makes sense, and it can help you survive the day to day at your 9 to 5. It’s frustrating to work on a spreadsheet when you are secretly planning to launch the next facebook, but until you do it’s necessary.

Make the best out of your prison and save that energy for “The Launch” of the next best thing!

-MJL

Celebrity Apprentice - A Lesson In Boardroom War by Richard Hatch

2011-03-09T17:58:00.001-05:00

As some of you know I tried out for the Apprentice twice (both times getting call backs for the remaining 500 slots). I remain with the opinion that had I gotten picked for the show, Donald Trump would have held me back. So in retrospect, I’m quite happy for the experience of trying out and kind of glad that I didn’t get picked.

I wasn’t a fan of Celebrity Apprentice because the desperation to succeed hasn’t always been there. This season however, they have picked just the right line up of characters who want to be seen, need to be seen and would also sincerely like to earn money for their charities.

As great leaders it’s important to watch these competitive reality shows and watch how some of the greatest minds of our time work. They become a lesson in people management, persuasion, body language and numerous of other attributes that when skilled at, can help the road to success.

In comes Richard Hatch. This guys is a manipulator extraordinaire. He makes Russell from survivor appear humble. In his mind, he has already won. In some ways dangerous but in some ways necessary.

Richard had no qualms about stepping up to be the leader of the first challenge. He is surrounded by some of the greatest names in music, acting and sports and he was not impressed. In fact, it was as if he was resentful of them and their fame. He shouted orders out like a drill sergeant. The interesting part is that I think some of them not only didn’t mind it, but felt they needed it.

There is no doubt that his arrogance got the best of him when he pushed David Cassidy during the pizza challenge. The other thing that was obvious was that Donald Trump wanted him to stay in the game. When Richard had to pick two people to come back into the boardroom he chose Canseco and David Cassidy. When questioned for the third or fourth time about physically contacting David, his tune changed slightly, he said, “If I did push David, then I’m sorry and I apologized”. That’s a lot different then “I did not push David”. No one called him out on that. Or at least it appeared that no one called him out on it (not sure what is left on the cutting floor). That’s no different then David and Jose Canseco both agreeing that he didn’t’ take any breaks, and then state a moment later that he took 2 breaks….and he was called out.

Richard also picked up on the fighting part of the argument. Young Don, says that David was not possessing the energy to fight to stay in the game. As soon as “energy” was mentioned, Richard’s body language change sharply to portray a new sense of energy – to convince everyone that young Don was right. At that point you can even here him stating how mad he wanted to be there.

As a Project Manager that essentially got his ass handed to him, he did a remarkable job staying in the game. I bet he also learned a lot about the people he’s playing with from that one instant.

Kudos to Mark Burnett and his casting team. This cast of characters should make for a great season of Celebrity Apprentice

MJL

Success as Interpreted by The Greats

2011-02-20T20:00:00.002-05:00

Every issue of Esquire comes with a section where they ask famous people their meanings of life. It's one of the most thought provoking but yet profound reads and is the key to many of might thoughts and motives on obtaining ultimate success.

Here are my favorite three from an interview with David Brown.

DAVID BROWN
Producer, interviewed in June 2001 by Cal Fussman.

WORK YOURSELF to death. It's the only way to live.
GOOD HEALTH is beautifully boring.
NEVER BE the first to arrive at a party or the last to go home, and never, ever be both.

Those are some good thoughts to start the week right.

-MJL

Doing what you love, I get it now!

2011-02-05T18:57:00.004-05:00

Ok, it’s been since October since my last post. But if anyone knows anything they know I have been around the internet. This blogger blog was my baby, and it still is, therefore I have to return where it all started. Right?

So what have I been up to? I have been carving a piece of the net out for myself. I have started an Internet marketing company and I’m making it happen. I have about 40 websites and still counting. Some are what I call premium brand and some are just booster to the premium brand.

I'VE SEEN THE LIGHT!!
Recently the light went on. I realize now when people like Oprah, Dr. Phil, Jim Rohn, and all these super successful people say, “You have to do something you love first?” I used to think, “That’s easy for you to say – you’re making millions doing what you love”. Then I realized, if not for money, but for your sanity – you should do what you love. But maybe take a two pronged approach. First do what you have to do to get a check, then do something you love and try and monetize it. This is actually critical to living the quality of life that you deserve. Critical? Sounds severe doesn't it? We it is!

Let’s take the 97% of you out there that don’t like their jobs. Let’s split up your day and see how much out of the 24 hrs do you really truly get to enjoy.

Sleep 7 hrs.

Working a job you hate: 9 hrs.

Commuting and prepare for work: 1.5 hrs.

Gym (Exercise) 20 minutes at a minimum

Eating: 1 hr.

Chores for living (dishes, bill pay, ironing, etc.) 40 min

That’s 19.5 hrs out of 24 that you are not enjoying yourself. What do you do with the other 4.5?

How scary is that? Over 81% of your day is spent doing things you don't want to do. Sounds like a prison sentence.

You have 4.5 hrs to enjoy yourself per weekday. Now, If you enjoy your job, that goes up to 13.5. 3 times more. The numbers don’t lie.

If you throw children into the equation, all the numbers change drastically. The 4.5 can go down to 1 depending on the age of your children. One after school sport, help with homework, and a bedtime story can turn that 4.5 hours into 30 minutes. Then the guy working a job he loves is enjoying life 18 times more then you are.

That’s what I call a better quality of life. Think about it and take action.
If that doesn't motivate you to take control of your life then nothing will.

I’m not back – I never left.

-MJL

Let Tiger's Third Swing Change Be Inspiration for Your Self Improvement

2010-10-26T17:29:00.002-04:00

As a sport fan (not a fanatic), I tend to equate many of life's trials and tribulations to those which occur in sports on the playing field.

Golf is no exception. Observing Tiger struggle for the 3rd time changing his swing, I thought to myself, "That is true commitment to self improvement".

Let's look at this a little further. In 1998 Woods only won one PGA Tour event. This was the first "Tiger Slump" we heard of. He was with his old coach Butch Harmon at that time, and was going through the first of what would be 3 swing changes. After the first change...well you know, the rest is history. He had a record 2000 and continued his dominance over the sport, and was crowned athlete of the decade.

Compare that to you, in your career. In preparation for the next level of your career, you attend a seminar or training class that really impacts you and helps you reach that next level. In this new management position, with your new swing you hit a rhythm and start to perform well. This new rhythm is clearly at a level above your previous performance, so you begin to feel comfortable with the success and praise that you are receiving. This feeling of comfort is "The Tipping Point" 85% of us love this comfort zone and will stay here forever. 10% will fall out of the comfort zone; for some reason or other they cannot sustain this new level of performance. The last 5% will dominate this zone, get bored and look for new challenges.

WHO BENEFITS THE MOST FROM CORPORATE TRAINING?

We have all seen people go through various corporate funded training classes and come out totally unaffected. Some of the meanest nastiest SOB's I know have been to "Play to Win" training over 5 times.

Human Resources and management at your job, do not know what percentage you fall into. They might have an idea, but it's hard to detect the upper 5% from the pack of Eighty five Percenters. They don't know if you will stay, fall or continue to rise, so they send your entire department to anew training class. After this training you are faced with a decision, "Do you want t reach the next level and make a change, or stay exactly where you are".

Most of us are comfortable and will choose to stay put. For example, many of us play golf. We shoot in the 80's or 90's. In order to go lower, we would have to change something drastic. Little tweaks and tips from your buddies are not going to work anymore. In order to shoot into the 70's we will need to possibly change our grip, or perhaps change our stance, things we have done over and over for years! These things are incredibly hard to change and takes dedication and practice, with the risk that you might not reach your goal and possibly screw up what you already knew.

Do you see the parallels? All these things are necessary if we want to get to that next level. Tiger is now in the process of doing this for the 3rd Time! His dedication to self improvement is driving him to make a third swing change, in the middle of the PGA Tour, Fed Ex Cup, & the Ryders. He knows that if he pulls this off, he will be unstoppable. Not to mention, he couldn't live with himself if he didn't try.

Now back to you and your training class. You've learned something in this new class that could make you superstar. In order to implement these changes it will take a huge effort on your part. To modify your behavior takes dedication and practice, drive and focus. Every day. This is what's necessary for you to reach your next level. Sure it's easier to stay where you are but you have to ask yourself, "Am I a pussy (cat) or a Tiger".

Self improvement is a difficult never ending journey, and few people are willing to make that trip or they take it, but decide not to continue after a certain point. That's why the road to the top is a pyramid. There is very little of us at the top. Only some of us are brave enough to correct our swings, and a few crazy enough to do it 3 times.

*****************************
They wouldn't let me post this in Ezine articles because they didn't like the way I was promoting my webiste in the Signature. Well guess what??This site is mine, and I can promote any way I want:
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib
Baby Bjorn Travel Crib
Kindercare
Partition Magic

So There!
-MJL

BALANCING A TYPE A PERSONALITY IN THE WORK PLACE

2010-08-31T13:37:00.002-04:00

By: Eric Smitts

One of the Keys to success when working in Cooperate America is learning how to work with and deal with other types of personalities. If you are an A type personality then it’s extremely hard to balance sensitivity with your own personal objectives. The most famous A-type personality that we know can be seen in the actor Jeremy Piven as his Character Ari Gold. If you watch Entourage Season 7 Online, you can see all of the issues that having a Type A personality creates in the workplace. Most of his issues stem from ruined personal relationships from running over people in pursuit of professional goals.

BE AWARE OF OTHER TYPES
In a balanced work environment you will find 8 basic types: Reformers, Directors, motivators, Inspires, Helpers, Supporters, coordinators and observers. Reading these types I am sure you can see where you fit in. Depending on your role in your organization some types are perfect matches, and these people tend to perform better, and like their jobs more because they are in roles at which they were born to do.

If you are in R&D then you are more of an “observer”. If you are in Human Resources then you are more of a Supporter, or Helper. Most aggressive leaders tend to be Directors. Once you are aware of your “type” then you will have to adjust your behaviors to when dealing with others, based on their types.

EXAMPLES:
As a type A personality you have little patience, and very little tolerance for excuses. You like things brief and you like to be in control. Now to get the best performance out of your co-workers, employees or even your supervisor, being aware of and controlling your style is extremely important. Type A’s love being in control, but when dealing with your boss, you should be aware of this, and say to yourself, “I’m giving my boss control, so I can have it later”. This will help you accept direction.

When dealing with Helper’s they are more concerned with helping other people, and the softer things that you could care less about. Showing outwardly that you don’t care is very discouraging to the helper so this will turn this person off, and you might not get their full cooperation. Being aware of your impatience and lack of sensitivity will allow you to “grin and bear” the conversation with a smile, so you can in turn solidify a relationship that you may need to leverage over and over.

It’s playing a part to get what you want. Hopefully this will only need to happen in your professional life but there are many instances where you will have to play the part in your personal life as well.

As Type A, you have to remember that accomplishing your goal is the main objective and doing whatever it takes, even if it means not being yourself is sometimes necessary. Start practicing with the small everyday situation so then when you really need to leverage this skill set, it’s already dialed in.

To take a quiz to find your type, Google "Myers Briggs Test".

Author Resource:-> The author has been earning a full time income online for 3 years, read his latest Review on the Britax Marathon Car Seat and visit his newest enterprise for Free iphone Apps.

For more on Jeremy Piven's character Ari Gold Watch Entourage Season 7 Online.

Article From Articlear.com

YOU’RE NOT GREAT, UNTIL YOU ARE GREAT - Introducing NSG Tiger Woods

2010-08-09T12:17:00.004-04:00

So I watched Tiger play the British Open & The Bridgestone Invitational, and finally it was a different Tiger. He didn’t win, or even get a top 10, but it was a Tiger who had finally accepted that he was no longer GREAT and with that acceptance he also accepted the challenge to rise back to Greatness.
Let me explain……Tiger knows that he is the Best, possibly the best that has ever played the game ever! He is used to showing up and having people so afraid that they stop playing their game and play his. He was crushing the competition, but a lot of that was because things went his way. Officials called things his way, the people in the galleries rooted for him and remained quiet when he was teeing off (not always, but mostly), tee times, and practice times seemed to be all in his favor. He hosted half of the tournaments and every Sunday was his day. His only job was concentrating on putting that ball in the hole; this is A mental luxury that only a few golfers ever have.
This is very similar to a company CEO. When they walk in, the tide moves with them. They don’t have to ask people 8 times to do something, or use some kind of angle to get people to do what they need them to do. They just do it. There is no pressure to get the job done a certain way, they just need to make sure they get the job done. It doesn’t matter, how they format charts, or how they display information, if they have a late lunch, if they pissed somebody off, if they are talking on the phone too much. It just doesn’t matter and without all those distractions, the CEO can focus on only one thing, running the company. This makes his job, in some cases much easier then being in middle management.

HOW THIS APPLIES TO US
We have to look at ourselves like CEO’s that aren’t CEO’s yet, or better yet, CEO’s that have been laid off and must start from management level. We know we are CEO material because we already did the job, but now we have to do it all over again. This is similar to where Tiger is now. The important part is knowing that we can and will get to where we belong.

He’s the “Not So Great” Tiger.
The NSG Tiger went through a learning phase his first few tournaments back, and has learned that everybody isn’t scared of him anymore. Now, he has to deal with all the bullcrap that everyone else has to, and STILL win. When he played in his first three tournaments this year he thought he could just walk in and be back on top, during the British Open he realized that he has to go back to 1999 and grind his way to the top again.

YOU ARE NOT GREAT, IF YOU ARE NOT GREAT!
His demeanor during the British Open demonstrated that he understood the challenge and was ready to face it head on. The acknowledgement was there that he knows now that he isn’t Great, unless he’s great. No one is going to give him anything. He must prove himself
all over again. All his past accomplishments are just fairy tales for Youtube. The respect, money and power will only come again with accomplishment.

So that’s where I am. That's where most of us are. Entrepreneur's stuck at our 9 to 5's. It’s not going to be easy. I’m going to have to show everybody and grind my way to the top. You are not Great until you are great. Until you are a CEO, then you are not a CEO. It’s just that simple. The key is to “know” that it’s a process, and be patient, and “know” in your heart that it’s just a matter of time

Tiger might have it easier because he's been there before, so there is very little doubt (at least in his mind and mine) that he will get there again, but there is also very little doubt that I will be there. ….. Trump went bankrupt and was rose right back on top, because once you are there on top and then fall –yes, you have to go through that initial realization process that you have to start again, but it happens quicker because you know exactly how to get there. Becoming a millionaire is great, not because of the money you make but what it makes of you to get to that point. The person and lessons you learn getting there. You have learned the skills required to be successful. You can lose the money, but the skills are much more valuable and much harder to lose. The tricky part is knowing when you must use them. Using them is not easy, and you might have thought you would never have to use some of those skills ever again. Don't worry, part of being successful is knowing when to dust off those skill and "Do Work".

The other alternative is to be like most people and say how great you are, and never really push yourself to do a damn thing. Talk is cheap that’s why there is plenty of it.

Very few can afford to pay the price to be great!
Me, I can’t afford not to!

-MJL
An FTB Bloggers Blog

I Can't Fail - Not: I will try to Succeed - Big Difference

2010-07-06T13:02:00.004-04:00

On my way to the book store this weekend I saw a huge Garage Sale. Hardcover books for $.50 Cents. Why Not? I went and took a look, and found a book called Power Thinking. It basically gives insight to how the mind, and our thought processes set us up to fail before we even start playing the game.

One of the stories that really stuck with me was that of George Dantzig. From some internet snooping, I discovered this cat was a pioneer mathematician that did his thing. There are reports that some of Good Will Hunting was based off his life. George passed away last year; he was known as the inventor of the simplex algorithm and is considered the father of linear programming.

All that's nice, but the best story comes from his college days. Georgie boy was a student at Berkeley, right at the peak of the Great Depression. Soup lines and hard times for everyone. He was poised to graduate with a mathematics degree. George knew that it would be impossible for a mathematician to find gainful employment. He learned that the person who scored the highest in his mathematics class would get a job as an assistant teacher. Now this was motivation for "Dat Ass". All he had to do was kill this course and he would have an instant job.

Now Georgie boy knew he wasn't the brightest kid in the class but he had what we all have. The "Grind" factor. He was going to grind out the best grade possible. He grinded every night until he felt comfortable for the exam. In fact, he put in so much work that he lost track of time and ran late for the test. He ran to his desk and looked at the test. It had eight problems. "That's What's Up" he thought to himself ( or "Golly Gee Willikers, 8 Questions" I forgot he was a nerd). He knocked all eight questions out the box. Then he noticed that there were two additional questions on the blackboard.

He wrote them down and started working them. After trying to solve the first one he was at an impasse so he started working the second equation. No luck and time was running out. When the bell rang, he went to the professor and asked if he could have a little more time. "Sure G, You have until four o'clock on Friday, but your paper must be in by then."

George knew that there were crazy smart people in his class and that he had to solve these two problems in order to stand a chance at the teaching gig. He took the paper home and started grinding. He knew that he had know choice if he didn't want to be in the unemployment line. Tuesday & Wednesday he had no luck. Thursday afternoon, BOOOOYAH, he solved the first one. This gave him crazy confidence, and by Friday morning he nailed the second. He turned his paper in on time and went home wondering if he was going to have a job.

Early Sunday morning, George heard a knock on the door. "What the fu...", "Who Dat?" He opened the door and it was his Professor. 'What up Doc? " . The Professor said, George! George! You made mathematics history". George said, "What you talkin' bout Willis". The Professor said, "George, I was thinking as I came over here. You came to class late for the test, didn't you?" He continued, "Eight problems were on the test paper that you picked up off my desk. You solved them all correctly. The two problems I had written on the board were not a part of the test! I told everyone that if they had a love for mathematics to keep playing with these two famous unsolved problems for a lifetime of fun. Then I put those two problems on the blackboard. Even Einstein, to his death, played with those problems and couldn't solve them. You solved them, you solved them both. Not only have you made history, you also have the job". George gave a fist pump and started thinking about his future dough stacks.

That story shows you how we mentally beat ourselves. If George would have heard the statements made in the beginning of the exam, not only would he have not solved the problems, he probably wouldn't even have attempted. That's huge. I'm sure you can apply this to something in you past or present. Believe in yourself. You can achieve much more then you think. It's OK to fail but try again. It's Ok to be disappointed but don't be discouraged by it. Use it as motivation. If you have never been disappointed you were probably aiming too low or moving too slow.

-MJL

An FTB Bloggers Blog

EINSTEIN WAS A PIMP

ARE THOSE 22 INCH SPINNERS?

IS THAT THE NEW ROCAWEAR BUTTON UP?

ALBERT, HOLLA AT YOUR BOY!

Feed the Need to Suceed

2010-06-20T17:17:00.006-04:00

Some days I go from wanting to give up to wanting to work harder and push myself further. I’ not sure what accounts for the severe swings but they do happen. The important thing is my desire to succeed easily outweighs the desire to give up. It’s important to take account of how you are feeling and monitor it closely. What just happened to make you feel a certain way? If it resulted in a bad feeling, how do you counter that to make those negative feelings stay as short as possible? I want to make sure that I starve the negative and feed the Need to Succeed.

In my world things need to be extreme, if you are not extreme then you are just like everybody else, and your results will be just like everybody else’s. If you are extreme; you will achieve extreme results.

STARVING THE QUITTER

1. I tell myself “You haven’t lost or failed until you Quit”. Did you know that ants can’t quit?
Have you ever read the famous of Tammerlane, a famous Asian conqueror who once was going to quit. He was hiding out contemplating surrendering when he saw an ant. The ant was trying to get a piece of corn up over a wall. The kernel of corn was much larger than the ant and try as he may the ant could not get the kernel over the wall. So Tamerlane began to count the futile efforts of this ant, to see how many times he would try until he gave up. He counted 10, 20, 40, 60, 69, but on the 70th attempt the ant succeeded. Sixty-nine times the ant tried to carry it up over the wall, and sixty-nine times he failed. But on seventieth try he succeeded and pushed the grain of corn over the top. If an ant has 70 times in him, then I at least have a 100 in me.
2. If I quit, I will always have regrets – I hate regrets!
3. If I quit, then I am no longer worthy of the 272 posts that I have listed in this blog

FEED THE NEED TO SUCCEED
1. I actually look at people who are the opposite of what I want to be in life. I look at fat, lazy, unmotivated, people and critique them to myself. This might sound harsh, it might sound extreme, but you are in this by yourself, fighting for your goals everyday. You have one life to live so you must give it your all. If you feed your mind and body right it will take you where you need to go. Looking at people that you DON’T want to be like is a reality check. It helps you remember where you came from spiritually, mentally and monetarily on a daily basis, and being thankful where you are now. It helps you stay hungry.

2. Healthy living, Eating well, Working out
Subconsciously you see sexy people on TV and we relate the perfect body with success. If you are working out and getting yourself in shape and eating right you will subconsciously relate yourself with successful people. This might not be healthy mentally, but...

I’m already crazy. If my goal is to have a body like Tyson Beckford and I fall short, I’m still doing well. If my goal is to have a body like Al Roker and I fall short I’m a health risk. So why not shoot for the stars and feel like a winner.

3. Act as if.

This one is huge. Act as if you already reached your goal. How would you treat people? what would your attitude be like every day? Have you ever seen a millionaire, a CEO, an actor and he is the nicest person in the world? Immediately your response is, “I would be nice to if I had that kind of money”. Well then that’s what you need to be NOW! Would you be singing and dancing on your way home if you were rich, if you were a millionaire? Then sing and dance now. Would you greet everyone warmly, bring in bagels for the crew in the morning? Then do that stuff now! Don’t wait; because you are already there, time just has to catch up with you. Treat your car like it’s the Ferrari that you have always wanted. Treat your apartment like it’s the 8000 sq ft mansion you’ve always known you would live in. Clean it, care for it as if. The same goes for everything. If you were rich beyond your wildest dreams, you would be eating healthy because you would want this life to last forever. Act as if.

Watch and read about successful people. What makes them tick? The common thread between all of them isn’t intelligence, it isn’t socio-economic status, or race….it’s that fact that they didn’t quit!

Just posting this I’m already back to the succeed side of my pendulum swing. Matter of fact I have 4 other posts just like this to keep me focused, as well as 15 or 20 bookmarks of other blogs. You can’t talk as much s@#t as I do and be a quitter.

In fact I’ve already succeeded – I just have to wait for my bank account to catch up with my attitude.

My swag is back on full – Get some!

-MJL
An FTB bloggers Blog

Entrepreneurs, Don’t suffer from B.H.S. - Battered Housewife Syndrome

2010-06-07T23:12:00.000-04:00

Battered Housewife Syndrome

I used to work with this older guy who had seen it all and done it all…..twice in fact. He used to say "at the end of the day, all this is, is a bunch of guys playing factory. "

That is a true statement. Part of what holds people in their current surroundings is the fact that they get caught up in all of the hype. They build their 9 to 5 jobs into something that absorbs all of their time and energy. It becomes this enigma that is used to impress your family and friends. At my job people walk around like they are ER Doctors! Their families think they are out saving the world. We make Sun Tan lotion for crying out loud. People are wheeling in bags filled with binders and laptops, we have teleconferences, nightly conference calls and enough meetings to design the next I-PAD.

Part of me understands the hype. I mean really, who wants to come home at the end of the day and tell their wives that they spent the day filling out paperwork, doing expense reports, typing emails and copying and pasting regurgitated crap into Power Point presentations. Ha ha…..I just summed up 85% of my job right there

A real man wants to say, "Honey, I rolled out my new Corporate restructuring program and the board loved it. I just got the corner office with the bathroom and a 10% increase”

Our job as future millionaires is not to get caught up in our jobs. This doesn't mean don’t kill it. You still have to be the best (don’t be a scape g.o.a.t), but don't waste unnecessary time obsessing over it or expelling extra emotional energy that can be used to achieve your dreams.

During a recent interview with Puff Daddy. He explained how he used to clean bathrooms during his unpaid internship. At the end of that statement, he said that he was "the best" at it. That's the mind frame that we have to keep. That's the perfect analogy. He knew he would move on to bigger and better things but he still had to be the best at what he did. I'm sure at the end of the day, he didn't call himself a Sanitation Engineer, or a commercial disinfectionist. He wanted to diminish the effect that this job had on his life. He was about to start Bad Boy records, Sean Jean clothing line and produce a slew of number 1 albums and TV shows and be one of the most famous people in Entertainment. Do you think he let that job be any bigger in his mind then it needed to be. Yeah, the bathrooms stunk, it was a filthy, $hitty job (Pun intended) and he hated it, but all the complaining, and getting angry would be a waste. He was a kid cleaning bathrooms and gave it the energy it deserved, not a ounce more. His energy was spent on bigger and better things.

THE BATTERED WIFE

Honestly I find myself taking crap from the job I have every day. Although I make a decent living, it's far below my capabilities but I gave up caring to the point where I let it affect me one ounce more then it needed to. I gave my last job everything I had and what did it get me…..a pink slip. A foot in the ass out the door. A one way trip to the parking lot, without so much as a severance check. All the extra hours, the skipped vacations and the thinking about the well being of everyone in that place just to get laid off.

If I let that happen again, I would be just like a battered wife. (I realize I'm a man, but stay with me for the analogy). Just because I’m getting a check now, I’m supposed to be romanced back into thinking that I need this man named job….thinking that I love this (man)job, thinking that I’m nothing without this (man)job. Then the moment that I think everything is...
OK…..SLAP! what happens. I get (abused) fired again, and the cycle starts over.

THE BATTERED WIFE’S INDEPENDANCE
But I’m much smarter then that. Slap me once and I call the cops and cut your balls off! You dig?

I’m like the once battered housewife who has come to her senses. I understand that I’m independent and the only way to completely free myself is to work outside of the job and slowly develop myself. So now my job sees me every day and thinks that I love him. I play the role, but I’m emotionally detached. He doesn’t have a clue. I use him for his money, his benefits, and material comforts. Now when I get yelled at, or berated or made to do chores that I don’t agree with, I’m laughing inside because I’m secretly plotting. I’ve actually stepped up my game so he is not suspicious of anything. He’s keeping me so busy, how could I ever be doing anything else or seeing anyone else. He’s so cocky now he doesn’t even think that I would ever consider leaving him. But while no one is looking – I’m studying, I’m developing, I’m learning, I’m training, reading and working hard. I’m up until 3:00 AM making it happen and I’m awake in the morning with everyone else. It’s the emotional detachment from the job and the emotional attachment to my independence that keeps the fire burning. All of the energy that I used to waste getting frustrated, complaining to my friends, family and co workers about my job is now converted into action. The closer I get the hotter the fire and desire burns until one day – I have enough money, knowledge and security to break free. Without any notice – I’m gone! I’m not worried about job, he will find some other poor bastard to take my place and I feel sorry for that person, but I’m gone. I will send the next poor guy a link to this post.

Project X is my freedom, FTB Inc. is my security, and I can taste it.

Let’s Go!!
-MJL
An FTB Bloggers Blog

Project X is a software program that I’m developing while trying to run and maintain all my other lines of business: FTB Bloggers, Wash and Roll, Nuff Said Outfitters; Money Saving Mikes Online Gifts. Tune in weekly for updates on my progress and for words of inspiration!

Hard Work - Part Deux

2010-05-25T18:41:00.006-04:00

I don't know why I'm on this "hard work kick", but while I'm here I figured I might as well blog about it.

THE TRAINING WHEELS ARE OFF
I think people actually forget that it takes hard work to reach your goals...the more amazing your goals are the harder you will have to work to achieve them. I say we forgot because once upon a time we knew this. We lived it, and we are where we are because of it. You are where you are today either from the lack of hard work, or because of your hard work.

The problem is, now, there is no structure to guide you through the “work toward your goals process” which could be good or bad. Good because there are no boundaries and bad because there is no coaching. The training wheels have been taken off and your dad has just removed his hand from the seat post; it's all up to you now.

When you're out with your child or someone younger and you see someone who is not doing well in life; maybe a homeless person or a pan handler, you immediately say, "That person did not work hard in school" or “See what happens when you don’t work hard?” Exactly!! …..but it was easy to work hard in school for a few reasons:
One: You were surrounded by people doing the same thing as you, which always makes things a lot easier (like going to the gym, it's always easier with a partner).

Second: You fail many times in school and don't give up. You get C's, D's and sometime F's and you are pushed to do better and of course with hard work, you do improve and do better. These should be life lessons not just classroom lessons.

Once you are in the real world with no boundaries, if you fail, no one is pushing you to try again. In school the mindset is....
that you WILL graduate. In more affluent households the mind set is that YOU WILL GO TO COLLEGE.
For kids whose parents have college degrees in 1992, 65% of those kids enrolled in a 4 year college after high school, versus 21% whose parents had a high school diploma or less. (From a 2001 Condition of Education Report)

YOU WILL SUCCEED - YOU HAVE NO CHOICE
In affluent households, parents don't give their children a choice to think about failure. That's the mind-set that you need to have. You are GOING to reach your goal. Yes you will fail, and have to work harder. Yes you will have to sacrifice but if you are focused you increase your chances of success everyday.

So just like those who study hard on Fridays and sacrificed by not hanging out, smoking and drinking; just like those who got after school jobs to buy that bike; you have to use your free time wisely. After spending family time, working your 9 to 5, and going to the gym there is little time left for sleeping and pursuing your dreams. The time is there...it’s just hard to come by. If you make your dreams a priority you will find the time.

Remember there are no boundaries, that means there are no limits to your dreams, how fast you can reach them and how hard you can fail and comeback. You can score lower then an F and you can graduate in 6 months. There are no rules. You will need coaching but you have found it. This blog, I am a coach. Blogs, books, and anything motivational are like your parents pushing you to reach your goals. Then use your small successes as promotions from one grade to the next. Since I started this blog, I have started and continue to run 3 businesses, overcame unemployment in 16 weeks, and have increased my annual earnings by over $60K. That’s Hard Work!

More Proof – Forever 21 CEO Do Won Chang
Chang's entrepreneurial bent became apparent in Korea. Three years before moving to California, he says, he started the first coffee and natural juice delivery service in the Myungdong neighborhood in Seoul. When Chang, now 54, emigrated, he initially worked three jobs at once, working in a coffee shop, doing janitorial work and pumping gas. It was his job at the gas station that led him into the fashion industry. "I noticed that the merchants had the best cars," he says. In 1984, the couple opened a clothing store in Los Angeles.
Today that business is one of the U.S.' fastest-growing retailers, Forever 21, known for its trendy, affordable fashions that often replicate styles of more expensive brands. He is chief executive; and his wife is chief merchandising officer. 2009 estimates sales of $1.7 billion and net income of $135 million for the fiscal year ending February 2009, up 37% and 25% respectively. The retailer has 460 stores in 13 countries, including one in Korea and one in China that both opened last year.

That's what hard work is all about.
Let's Go!
-MJL
An FTB Bloggers blog

Working Hard? No one cares until you are a Success!

2010-05-17T12:25:00.008-04:00

Sometimes I would like to think that I work hard. Sometimes I would like to think that I work harder then the normal guy; that guy who thinks he wants to be rich. At the end of everyday, I go to bed when I can't even think straight. I barely brush my teeth, and then I pass out. I wake up the second,….. no the milli-second that I think I have enough sleep and again try to out perform the entire world.

As I talk to people, I start to hear things like, "I'm just sooo busy", or "I just had a 12 hour day".

What does that mean?

These people are actually sincere and do believe that they have worked hard. In their minds they have just killed it. They have done more then the average person, and have "left it all on the court" as they say in basketball.

Then I look in the mirror at myself. At the end of the day, you turn to yourself, because only you know what is real and what is not. I ask myself, " Self......are you like all of the other people who think they were so busy". Am I really working that hard? Do I really give my all, everyday, or have I just gotten so accustomed to saying so, that I actually believe it. You tell yourself you are skinny long enough, you start to believe it, until someone shows you a picture from last summer. Am I like a rapper who rants and raves he’s the best and richest when he knows the record company owns his cars, his jewelry and his girl.

I'm no longer going to say how busy I am, or how hard I work. People will never understand, and it's only frustrating to explain. There are certain things that can not be captured in words: passion, aggression, greed, anger. You can not get anyone to feel these emotions by just telling them how you feel. The worse thing to hear after you have gone through something is for some insensitive idiot to come and say, "Yeah me too, I have been working real hard lately too". Agghh!

I say, do what you have to do, and your results will speak for themselves. I am tired of justifying why I can’t go places or do things with my money. I am tired of trying to explain what s-a-c-r-i-f-i-c-e means. I’m either going to do something or not. Go to an event or not. No one cares what I have to do or how busy I am. No one cares if my money is tied up in investments or business ventures. No one cares if my businesses are losing money. So besides my blog, and the short list of people who actually do care, keep it to yourself. Only once you are rich do people care how you got there, that's why the Road to Riches is not only lengthy and filled with many perils; it's lonely as hell!!

If someone tells you that they have been working really hard, and are really busy, pull out a stack of $100 bills and smack them in the face and yell, "MEEE TOO"!

-MJL

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Fuel for Success: Disgust??

2010-05-04T18:03:00.004-04:00

I’m often asked two questions, “What motivates you?” and the second question is “Why do you call yourself insane”.

And the answer is simple, my insanity is what motivates me and my disgust makes me insane. As I delve into and post about the complexities that will be involved with launching project X I am hoping that you will get to see a more in depth analysis of what make me tick. My insanity and my disgust, but of course it all revolves around money and success. When people meet me they are blown away with my upbeat attitude and zest for life, but that is all fueled by this weird sort of disgust. I’m disgusted by all things I want to be and all things that I am not.

For instance, when I see someone driving a new Range Rover, I’m disgusted. They have one I don’t. When I’m trying to get to work, because I have to be one of the first people there, and there is a sweet dear old man, cruising in front of me. I’m disgusted. At that moment I don’t want anything more then to be at work with my first cup of coffee, kicking ass and taking names. Instead I’m behind Grandpa who’s cruising to the CVS for a pack of Depends! As cruel and harsh as that sounds, it’s honest, and that’s how I’m thinking at that time. I want nothing more then to take a shoulder holstered bazooka and blow his damn PT cruiser out of my way. I’m that bastard that blows by you during rush hour. That’s me, I am disgusted with myself because that’s me, but it is me. One day I will be that old guy and need adult diapers, but the difference is, I will be rich, a millionaire and my Huggies will be super absorbent Gucci diapers! I have a kind gentle heart but that is often over shadowed in my mind by my will to be the best at everything. That is the insanity. My compassion is overshadowed with my passion; my passion to be better then great.

When I go to the gym in the morning, I’m disgusted by how many people were able to get there before me. I’m disgusted at the fact that there is a guy my height my build, that can out lift me. WTF!!! How can this “muscle head” out lift me? Bastard! That in turns makes me lift harder. Maybe he can out lift me, but he won’t be as intense as I am and I will train harder then him and in a month he will be playing catch up to me. That’s how I think about everything. It even disgusts myself, but that’s what makes me tick and therefore I embrace it. The more Mark Zuckerberg's, Larry Page’s, Sergey Brin’s and Jeremy Schoemaker’s of the world the more disgusted with myself I am on a daily basis.

That’s the crazy man fuel that allows me to sleep 3 hours a night, get up and go to the gym at 4:45 and work 16 hours per day 7 days per week and still have a great attitude. I’m disgusted with myself, with what I don’t have and with those that have done more. People don’t want to embrace their disgust but I embrace it, nourish it, and attack it.

EMBRACE YOUR INNER DISGUST
I suggest looking at yourself in the mirror when you get a chance, look in your own eyes at everything you could be, and everything that you want to be and are not. Take responsibility for that, because you are the person responsible, nothing or no one else. Do you feel that? That’s disgust. Embrace that, don’t ignore it like you have been doing. Promise yourself that each time you look in the mirror you will be less and less disgusted with yourself, Start now. To wait is disgusting.

I just re-read this post and I’m disgusted with myself!
-MJL

GET THAT PAPER

2010-04-30T09:10:00.011-04:00

Wall Paper of the Week "Gordon Gekko"

If you read this blog then you are going to appreciate the Gordon Gekko Wall Street 20th Anniversary

Wallpaper. Happy Friday

1. Double Click

2. Right Click

3. Save as Background

4. Enjoy!

-MJL

An FTB Blog

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THE BIRTH OF PROJECT X

2010-04-28T18:49:00.006-04:00

Now that I'm on the fast track to being debt free (14 months tops!), it's time to get my hands dirty again, and I figure this is the best time to chronicle the experience. This is.....as Fred Sanford would say, "the big one"
Let's recap my current endeavors
1. Owner of the FTB blog network and Affiliates
2. Owner of Wash and Roll Mobile Wash & Detailing divisions
3. Co-owner of Nuff Said Out fitters
4. Owner operator of Money Saving Mikes on-line gifts
5. Owner of FTB Vending
6. Middle Management (Some Place in Corporate America)

Now it's time to launch Project X. Project X has been in development for about five years and it's now or never. Ever since my layoff recovery I've become an advid reader of Fast Company and INC magazines, guys like Mark Zuckerberg, Mint.com's Aaron Patzer and on line marketing Guru Jeremy Schoemaker, make me want to resign and just hustle for myself full time...but I'm no dummy.

So after the failure to launch Igarage (I ran out of money and repairpal.com beat us to market, read the post here), I'm throwing my hat into the software arena again. I've come up with another softwae idea and it's going to take me to the promiseland.

The first part of my execution is to partner up. I think I have found the right person and I have ptiched the idea. Preliminarily he is on board and as the vision becomes clear he will be just as excited as I am.

Why a partner?

Just because. No really good reason, I would just like to share the experience with someone. Why not get rich together, it's fun and that's what life is all about. Another good reason is, you need someone that you respect to hold you accountable, to call you on your bullshzit and keep you motivated. That somone has to also have the balls to tell you that "Your baby is ugly".

If my potential business partner wants in, if she shares this vision with me and understands how much work is involved, and is willing to do it, you will be witnessing the birth of Project X .

My palms are itching just thinking about it.

Let's Go!!
-MJL

How to Get Paid What You Are Worth.

2010-04-15T18:28:00.012-04:00

One of the hardest things to embrace is the fact that we get paid what we are worth; you are exactly where you are supposed to be.

That’s a rough thing to hear; depending on where you are in life. We hate hearing the truth. Like most things , there are exceptions but the majority of us are exactly where we are supposed to be in life. The salaries we make are what we deserve. This is a hard fact and when you forget this fact, you could be setting yourself back.

There are a lot of people who feel that they should be the
CEO of the company they work for. They will tell you 100 times per day that they could run this place, or that they should be the boss; BUT THEY ARE NOT. The answer why is simple: They haven’t done enough to be the boss. Now the “enough” is the tricky part. The “enough” isn’t really quantifiable. It’s easy to simplify things and think that being the boss, or being wealthy, means knowing the most and working the hardest. That sounds nice, but look
around you. How many people are making more money then you, working less hours then you and are about as smart as a box of rocks! The best example is your parents.
Some of us had the smartest mom’s and dads around, and no one works harder then my pops, and he has about $20 G’s and an old ass Lincoln town car for his retirement.

ARE YOU FEELING HELPLESS AFTER READING THAT?

LET’S TALK ABOUT THE MISSING INGREDIENT SHALL WE?

DETERMINATION. Blind dumbfounding, insane in the membrane Determination.

This is a skill that really can’t be taught. It’s a skill that can be identified and
hopefully you can hone in on your inner grit and tenacity to harness it in the right direction. The perfect example of this is Survivor. We can learn a lot from Mark Burnett shows. We are all familiar with Survivor. “The Tribe has Spoken” and all that jazz. When some of the contestant
s are voted off the show, they will often say, “I’m the best Survivor”. Really? They might be the most skilled athlete, the best puzzle solver, hardest working tribe member, but that doesn’t make them the best Survivor. As soon as you think it does, is when you go home. The game is to Survive so the best Survivor is the person who is there at the end. Get it? This person can be the laziest, un-athletic person in the world, but if he or she is there in the end, then they deserve to be. Your Manager co
uld make Homer Simpson look like Einstein but he managed to get to that position and that’s really all that matters. He is getting paid what he thinks, no….what he knows heis worth.

Maybe he knew somebody – does that make it wrong. No. They knew someone and you didn’t. Maybe someone got fired above them and they were at the right place at the right time. You have to play the game from all angles and that means playing your position well. If you get
out of position, you expose yourself and you could be fired. You have to play the game to get where you want to be. How you play the game is up to you, you just have to identify where you are, where you want to be, and start working to get there. Try not to screw anyone over in the process, but that doesn’t mean not to be relentless. I will guarantee, that if you don’t let anything get in your
way, then you won’t be stopped. ….That’s funny. Of course I can guarantee that, because if you overcome your obstacles you won’t be stopped anyway.

I hate to pick on former Govenor Rod Blagojevich but two weeks ago on Celebrity Apprentice, the former Governor of Chicago was crippled by his own ineptness. Not only could the man not turn on a laptop, but he couldn’t text on a cell phone or send digital pictures. After watching him struggle with the things that we do like breath, walk, and blink, I simply dismissed it to the fact that he’s been so busy and working so hard that he hasn’t had time t
o learn how to use these items. I figured, this man was Governor of our nation’s third largest city (2.8 Million People). He will show the world and more importantly Donald Trump how great he is by delegating and leading his team to victory. Well after spending valuable time napping on the plane he starts this victory march by putting Brett Michaels in charge. Really? Trump fired his ass faster then How can a man like this have run
Chicago you ask? How, because he knew what he was before he became governor, played his position and then didn’t stop until he got what he thought he was worth.

If someone is where you want to be, getting paid what you want to get paid then you can do it too! When it gets tough you have to ask yourself one question: “How bad do you want it”. If it’s bad enough then you will do everything in your power to make it happen.

-MJL

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Repost from 2006! Man, I knew what I was talkin' About!!

2010-04-06T02:23:00.009-04:00

This week I am away on travel so I figured I would pull from my 4 years of posts to find something inspirational and appropriate.

Since things are sarting to pick up along witht he economy and it's spring....I bring to you the Post Entitled:

WHEN THE SUN IS SHINING PREPARE FOR THE RAIN

I know it sounds a little depressing but it's true. People definitely do not do this enough.

When faced with adversity, we dig in deep, kick ass, take names and prevail. Once we are in the winners circle we forget the things that got us there. We forget the dedication, the focus, the struggle. We get complacent and end up in the same situation we've just fought our way out of. When you are just winning the first battle of the war you must continue to fight just as hard until the battle is over.

Let’s look at two real life examples:

EXAMPLE ONE: PERSONAL LIFE
You get one credit card paid off and you’re feeling good. You find yourself at Border's bookstore buying a book, or magazine
(a budgeted expense) and you see a night light for sale. You think to yourself, “It's only $16.99, It's only a night light!"
ARE YOU NUTZ!
You shouldn’t even be considering that. Are all of your credit cards paid off? You have gone 20 something years without this dumb-ass night light, but yet all of a sudden you need it. STOP FOOLING YOURSELF. This is the trap that got you in debt to begin with. Get back on........
the grind. Remember every penny counts. That night light is costing you 21%, in fact every penny not put down on your credit card is costing you 21%.

Once you have refrained from spending, go harder. Take another look at your budget, and your savings, and turn it up a notch or two. You knew nothing about your finances when you first established your budget, now you are an expert. Take another look with your experienced eyes and tweak another $10 per week out.
EXAMPLE TWO: BUSINESS
Your business is finally doing well. You feel like you can take $500 bucks and go buy some new company T-shirts.
ARE YOU KIDDING ME!
You should take any extra money and prepare for repairs, maintenance, better equipment, or pay down overhead. You owe it to your business and your employees to do everything in your power to establish a solid foundation. Once that is completed, you then work on making sure your top performers are happy. Then and only then can you worry about T-shirts.

Then...you guessed it....GO HARDER!
While things are going well for your business take this opportunity to step up your game. Get better at what you do. Now that you are not worrying about profits, over achieve to over satisfy your customer base. Use that extra energy to think of ways to improve quality and cut costs. Do product research, implement processes and procedures that will insure the continuance of quality work. Stay hungry.

Keep this tip in mind. When you treat the good times not so good, then the bad times won’t really be that bad. Rich people have Great times and not so great times. There are no bad times. (Health issues excluded).

So when the rain comes you are prepared to weather the storm. Why shouldn't you be, you knew it was coming.

-MJL

An FTB Blogger Blog

Don't be a scape G.O.A.T

2010-03-23T19:20:00.010-04:00

Hello all of my over achieving readers. This post falls into the “How do I manage a 9-5 and still advance myself for myself? ” category.

Super aggressive entrepreneurs who still work for corporate America often suffer from the need to be the GOAT. What’s the GOAT? It’s the Greatest Of All Time.

I want to be the greatest of all times in making money. That’s how I’m going to get my millions. Not by being the greatest blogger, not by being the greatest Program Manager, the greatest online marketer or small business owner, but by managing my time and being one of the Greatest business minds of all time . Losing my job last year helped me see that by trying to be the GOAT at everything isn’t necessary to accomplish my goals.

You have to look at this like one of those strongmen competitions, sometimes the little guy is at a disadvantage when it comes to putting the big stones on the wall, but his shorter arms help him with all of the overhead lifts. In order to be the Greatest Strong Man he doesn’t have to be the Greatest at all the events, just good enough at most of them, and great at a few. That is the recipe for our success. Good at all, and great at a few.

YOUR 9 TO 5 MIND SET
At my last job, this was my big mistake. I thought that you should go into work every day and want to be the Greatest of all Time, the best that ever did what you do. It doesn’t really matter what the position is, just be the best ever. When I worked at McDonald’s, I wanted to be the best cashier and cook that ever did it. I wanted to be ranked World Wide Number 1 on Fries. The Tiger Woods of cashiers!! My last job, the same thing. I wanted to not only be the best Program manager in that place, but the best that anyone has ever seen for any company, ever!!!

That is all wrong.
That is the quickest way to burn yourself out. Corporate America is not set up to reward Tiger Woods. They are setup to reward decent performance. When you show up, and you are the best that’s ever did it. You shake things up too much. The organization isn’t ready for it and it will take a lot of mental tenacity to put so much effort out, and receive little reward in return. You might even be ridiculed, resented and possibly let go, as you might pose a threat to those you work for.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?You should do whatever it takes to outperform your peers. When you have outperformed them on a consistent basis, do no more. The reward for being t
he GOAT and for barely outperforming your PEERS will be the same. That’s the secret
that companies won’t tell you.

Yep, I’m telling you to work below your potential. I realize that goes against what we teach here at CIFM (Confessions of an Insane Future Millionaire) but there is a purpose. You do enough so that your boss realizes that you’re one of the best, best Project coordinator, best artist, best Engineer in the group and that’s it.

It’s a simple calculation. Being the GOAT requires all your effort and energy and just out performing the guy next to takes a little effort but results in the same thing. In essence you are “over” working for the same results. It’s the equivalent to overpaying for something. If I tell you that Subway has $5.00 footlongs and you start giving me $1.00 bills for the sandwhich. 1…2….3…4…$5. At this point I’m ready to hand you the sandwhich; why would you continue to give me money if you only get one sandwhich? Only a fool would pay $10.00 for a $5 sandwhich. That’s exactly what I’ve been doing all these years at my 9 to 5. For my 4% raise, I’ve been paying $10.00 when the guy next to me has been paying $5.00.

They almost tell you not to over pay. Think about your performance reviews. Does anyone ever get the highest mark. There’s Meets Expectations, Exceeds Expectations and Exceptional. They almost tell you, “No one gets Exceptional”. Hence getting an Exceeds Expectations is your highest obtainable mark.

Got it?

NOW…..REAP THE REWARDS, SILLY!
Now use this extra (time, mental freedom, etc) to focus on your next steps. Performing to the $5.00 level means you can leave when you have barely outperformed your peers. The GOAT, he or she opens and closes the place every day. The GOAT is there on the weekends, working at night, thinking about improvements to company systems, how to increase profit margins and decrease the company’s carbon footprint. That’s not you anymore, you have all that time to focus on something much more important….YOU!!!

Being the GOAT for yourself is what really pays. When you are working for yourself then being the GOAT is directly proportional to your financial reward and stability. In other words, you can’t overpay because the more output you get the more you get for it. If you give $10, now you get 2 $5 footlongs. If you give $20 you get 4. You can do this until you have enough $5.00 footlongs to last a lifetime. That’s called retirement baby!!!

That’s why everyone says you have to be in business for yourself. Being the GOAT pays off if you are a CFO, CEO or President of a company.
So if you must over achieve let’s make sure the pay off is worth it.

At the end of the day, I want to be the only one who gets’ my GOAT!!

-MJL

My Unemployment Anniversary and becoming Fearless!

2010-03-14T19:05:00.010-04:00

This week makes it a year since I was laid off. Wow, what a difference a year makes. I am so much smarter then I was then….and back then I thought I knew it all.

There were a lot of things that I thought about during my 16 weeks of “unenjoyment”. The lessons that I assumed I would learn, I really didn’t. In fact, it has done nothing but re-install a lot of the stuff that I already thought. I went from thinking to knowing.

I gave that job all I had, no vacation, 70 hrs per week, just to get cut with no severance. They just don’t give a crap about you. I used to think getting laid off was for non-performers but when you are the Business Unit Manager for HUMMER and there is no HUMMER then there is no position for you, no matter how good you think you are.

I think I rebounded pretty swiftly; two job offers in 16 weeks – literally the roughest 16 weeks of my life. Mentally, physically and emotionally. Here’s what I re-learned, because a lot of this stuff I already knew:

WORK HARD AT WORK
You would think that I would be against this, but let me tell you, I lasted a lot longer then most people in companies that were struggling. The automotive industry has been laying people off for the last 5 years and up until 2009 I was getting raises. The hard work that I’ve done is what enabled me to find a job in the worse job market that my generation will ever face and at least hold on to the job I had as long as I had it.

WORK HARD OUTSIDE OF WORK
Don’t let your job be all that you have. I happened to want to be rich so outside of work I work on making that happen. Whatever your aspirations are, when you get home from that 9-5, don’t hit the couch every night, hit your dreams. The best way to insure your dreams don’t come true is to not even try.

FAMILY OUTRANKS MONEY – (YEP I SAID IT!!)
I’ve seen husbands getting their company cars stripped away from them and returning home with their tales between their legs; tantamount to castration. When they get home they have the support of their loving wife and their kids still think they are the greatest! Family Is Key, not to mention if the wife is working and unemployment check can go a long way!

YOU CAN DO ANYTHING THAT YOU PUT YOUR MIND TO – REALLY!!
When I was out f work, I wanted nothing more then to get a job. I eat, slept, drank employment. I looked for a job, like it was my job....(click below to Read More). I divided my day into four parts. I woke up, showered and went to Panera Bread everyday. One Bagel and all the coffee my blatter could hold. From 8:30 to Noon, I used www.indeed.com and applied for every job that fit my 6 different job descriptions I fit into. From 12:30 to 3:00 I worked the phones, calling head hunters, friends and friends of friends, and then after 4:00 I looked outside the box, emailing people I didn’t even know on Facebook and linked if their company’s were hiring. I watched interviews on Youtube, reviewed resume writing tips, looked for job fairs, and studied job fair tips. Then I spent the rest of the night doing self hypnosis, listening to Jim Rohn, Tim Robbins and Earl Nightingale. I knew that after 3 weeks of this, and I didn’t get a call that I would start to feel discouraged. It was true. Then 3 weeks turned to 4 and 4 to 8. I tweaked my routine a little but stayed at it. If there were 20 people doing the same thing, when 19 of them quit I would still be around ready to get that job.

There was no choice. I was able to keep all my businesses running, and pay all my bills. I laid awake at night dreaming about the day I would get the call for an interview. When I got an interview I went over every possible question in my head, I went to Barnes and Noble and read interview books until they kicked me out.

Some people, who were laid off, knew people in the right places and were able to obtain gainful employment super quick, some are still unemployed. I was prepared to work for it until I got it. How bad do you want it?

FEARLESS!
That’s why I know I am going to hit the million dollar mark. If you asked me a year and 1 week ago, what my biggest fear was. Honestly, I would have told you losing my job; by far my biggest fear.

I’m no longer afraid of that. Now if you asked me what my biggest fear is, I honestly couldn’t answer you.
I’ve already failed at many things many times, I’ve been so close to losing everything I’ve ever had many times, I’ve been forced to move out of my home because I couldn’t pay my bills, I’ve been divorced, I’ve been fat, I’ve been so many things except the one thing I am now. Fearless! (Fear of God doesn’t count). Getting laid off has removed one of my biggest fears….and for that, I’m Most Thankful.

So thanks to that crappy company, with crappy management, and my crappy boss for doing what I thought couldn’t be done….removing my Fear!! Now it’s time to Do Work!

P.S. When you think Fearless - Think Jet-Li not Taylor Swift!

Eitherway I've attached links to WallPapers of the Post. Click them and make these your inspirational Wall Papers of the week.

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY TO ME!!!
-MJL

Being a super hero 101 - Part 2 of a Series.....

2010-03-01T18:47:00.006-05:00

We find ourselves back at super hero school! Question: If you are a superhero, do you have a lunchbox of yourself? Ha ha.

Welcome to Class. This is “Being a super hero 101”
In order to be eligible for this class, you have to have already completed “I am a Superhero”. If you need to be refreshed, click the Super hero badge to go back to the first part of this series.

Let’s get down to business…….

UNLOCKING YOUR SUPER ABILITY
Unlocking your superpowers is not easy! A matter of fact, it’s so hard that only a few of us will ever have the courage to do it. That’s where I come in.

Let’s take a normal day in your life. Not a terrible day a typical day. If you have no kids, in your 20’s then you are a Super Duper Hero. A typical day for you might be,
7:30 AM Wake UP
9:00 AM Work an 8 to 10 hour day,
7:00 PM Go to the gym
8:30 PM Shower, eat dinner, watch some TV.

Life is Good – but you are not using your Super Powers.

Now unlocking your super powers depends on what your goals are. Hopefully you have some goals that you want to reach. Things that you want to accomplish. No matter what the scale. Let’s pick a hypothetical goal or a dream. It must be somewhat realistic, but it’s Ok if it’s a stretch. For instance, if you are a decent bowler and want to go on the Pro tour, if you want to be a motorcycle mechanic and own your own shop, or if you want to be CEO of a fortune 500 company.

THE POWER OF MENTAL D-DUCTION!!!
Ok so let’s pick one. A Tour Pro bowler, on the PBA Tour. Let’s say you can easily bowl a 200 game. In order to qualify for the PBA, you must carry a 200 or better average for 36 games in a USBC (United States Bowling Congress) sanctioned league.
You have just used your super powers of deduction to make your problem simpler – add 20 points to your game.

Now this might seem impossible to most people, but you are a super hero! Difficult takes a day, impossible a week. We do the impossible, you had a bowl of impossibles for breakfast. Ha!

If this is really what you want to do, you go after it! PERIOD!!! You start by going to the library and reading how the greats got started, reading Bowlers Weekly, Bowlers Digest, reading anything you can get your hands on. Are you in good enough physical shape to be on the PBA tour? You tailor your workouts to get you in Pro Bowling shape (which is round). You stop drinking your paycheck away and upgrade your equipment and hire a Pro-trainer. You look for a better bowling league to join so you are surrounded by better players. You spend your morning and nights at the bowling alley. Instead of taking that ski vacation, you take a week and enroll in one of the best Pro Bowling schools. You EAT, BREATH, SLEEP bowling. Do you get it?

Your super powers allow you to do this. You have the mental capacity and the physical capacity to make yourself better.

No need to pray to God for it…he’s already given you everything you need to Go GET IT. You should start thanking God already for giving it to you, and act like your dream is already come true. It's a a matter of how bad do you want it!!

A REALISTIC EXAMPLE
If you have a family, living paycheck to paycheck – you are a superhero but just not like “Super Single Twenty Man”, instead you are “Family Man! “

Let’s take a more realistic example, one that is very real to me. I have a buddy who is working as a security guard and he wants to be a motorcycle mechanic. The school that will certify him costs a seemingly ton of money and he barely makes enough to pay his bills as is. After talking to him; I find out that once he’s completed his first year of school he can get a job that pays more then the security job and they will pay for the rest of his school. The more we talked the simpler the problem became. At the end of the conversation, after using our powers of D-duction all he needed was $5000. That’s it. His dreams were on hold for a mere $5000. How bad does he want it?

The solution is there; you work 3 jobs, collect cans, eat franks and beans, do what you need to do to get the $5000. If I had the money would I give it to him?
It depends on what he was doing. Was he going out to the club every weekend spending $30 at the bar. Yep, I said $30 dollars. If your dreams are on hold for $5000, $30 is .6% of your dream. $50 is 1% of your dream. If I called him on Saturday and instead he rented a movie and cooked dinner, staying in, trying to save money, then I would easily give him the money. Does he need to Pray to God for the Money. NO. He needs to Thank God! God has already given it to him. He lives in America, he’s healthy, he’s intelligent i.e. he’s a super hero!!! Use your powers and make it happen.

IS THIS CONCEPT EXTREME?
I know it sounds extreme, but life is extreme. Extreme people make it happen. Extreme people have uncovered their super powers. Anyone or anything that is not helping you is hurting you. Attack them with trying harder, pushing harder, being more clever. Finding out ways around your obstacles, using everything that God has already given you.

Hopefully you get it. You are a super hero – it’s just up to you if you want to use your powers or not.

Next lesson we will review Actual Seemingly Impossible real life Examples of superhero’s doing their thang!!

-MJL

THE TRUE SECRET TO SUCCESS - REVEALED!!!

2010-02-22T12:41:00.004-05:00

I am reposting this for three reasons:
1. It will eventually fall in line with this months superhero theme.
2. Because sometime I need to be reminded of certain things
3. It's a powerful piece so this is it's 2nd Re-posting
4. Because I wrote it dammit, and I can do that! THIS IS MY HOUSE!!! (Like my dad would say!)

Re-read and enjoy!

THE TRUE SECRET TO SUCCESS - REVEALED!!!

I think I have found one of the key ingredients that make successful people successful. This is such a profound thought because in all of the numerous mind numbing literature I have read about success, self improvement, leadership etc. I have never been privy to this information.

Now I’m passing it on to my readers free of charge.

Here goes:

How many people actually give 100% of themselves at anything? You can always say you tried hard, but can you really say that you gave 100%? 100% is usually used for a select group of people like Olympians, recovering addicts, and professional athletes.

We tried to dissect ourselves to try and rationalize the reason that 100% effort is not given. The only thing that we could come up with, is the fact that the pay off is not guaranteed. I think the other reason why 100% isn't given is because on most all occasions 85% is more then enough to propel you to society’s definition of success.

If someone told you that they would give you a million dollars to run a 6 minute mile 3 months from now, your life would change immediately. If you seriously signed a contract and the money was put right under your nose, you would put down the large fries and start training. Per the agreement you are not allowed.....
to quit your job, or spend any less time with your family, but you can do anything else to prepare for your six minute mile. Somehow, you would make time to train. You would replace all your reading material with running information. You would have sweat suits in your car for a run before you got home and before work. You would replace all of your internet browsing bookmarks with running sites, messageboards and blogs. You would be fitness crazy. Only a fool wouldn’t give a 100%

This is the mind game that some worldclass athletes are brainwashed into when they are young. A perfect example of this is in the Spike Lee movie "He Got Game". It's about a basketball prodigy, Jesus Shuttlesworth (played by Ray Allen), and his relationship with his father, Jake Shuttlesworth (played by Denzel Washington). During the movie they show flashbacks of the basketball prodigy and his father. They are shown on the basketball court at night, doing running drills. Jake is running with a young Jesus telling him, "The only two people up right now are you and Michael Jordan, and what is Michael doing, training. ". Then he beginns to instill the guarantee of success in his child, " What are you gonna by your mama, What kind of house? ". So Jersus is brainwashed into thinking that if he gives 100% he would be the best basketball player in the US. There was no doubt, so that 100% is not hard to do.

Tiger Woods had this same advantage since he was a kid and continues to enjoy it. He can give 100% daily because he knows that he will win and become the best in the world. Players like Phil Mickelson, find it hard to give 100% working on their game because Tiger has already defeated them mentally. Why give 100% when you know you will never be better then Tiger. Phil can give 85% and still be one of the top players in the world. For fat Phil, that is good enough.

What does all this mean?

The reason that we don't give 100% is fear of failure. Fear that we would give everything we possibly have, to reach a goal and not hit it. We would rather give 85% percent and fail, saying at least I tried, then to go hard for 100%.

This applies to me and my resistance to give 100% to my outside endeavors. What am I afraid of? I will try and concentrate on the reward rather then the failure. If I realize the reward as concrete then I should be able to go 100%.

Sounds good in theory but can I apply it? 85% has been good enough to make me moderately successful in the past. Am I all talk and no action?
Knowing this information has put the responsibility of my success on me not any outside excuses.

If you are reading this, you know it’s true, and your success has now been placed in your hands and know one else’s. I have chosen to accept this responsibility because I need to be successful, by our definition of success. There is no other alternative for me. Rich or nothing.

LET’S GO!

-MJL

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WOW, I AM A SUPER HERO! Part 1 of a series...

2010-02-14T14:53:00.008-05:00

Ok, read this and really understand it.

ACCEPTANCE & RESPONSIBILITY
You are a Super Hero. Now say this: I AM A SUPER HERO!

Doesn’t that feel good to say? Well you can say it and mean it. Really.

Here’s why……
We are surrounded by superheros but most refuse to accept their super power. Simply because with that acceptance, comes a since of responsibility. When Superman finally realizes he has super powers, he also realizes his duty to protect mankind. If no one knows you are a super hero, and you don’t act like a super hero, then you will never have to own up to your responsibility.

By not accepting your super powers you are in turn running away from your responsibility which is not very super hero "like" behavior.

To our defense, we forget that we are superhero’s sometime because we are surrounded by so many others, If God has given you the ability... to walk, two arms, two legs, a brain, and a mind of average intelligence you are a super hero. Period. That’s a fact. We look at those less fortunate as handicap but in retrospect they are the mortals. We look at those with seemingly natural gifts such as Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, or gifted scientists such as Einstein, as “Lucky” or fortunate. In reality you can be as great as any of them once you unleash your powers. What you don’t have in talent you can make up in hard work and determination.

In the Xmen movies when they are at the academy surrounded by other mutants, they don’t feel special. They don’t feel like mutants, or super hero’s because everyone can do weird and crazy things. Special doesn't seem to exist when you are surrounded by special. In the environment of the academy, Professor X then teaches the X-men how to tap into and control their special powers. Only a few of us have learned that valuable skill and even fewer actually use it.

Do you see? It’s a hard concept to grasp but once you do, you will have an "a ha" moment and began to uncover your super powers. Once you embrace these super powers and own them, you will be unstoppable.

WHAT DO I USE MY POWERS FOR?
Your powers need to be utilized to achieve maximum personal success. Period. By doing this not only do you help yourself, but you help those around you. That is exactly what we were put on this earth to do. It is your responsibility to yourself, your family and those mortals who have not been blessed super powers to utilize yours to their fullest.

Please read this again……next we will talk about: Part II Unleashing your super Powers!!

-MJL

I'm A Guest Blogger!

2010-02-03T09:11:00.002-05:00

Recently, I have partnered up with two other bloggers to help chronicle our online money earning experience. This blog is done in a narrative format. It's not giving tips on how to make money on-line, simply because we haven't made enough to give advice.
What we do instead is just tell you what we are doing, how difficult it is and what the results are. A step by step approach as we learn.

There is no other blog like this on the internet. There is no one who is brave enough or honest enough to really show what they are doing and how they are doing it. People are afraid if they don't show that you will make $1,000,000 in 10 days that people want go for it.

I have written 3 spots so far, mainly about my experience with ebay and my actual totals are chronicled here as well. So visit http://www.paypaltoprofits.blogspot.com/ to read even more of my work. Don't worry, I am working on a killer post for this site - I can't forget my loyal readers aka "Mom".

-MJL

Wealth and the Recession

2010-01-20T00:52:00.004-05:00

Back in the day there used to be all these sites about Bill Gates and how much money he has.
The best information came from: http://www.templetons.com/brad/billg.html

He has always hovered around the 50 Billion dollar mark, but in 1999 he was worth a whopping 89 Billion. To put 56 Billion dollars in perspective:

Lets compare his wealth to yours. Let’s say you are worth $70,000. Mr. Gates' worth is 800,000 times larger. Which means that if something costs $100,000 to you, to Bill it's as though it costs 12 cents. So for example, you might think a new Lamborghini Diablo would cost $250,000, but in Bill Gates dollars that's 31 cents. Can you believe that? A nice home in a rich town like Palo Alto, California? Two dollars. That nice mansion he's building estimated at 55 Million dollars? A more reasonable $63 to him. You might spend $50 on tickets, food and parking to take your date to see an NHL hockey game. Bill, on the other hand could buy the team for 50 Bill-bills. You might buy a plane ticket on a Boeing 747 for $1200 at full-fare coach. In Bill-bills, Mr. Gates could buy six 747s (Not tickets, the planes themselves). Two for him, two for Melinda and two for young Jennifer Katherine.

Now with big money comes even big losses. Here is how some people lost big this year.

Look at these staggering numbers:

PAUL ALLEN
Microsoft
Down 4.5 Billion
Rate of -$513,000 per hour!

BILL GATES
Microsoft
Down $7 billion
Rate of -$800,000 per hour!

KIRK KERDORIAN
Investor
Down $8.2 Billion
Rate of -$940,000 per hour!

WARREN BUFFET
-$10 Billion
-$1.1 Million per hour!

It takes Money to Make Money

2010-01-13T12:35:00.005-05:00

We always hear that it takes money to make money right? Well here is a perfect example, and another reason not to spend your money on CRAP. Let me just clarify the last point. There is a certain percentage of our population who can buy CRAP, but if you are not living on interest from investments, if you have any credit card balances that are not going to be paid off in the next 30 days, and if you are working a 9 to 5 then you are not a part of that small percentage.

Why? How come you can't buy CRAP? Because when opportunity knocks you have to be ready to greet it at the door, welcome it with open arms! Most of the time that means you need two things: Money and knowledge. You should be getting more and more knowledge everyday because it's FREE. Reading this blog is knowledge, the internet if full of free knowledge, so stock up. Money on the other hand is in short supply. I think when Christmas rolls around we forget what short supply really means. Just look at your credit card notice, these bastards are jacking your rate up to 29.99%! That’s short supply. It’s easier for me to date Halle Berry then it will be to get a business loan for the next two years so that means your own cash is extremely valuable right now.

Here is a great example why:
As you well know, I run a string of small businesses. Wash and Roll has been on it's last leg, a victim of local economy (located in Southfield, MI) and a victim of the recession. We have little to no operating capital. At the end of every month our account balance is zero to negative.

Well things that we have done last year are starting to pay off (something to remember: what you do today affects everyday of the rest of your life). So we recently got a contract, A huge contract by our standards. It’s a trucking company with enough rigs where I have to hire another person. Yeah baby!! We were and are elated. Everyone is excited, this is something that we have been waiting for and working for.

After the bottles are popped and the joy dies down I have to figure out how much will this new contract cost me?

That’s a weird question, but if you own a small business you know exactly why I ask this. Here’s why: The job is going to pay roughly $450 per week. Nice!! But here’s the rub, the job costs me $275 (in labor and supplies, so I have to spend $1100 every month. Plus we need a specialty piece of equipment that will cost about $600. So after the first month I'm out $1700.

But wait there’s more,

I send them the first monthly bill after 4 weeks of work, but they have net 60 Payment terms. That means that they pay 60 days after they receive the invoice. Ouch!! Translation: $1100 for two more months plus another $550 just in case the check is late.

So when I get the call I’m happy, but in the back of my mind I know that I’m out $4500 bucks – or $4450 to be exact! Money that I won’t see back for some time. I will get it back, but at the rate of $175 per week starting in 90 days.

Double Ouch! So the moral of the story is I have the $4500 bucks. Why? because I did’t go to Vegas with my boys, Why? Because I didn’t spend more then $200 on Christmas gifts, Why? Because that is how I roll!!!">You tell me what's better, opening the door when opportunity knocks or that $4000 HD 48inch HDTV with Dolby Digital surround sound?

On 2nd thought, Don't answer that!, The thought just makes my old school 17 inch feel that much smaller.

Hey if the TV is too loud, I might not hear opportunity knocking on the door!!

All in for 2010. What are we waiting for!!
-MJL

Resolution Talk 2010!!

2010-01-01T20:49:00.013-05:00

Let’s talk about resolutions. If you read this blog, then you know we are here, not only to get rich but to be the best "us" we can be.

Getting rich is not about the money you make, but about what it makes of you. It's about the person that you evolve into as a result of the journey to becoming rich. Society is our worse enemy for self improving and becoming this person, becoming the best “us”. We are cuddled and coddled into thinking that average is OK. Below average is something society laughs at and doesn't accept, but average is OK for some reason.

I have given this many hours of thought. Why is average OK. Why? Why don't your friends push you to excel, why after a certain age your parents, who pushed you everyday as a kid, all of a sudden become satisfied with you being average. This is a very complex issue, here is my take on the subject:

JEALOUSY
Part of it is jealousy. We all feel it at times. We all feel a certain pang when someone hits the number and you don't, when someone wins at the Casino and you lose, when someone gets a promotion, or a new car and it appears your life is standing still. I use that pang as fuel for me to work harder and become more focused. Others use it for hate & envy resulting in jealousy. If you are on your way to being great, and you know it.....I mean really really know it, then you have no problem with pushing other people to be great. These are the people that you should be surrounding yourself with. Imagine if you were surrounded by people who were over achievers and pushed you to over achieve. How great could you become? Freshman year in Engineering, when I was surrounded by people getting D’s and F’s, my C+ was great. Junior year all of the underachievers dropped out of Engineering and now my C+ was surrounded by B+ and A’s. Time to step up my game.

TOO SENSITIVE
The second reason is that generally we are a society of over sensitive wimps. It's apparent in my generation and the generations that follow. When we're being raised as kids, we are taught that it's not if you win or lose, it's how you play the game. Why play if you are not playing to win? We learn that getting a participation trophy is a reason to celebrate. I think that needs to be taught to small children, but as we get older we should learn to try and fail. We should learn that failure is real, it’s tastes terrible and you can work hard and still fail, but the harder we work, the less likely we are to fail. When we enter high school we don't want to do anything that we might fail at, so we don't try.

A great example of this is "The Biggest Loser". This show is remarkable for a few different reasons. First of all, these people lose a ridiculous amount of weight in a short period of time. Some people actually lose over 40% of their weight. The physical transformation that they go through is incredible. If you would have talked to these people before they went on show, they would have told you that they CAN'T LOSE THE WEIGHT. You might even be convinced yourself that they can't lose the weight. They are big boned, or predisposed to genetically being fat are excuses that would seem to be very real; but they actually lose it. They get muscle tone and almost turn into different people.

At the end of the show they go from being morbidly obese, to average. That is no small accomplishment, but after the show, very few people improve. A matter of fact, most of them get worse. Here is my point......When these people get home, I bet there is no one pushing them to be RIPPED. Pushing them to be able to get into a bikini and be hot. Who would dare do that? That would be mean, Come’ on they just lost 100 lbs last year. Instead we look at them and say, "Congratulations, for being slightly chunky". “Congratulations for being too chunky to wear a bikini on the beach”. “Congratulations dude, for not being able to take your shirt off in front of women and feel good about yourself” Yeah, you are not going to die, but you are still not at your best. You are king at fat camp, but when you are in the real world, you still can’t take your shirt off. Just because you came a long way doesn't mean you are at your best and you don’t have the right to stop trying and pushing yourself.

Neither of my parents graduated high school so by me graduating college appears to be a great accomplishment; but guess what? That's just average. My sister could have stopped at graduating college because after that, no one pushed her. Instead she decided to get her J.D. and practice law; and I guarantee she won't stop there.
As this applies to resolutions; you will hear all this babble about not setting yourself up for failure. Make resolutions that you can accomplish so you can feel good. @#$ that! Make resolutions that are going to force you to work your a$$ off to accomplish your goal. Make resolutions that are in line with your vision of success, resolutions that will make you great. Not average, but great.

Weak Resolution: To lose 15 lbs,
Strong resolution: To lose 25 lbs and be ripped. To wear a bikini and look extra hot on the beach. To look hotter then my friend Sarah this summer on the beach.

Weak Resolution: To do more at work
Strong Resolution: To work the hardest at work. To work harder then anyone who's ever hired in at that job. To answer and read every email before I go home everyday. To get in an hour earlier every day.

Weak Resolution: To spend more time with the family,
Strong Resolution: To be home in time for dinner every night even if it means going back to the office after dinner. To Plan vacations where the kids can learn; coach my kids soccer team, take ball room dancing classes with my wife.

Don't be average man, or average girl be SUPERMAN and SUPERGIRL!!
2010 - All in. Game on!
Get inspired.
-MJL

FEAR - HAPPINESS AND P.W.L.T.R.

2009-12-07T00:16:00.022-05:00

People have become so used to not being happy that they barely even notice it. (I'm guilty of this as well). It's like living next to a train track or an airport. After awhile you don't even notice the sound how loud the trains and planes are. It takes a visitor to come and point it out to you. "How the hell do you live with all that noise?" Your reply is, "It's not that bad".

Not to say that your or my life is miserable, but fear can prevent it from being all that it can be. We are bioligically susceptible to fear. This is the greatest enemy of true happiness. Fear has many crippling disguises. It surfaces as anger, pessimism depression, feelings of isolation, etc..

When we were children we didn't care about fear because the price of failure wasn't high at all. We weren't called a loser, we just didn't win. As we got older, society begin to judge our failures. Or better yet, we begin to LET society judge our failures. If you didn't make the basketball team, or football team then you would have to face all your friends. That's the beginning of fear starting to get a grip on your life. It was easier not to try out for the team and be cool, rather then try out and not make it and be embarassed. Yep, that was my personal experience. I was still cool and funny, no one knew that I couldn't play football - in fact I didn't even know if I could play or not. Because I never played before, it was too risky to my image to try out and not make it. So I played it safe. Who knows, I could have been a professional running back. If you were a naturally gifted athlete you tried out because the risk of failure is small. Who's more successful the gifted quarterback, or the not so gifted guy who works hard, gets cut and then comes back next year and makes the team? let's not forget, Michael Jordan got cut from his high school team.

So I think it's important that we conquer our fear, without doing that, we are not getting the best out of life that we can. True happiness will continue to elude us.

OK - Example time.
I have been burnt pretty bad in my past relationships. Now I can easily be jaded by this, and have that affect me in my future relationships or I can have no fear and go for it. Being crippled by fear, you play little games. "I'm not going to call her and show her that I like her because that's giving her the upper hand" That's the game you play when you're 16. Then she doesn't call you, and the next thing you know you both think that you are not into each other. When you are an adult and in control of your fears, you know the relationship that you would like to have and you know that it doesn't stand a chance without you giving 100%, because in your vision of a perfect relationship your mate is giving back 100%. You can't expect to recieve what you don't put out. This doesn't mean that it won't fail. Realistically you can give 100% and it still not work out, you can not control the other person, but if you give 80% because of the fear of putting yourself and your feelings at risk, and it doesn't work out, you should blame only yourself because you could have given 20% more and now it's too late. Remeber if you can dream it, then it's conceptually possible.

That scenario goes with anything. If you don't try and fail you won't succeed. We are missing out on great opportunities because we are scared. Scared of trying and feeling stupid - That is society holding you down. You should only feel stupid if you don't try. I mean really, we are adults, can anyone really make you feel stupid if you don't let them.

In short I'm not telling you to be reckless. Not at all. Listen to your fears. Don't quit your job tomorrow and start a glow in the dark shoelace factory. Don't walk up to the girl you have a crush on and propose, don't sign up for the Mr. Universe contest next month but take your time. Do your homework and work hard. Trust your instincts. God put them there for a reason. If you are dating your future "dream guy or girl" but he appears shady, trust yourself - dont' go signing over $100,000.00 checks ala Nora Walker (for the Brother's and Sister's fans out there).

You know you are moving in the right direction because you will start to feel like a kid again. Trust me. That's how you know you are headed towards happiness and conquering your fears. That's natural. When you're a kid your spirits and dreams are unbridled and unbroken. Your life is led by these spirits rather then controlled by your fears and judgements. As you become more successful, or as you see your dreams becoming a reality these spirits become stronger. When you have 4 steps mapped out to accomplish your goal and you reach the first one you know your goal is achievable. You get the interview for your dream job, you land a certain account for your business, or you meet someone that only existed in previously in your mind. That is fuel for steps 2,3,&4.

You can’t really put a time limit on when you will reach your goals, but what I know for sure is the harder you work the quicker success will come or the quicker failure will come. You might need 3 failures, but after each you Plan again, Work, learn, tweak and repeat. Plan-Work-Learn-Tweak and Repeat. Give 100% to all those steps.
1. Plan with intelligence,
2. Work with dillegence,
3. Learn with curiousity,
4. Tweak with stragtical prowess and
5. Repeat like failure is no option.
P.W.L.T.R
I like that - Hey Jim Rohn's not he only one who can make stuff up!!

Do remember: Nothing can resist a man (or woman) who will place even his existence on his purpose.

Translation: If you are not fearful, and you are willing to sacrifice it all, nothing can resist your enevitable path to success.

-MJL

So..how's that millionaire thing coming along?

2009-11-01T16:31:00.008-05:00

So the question is where have I been, what have I been up to?
Good question. I like this blog because the frequency of my blogging is indicative of my intensity and focus on my goals at that time period. I have to admit, I’ve been having a difficult time….no not difficult, but it’s been taking me longer to adjust to my new routine. Now I’m adjusted and ready to kick in into high gear.

Before I start banging out a bunch of blogs, I need to catch my readers up on a few things, and report out an overall status of where I am and where I’m going;

THE STATUS OF THE HUSTLES:

The 9-5 Hustle
Now I’m in Consumer Goods instead of automotive. I have worked my way up quickly from cubicle there to office in a matter of 100 days. Now all I have to do is kill it there everyday and I have accomplished my goal of steady paycheck while I build everything else up. I admit, I can give that job more. I have to give it more, and will.

EBAY HUSTLE
http://stores.shop.ebay.com/Money-Saving-Mikes
It was rough getting started again. After having such a successful...
Year last year, and then shutting it all down and moving it out to Ct. I'm back to selling things at a steady clip. I still maintaint my powere selller status with ebay which means considerable savings.

T-SHIRT HUSTLE
http://www.nuffsaidoutfitters.com/
The T-shirts are moving at a steady clip. We are using Ebay for this as well. Ebay recently changed it’s format to allow us to post multiple sizes so this has helped considerably!! We are just adding more designs and more shirts by the week.

Wash and Roll
http://www.washandroll.com/
Phew! There is a lot I can say here. Basically I just need to make it to April of 2010 and things will be o the up and up with Wash and Roll. Obviously this is easier said then done, but it’s possible. I’m still losing money like a big dog, but this has the most immediate financial gain and can then be used to generate un-godly sums of investment capital. That vision is keeping me on my grind. It’s hard but I manage.

SUMMARY:
So to those working a 9-5 and think that they can not for some reason start a business or do something extra, look at this list. This is 100 hours per week of work, and I haven’t even started yet. Yes, I’m sacrificing a lot, but the pay off will be worth it. My focus and vision is unwavering. That’s what is needed to get it done, and do it better then most ever day. Push yourself, because no one will push you! You are responsible for our own success.

"Success will not wait. If I delay, she will become betrothed to another and lost to me forever. This is the time. This is the place. I am the man. "

-MJL

Age is Just a number.....No cake this birthday, just humble pie.

2009-10-11T17:21:00.005-04:00

The good thing about a blog is that you can see how much crap you have been talking and how much you have accomplished since you were talking said trash. This time I have to step back and say - yeah I was talking trash last year when I turned 34 (The post is referenced below) but who knew how bad the recession was really going to get. In the last year of my life I've gotten hit with the following:
1. The first Black President
2. My first lay off
3. My first collection of unemployment
4. The successful continuance of my t-shirt business
5. GM & Chrysler Bankruptcy
6. Relocation out of Michigan
7. Back "a top" the money earning game.
8. Promotion at new job in first 90 days
9. Purchase of a new (well different car).
10. Getting my swagger back on the East Coast.

That is not a typical year by any means; therefore I will allow myself some slack. However - now I have to get it poppin.

Now from the smack I talked last year....slightly embarassing considering I lost my job a few months after the posting but considering the circumstances it's ok. A little humble pie never hurt anyone.

*******************************************************

As I talk about my sister's birthday (In my last post), my birthday was not too far behind. I hit the big "Three Four" Monday. I vowed to be rich or independently wealthy by 35. That's 359 days and counting. I better get moving.

I look at being 34 like starting a new career.

"What???", you ask.

Stay with me....This week is the first week on the job of being 34 years old. I will have this job for 359 more days. Get it now?

But this isn't like other jobs, I have been doing a similar job for 33 years already! I'm a professional. This means that everything I do, every move I make, has 33 years of experience behind it.

How can I not get reach my goals! If I don't know the answer, or if I don't know what to do in a certain situation, I at least know who knows. 33 years of training for this new job, tells me that there isn't any situation that I can't handle. I might need help, but I am smart enough to know I need help when I need it.

OK, you're with me now! So everything I eat, I know from 33 years of experience what it's going to do to my body. Cake is going to make me fat! I know it. If I don't work out and eat a lot of cake, I will get fat!

If I drive too fast too often, I get a speeding ticket! I know it. 33 years of experience for this job tells me “Slow your ass down”.

Therefore, there is a higher responsibility put on all my decisions. With that responsibility comes confidence and a humble swagger with 33 years of horsepower behind it.

(Sorry, for those hip-hop illiterate readers: Swagger is defined as:
to move with confidence, sophistication and to be cool.
Swagger is to conduct your self in a way that would automaticaly earn respect
To dress in a very stylish and quirkily fasionable way that would suggest one has a swagger. Still OK to use - Not like Bling which is dead )

Every move I make has experience, swagger, charisma and life experience behind it. How powerful is that! I have become that person I have always wanted to be. And part of becoming that person, is wanting to become better everyday, and getting better at becoming better.

Success is attracted and is attractive. Successful people attract success. Becoming a millionaire isn't the goal, it's what "I" become, or who "you" become when we are millionaires. It's that person that will be created, while creating the fortune. That's what's important.

Have you ever wondered how millionaires can lose their fortunes and make another fortune a few years later? Because they have gained the skills, the swagger and the experience needed to do the job.

This is very analogous to cooking a Thanksgiving day meal.
The first time you got cook books open, pots and pans everywhere. Your measuring shzit, burning stuff up. It takes forever. But after you get the first one done...OH LOOK OUT. You are writing your own recipes! You are putting a dash of your own seasonings, adding stuff, flipping and bouncing that Turkey around the kitchen like a ghetto Martha Stewart. You don't even taste it as much because you already know the shzit is going to be on point. It takes you 1/4 the time and you probably do it better.

Do you see the similarities! Now that's food for thought, Bread for the head.

359 days and counting.......

Ladies and Gentlemen, I have arrived. I just need the $999,999.99 to go with my swagger.

-MJL

Don't take life too serious...but take it serious..Sometimes

2009-09-13T08:05:00.005-04:00

Don’t take things too serious but……

Remember that life is not too forgiving.

What do I mean by that? Well let me explain the basics and then I will relate that to our favorite topic…..money.

Life is not too forgiving, meaning small mistakes can have catastrophic repercussions.
Recently I have vowed to restrict my cell phone usage while in the car. No text messages, no phone calls initiated, just answering calls. Just picking up the phone and talking. There have been too many accidents caused by negligent drivers. We aren’t that good, we are just lucky. When you are lucky so many times you start to misconstrue that luck until skill. “I got this” you say while texting, glancing up, and driving with your knees. All is well until you hit the car in front of you. Or maybe just rub the divider. A simple scrape on an unblemished car is a like a boil on Hale Berry’s face. All because someone texted you something stupid that you just had to read. Now you have to look at that dumb scratch on your car everyday. So not worth it.

DUI is another prime example. Look at Beecher from the show OZ. He got a little tipsy at a company part and he kills someone on his way home, and now he ends up in prison on manslaughter charges. A really good guy, small mistake, catastrophic results. Who hasn’t driven a little tipsy. While you are learning your threshold and tolerance you might drive home just a little on the edge. So let’s say you don’t kill anyone, but you get pulled over. Boom! DUI. fines, tickets, etc. All because you had one drink too many, or started to drive just an hour too soon, or didn’t eat enough before the night’s festivities began. All little mistakes catastrophic results.

AIDS. Same thing. Girl meets boy, girl get carried away, unprotected sex. This Small mistake results in AIDS or baby. Life taken or life provided. The entire dynamic of your life is changed in the blink of an eye. I can’t think of an analogy that can capture the amount a life can change due to one instance this small.

The list goes on an on. Christopher Reeve had a horse back riding incident. Did he do all his safety checks, was he playing around on the horse, or was it just one of those things. When it’s “Just one of those things” then it’s more acceptable then you doing something dumb.

You must take the above into consideration during your daily hustle. Even when you are doing the right thing life throws you setbacks, so you need to minimize these setbacks by taking control over what you can control and minimizing your errors. That comes with better judgment, utilizing and listening to mentors, and learning and reading. Doing the right thing is a learned behavior. All of these things are difficult but doing the difficult is what separates us from the masses.
We specialize in the difficult. Difficult we get done in a day; Impossible we get it done in a week. That’s how we roll.

-MJL

Why it's so easy to be Regular?

2009-08-23T18:30:00.004-04:00

How come people don’t strive to reach their highest potential?

I was listening to the great Earl Nightingale, and he asked, “Why is the gas station attendant, only a gas station attendant?”. “Why is the guy in the donut shop, only the guy in the donut shop?”. This a question that I have asked myself thousands of times. The answer is simple, that’s all they see themselves as being. Seriously. They might have dreams, but they treat their dreams as such. Have you ever seen the manager of a fast food restaurant during rush hour. His job is 10 times harder then many middle managers that I’ve worked with who make six figure salaries. The employees he deals with are much ruder, less educated and sometimes more dangerous then white collar workers, but yet he only makes $26,000 a year. Why? Because that’s all he thinks he‘s worth . If he thought he was worth more, he would go and get more. This way of thinking doesn’t just come, you have to train yourself to think this way.

Our brains are trained to steer us away from pain, heartache and defeat therefore we settle and take the easiest way out.
We don’t like doing certain things because we are not good at them. Why do some people like math and some hate it? Because they aren’t good at it. Think of something that you hate doing, and then try to become proficient at that activity and you won’t hate it nearly as much. Turn the pain into pleasure.

Think of some really obese people you know. You look at them, and they are the neatest, self conscious people on earth. They have their hair and nails done, pedicures, lip gloss, but they are a 6 piece Mcnugget away from bursting. Why, because the nails, the hair, the make up…that’s the easy stuff. It’s an easy victory. Losing 100 lbs and keeping it off, now that’s the hard part.
We can’t fault them because we are the same way, and do the same thing. That’s why we stay at jobs we don’t like. We are like the fat lady. Our jobs are our hair, and nails and our cute “Fat Girl” outfits. Thinking we look cute, is like getting that little paycheck at the end of the week. It’s easy, safe, and you are not disappointed. You do the easy work, you get a little payout. Losing 100 lbs and putting on a bikini, that’s like starting to work for yourself and getting rich. Why doesn’t every one do it? Because you can put in a lot of effort and only lose 20 lbs, or 30 and gain the weight back, which is just like starting something and failing. But if you don’t try and lose the weight you are guaranteed to be fat.
Think about it, that fat chick doesn’t fail until she gives up. You don’t fail until you give up, and succumb to a life of mediocrity.

You become what you think about the most. Period. It’s true. Your mind starts to pick up opportunities that it didn’t see before as you zero in on your goals. Your subconscious starts to help your conscious focus on your goals. It’s powerful!

Example: Notice when you buy a car, how many cars just like yours are on the road. Those same cars were there before but since your subconscious wasn’t zeroed in on it, it didn’t pick up on it. That’s how the brain works on what you think about the most. It will begin to work on a conscious and subconscious level, thus doubling your mental efforts and making sure that no opportunities pass you by.
…….and we all know, that when opportunity knocks, you better be ready to get the damn door.
Holla at your boy.
-MJL

You owe it to yourself, Work harder!

2009-08-11T12:40:00.007-04:00

Ok, so now I’m in Connecticut and have finally fallen into my routine….and when I say routine you know that means work, working out, and planning to work. Which also means more consistent blogging.

In hindsight getting let go from my other company was the best thing that ever happened to me. Yeah, I moved away from some good friends but you will do that three or four times over the course of your life anyway. If they are good friends then they will always be good friends. Right? There’s 100's of different ways to keep in contact so it’s just up to me to make sure it happens.

Now it’s apparent more then ever that multiple streams of income is needed for any kind of mental stability. You can no longer count on your 9 to 5, but I know we already knew that.

As I said in an earlier post, when things are going well it’s time to work harder, smarter, and give more of yourself to reach your goals. I can say, I worked my butt off over the past 16 weeks looking for a job, living on the tightest budget, and moving cross country on a dwindling bank account, so now I'm going to take it easy......but that wouldn't be smart. That wouldn't be how I roll. How I roll is: I take it easy for one night. Treat myself to a nice Olive Garden dinner and then kick it into overdrive. If I could work that hard with no resources, imagine what I can do now.

When you look at those less fortunate then you, you should feel that sense of responsibility that makes you want to go all in, everyday. When you drive to work and you see the guy working a job that just sucks a$$.......Wait a minute let me clarify, as to not offend anyone.........."sucks a$$" is relative. The high powered exec going to power lunches everyday, with a personal assistant, playing golf, making deals, looks at a middle management position like "that sucks".

The guy in middle management looks at the new guy doing grunt work and says, “That sucks”.

The entry level guy goes to Dunkin Donuts and is getting served by a 30 year old with 3 kids and says "boy that would suck".

The 30 year old with three kids passes by a bum begging for money as he gets on the bus to work and says, "Man I'm glad I'm not him". So "sucks A$$" is relevant.

OK, where was I? ...Oh yeah, we should all work our a$$es off at whatever we currently have with what we currently have, and compare your present situation to what you want for your future.
GOT IT?

You owe it to all of those who don’t have what you have. If you have a job, you owe it to those who are unemployed and truly looking. To owe means going into work and appreciating and working the hell out of your current job even though you hate it. That should only be one part, it should extend to all aspects of your life. You owe it to those who are not as healthy as you are, to work out and maintain your health. Enjoy the physical wealth God has given you and maintain it. Don’t take it for granted.

This extends to your mind; nurture it for all of those who can’t think as well as you can. For those who can’t pick up a book and just read and learn. When you think of the world like that, how could you not want to do more, or be more.

One last note…..

You know I had to mention or boy, Tiger Woods. He just picked up PGA victory 69 and 70. This is a true testament to how great someone can become if they do everything they can to be the best they can be. Week after week. He misses the cut at the British Open just to win his next two events. Imagine what he did after he missed the cut. Imagine the work, the attention to detail, the dissecting of his drives, the amount of practice putts, equipment checks, you name it. He makes it look easy but you better believe it’s hard. He knows that he deserves everything that is due to him, because he’s earned it, and continues to work for it. He is proof that you can stay on top week after week, year after year if you just work!

Let’s go earn ours. It’s time for us to be great. We owe it to God for blessing us with what we have, we owe it to all those who don’t have and want what we got, and most importantly we owe it to ourselves.

Time to go all in.

-MJL.

My Epic Battle with Unemployment: Hustling to find a Hustle!

2009-07-22T12:30:00.005-04:00

Never before have I felt as qualified as I feel now to write this blog. Do you guys remember when I wrote the post "The Boiling Frog Syndrome". Well guess what, my time came and I got the shoulder tap. They laid my black a$$ off!
First of all, even though I knew we were doing bad, my ego and my logic thought there were still certain people that had to go before they gave me my walking papers. The problem there, is that logic (and ego) have no place in Corporate America.

The tale of my unemployment is one for the ages! The moves I made; the friends that I have who stepped up; and the mental a$$ whippin' I took on a daily basis makes for good blogging.

The good part is: I came out on top. Just like Kobe in my previous post, the best always rise to the top. The other good part is that I am at a new job, where no one knows me, my blog, my other businesses so I can post here as candid and truthful as I want.

Just think, if I didn't come out of this good. All of the my talk about positive thinking, motiviation, Jim Rohn this and that, Tony Robbins ths and that....my working out, my ambition, my hope & dreams would have all just been me talking smack! And we all know that I love to talk smack but I also back it up. That's just what I do!

I have kept a journal of my unemployment time so I have postings that you will find fascinating. I will also post the various things that I did to find work, some that were successful and some that weren't.
I would like to begin these series of blogs on unemployment with a description of how the story ends.

The end goes:
2 Job Offers, An increase on an already six-figure income of $4,500.00, a move to the East Coast, 90 miles from family (versus 600 miles) and a shorter drive to work. Not to mention the chance to reinvent oneself again.
Easily the hardest thing that I have ever had to overcome in my life, but also the most life changing event.

Look for the rest of the Blog series: Hustling to find a Hustle.

For now, back to my 9 to 5!

-MJL

The Best Continue to Rise to the Top

2009-06-15T16:38:00.006-04:00

When you are the best, you can't be held down. Period! Look at Trump, look at Tiger, and the latest example of this is none other then our man Kobe. Everyone loves to hate Kobe. They don't see how much work he puts in, they just think he is naturally that good. What makes Kobe unbelievable is that he's good, but continues to work to be the best. How crazy is that, you are already on the top of your game, but yet you are in the gym at 5:30 making sure that you are working harder then anyone in the league.

Rape charges, pulled endorsements, and a feud with Shaq and he is still back on top.
You can dislike him, but it will only make him stronger. The hate, makes him great!

No Golden Parachute for Tricky Ricky

2009-05-22T13:31:00.004-04:00

I am not using this as a debate over "to bailout, or not to bailout", I just want to shed some light on the rumored 20 million dollar severance package that Rick Wagoner is reportedly getting.

That 20 million is not what it's cracked up to be. When the Obama administration asked Rick to step down there were numerous reports of a 20 million dollar severance payout. News stories such as this one from ABC, conitnued to spread the bad press about the auto industry. In reality the 20 million was not so real.....

From the Mariam Webster Online dictionary, the defintion of a "Golden Parachute" is: a generous severance agreement for a corporate executive in the event of a sudden dismissal (as because of a merger)

This is not what Mr. Wagoner got.

Dave Schmidt, an executive compensation analyst with James F. Reda and Associates, says that less than $1 million of Wagoner's total $20.2 million pension package appears to be guaranteed if GM goes bankrupt.

This is a true statement. 19.2 million of the reported 20.2 million is part of an annuity scheduled to pay out 4.5 million a year for five years. If GM goes bankrupt this money is unsecured and Rick would lose all of it. If he manages to get out the first 4.5 million to pay his bills, he would be forced to give it back! Damn!!!

Severance package is not looking so good now is it?

That leaves our man Rick with only $980,000.00. That sounds like a lot to you and I, but that's nothing for someone who has been earning a salary btween 1 and 2.2 million per year for the last 8 years. That's like you trying to retire on $80,000.00.

It gets worse: that $980,000 isn't payable in one lump sum. He has to withdraw that annually, payable in installments of $68,900. Good luck paying for the private jet on $70K per year.

I'm sure Rick will get another 7 figure job, but for now he can collect unmployment like the other 13% of Michigan, which happens to be about $380/ week........and you have to pay taxes on that.

-MJL

Technorati Tags: GM,General Motors,Rick Wagoner,Golden Parachute,Bailout,Obama

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Love him or hate him...he's Trump

2009-05-17T17:10:00.011-04:00

When working toward riches who better to learn from then the wealthy. This is why I read Donald Trump’s books. In the past I thought Trump was just a "kiss ass" because he's always complimenting those people he works with. Well, I stand corrected.

In his book, Think Big and Kick Ass (it was only $4.99 at Borders – Hard Cover), The Don tells it like it is. He talks candidly about his beefs... with high profile leaders of industry and his mind state when dealing with his issues. When he talks about Kicking Ass he's serious. There is a Chapter entitled REVENGE. He tells you that when somebody messes with you, you get them back in spades. As part of that Chapter, he details his feud with Rosie O’Donnell. I didn't realize how bad it had gotten so I pulled up a Youtube clip….it was bad.
Enjoy.

Fortune Magazine - In Bad Taste

2009-05-10T13:40:00.009-04:00

As a blogger on financial issues and how they affect our lifestyles, I subscribe to several related publications. One of them happens to be Fortune. I think Fortune magazine did a great job back in their February issue with a feature article titled The New Jobless. It really began to put faces and names with the people being laid off and how drastically their lives have been impacted. They profiled young, old, white collar, blue collar, men and women, illustrating how no demographic is secure during times like this.

As we know things have gotten worse since February, so Fortune decides to do a follow up issue and give tips on getting a Job in a difficult economy in a piece entitled “How to Get a Job”. When the issue arrived, the cover looked a little light hearted which put me off just a little. Then as I began to read the article and look at the associated pictures I was terribly annoyed with the photos of people clowning around, making comical gestures. All I could think was, “This sh@#t ain’t funny”. I assume that....the Fortune editors were attempting to add a little comic relief to a stressful situation but sometime it’s not necessary. That’s like trying to tell a Knock, Knock joke at a funeral to lighten the mood. Sometime a funeral just needs to be a funeral.

While I thought I was being overly sensitive, at least one other reader agreed. Per a letter written to Fortune in the annual Fortune 500 issues:

Considering the graviy of the Great Recession and the painful toll of job losses, I was disappointed by the flippant tone of “How to Get a Job”. The staged photos and goofy props had all the subtlety and with of a Cialis ad….
-Edward Mackin
Willow Grove, Pa

I couldn’t have said it better myself.

Fortune, I still love you but sometimes even the ones we love Piss us Off.

-MJL
HERE ARE SOME OF THE PHOTOS - CLICK HERE TO READ THE FULL FORTUNE ARTICLE.

Technorati Tags: Fortune Magazine,unemployement,Jobless,Laid Off,Rich,Money

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Recession Break: How much will it cost to run my Mansion

2009-05-03T14:32:00.040-04:00

How about a much needed break from the recession talk?

I was going to write a post about saving and cost cutting but I’m sick and tired of that crap. We need a break to help us keep our dreams and goals in focus!

So, I was watching one of those Forbes celebrity shows and wondered “how much it would cost to own and maintain a mansion?”

Last October Portfolio-Nast profiled a man who moved into a $10 million dollar house (pictured above). Here is an example of some of his monthly expenses.

Rent: $13,000.00
Utilities: $2700.00
Water:$1000.00 (Things that he didn’t consider: the pool, the fountains, and the damn sprinklers that came on in the wee hours to keep the great lawn lush and green)
Cable: $800.00 (He had 10 TV’s!)

TOTAL: $17, 500.00 per month.

He described himself as “a man struggling to hold on to the illusion that he is upper middle class……like a character in a cartoon earthquake: He looks down and sees his feet being dragged ever farther apart by a quickly widening fissure. His legs stretch, then splay, and finally he plunges into the abyss.

HOW ABOUT HIRING SOME HELP?

Those cost don’t include food and that assumes that him and his wife maintain the entire property. We need to hire some help to….to.. help. There’s a lot of stuff to keep clean! How much will that cost? Putting my internet skills to use I found the following information sited from a magazine called Celebrity Staff

Baby Mansion (>$100,000 / Year)

3,000 – 5,000 sq. ft.

RECOMMENDED BY CELEB STAFF:

-Two nannies ($750 per week)

-Weekend Nanny ($400 per week)

-Housekeeper / Cook ($750 per week)

RECOMMENDED BY “ME”

-In laws ($Guilt-trip / week)

-Old Jamican lady from the hood (“four hun’ed” – Translation $400.00 paid under the table)

-Revised cost: $30k

MEDIUM ESTATES (<$650,000 / year)

5,000 to 10,000 sq ft.

RECOMMENDED BY CELEB STAFF:

-Nannies and Childcare $98,000

-A Household Manager $95,000

-An Executive Housekeeper $65,000

-Regular housekeepers, Personal assistant and chauffer and operational costs will take you to $650,000 annum.

RECOMMENDED BY "ME"

-Give your boy $50,000 / year and tell him if he wants to keep his job get everything else done for another $50,000.

-Give the Ol’ Jamican lady a raise and tell her to watch he kids full time. Give her full rights to whoop ass if needed.

-Revised cost: $125k

LARGE ESTATE (<$1.5 Million Per Year)

(10,000 to 30,00 Square Feet)

RECOMMENDED BY CELEB STAFF:

-Estate Manager at the cost of $100,000 per year

-3 house keepers

-A laundress

-Head Chef

-Cook

-5 Security personnel.

RECOMMENDED BY “ME”

At this point, I got so much money I don’t really give a @#$%.

OPRAH MONEY (More then $3 Million/ year) (<30,000>

-30 house keepers

-12 laundresses

-10 butlers

-20 full time security personnel

…And if you think about buying that boat: For yachts, the operating costs are about 10% of the purchase price. So a $24 million, 150-foot yacht will cost you about $2.5 million a year to run.

Ok back to the recession……..

-MJL

Sources: Wall Street Journal Blog

Celeb Staff Magazine

Portfolio Nast

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Week 1 Earning Totals

2009-04-26T20:32:00.001-04:00

FAITH - Essential for the Millionaire Mind

2009-04-25T20:18:00.009-04:00

There is no doubt that these are tough times for (some of) us future millionaires. We are being faced with major setbacks with all of our investments, business endeavors and power career moves. Dreams and aspirations for millions in the bank, hot Lambos (hood translation: lamborghinis), huge cribs and living the good life have been extiguished with the ferocity of a firehose on a birthday candle. However, this is where the tough get tougher, the good get better, and the smart get smarter.

This is the time where your focus on your goals becomes even more important.

This is the time for FAITH.

I'm not going to turn this into a religous post because your faith can be in anything you choose to have faith in: God, yourself, your expected outcome, etc.

FAITH is important because it gives you a needed boost of energy and drive. The human body only has but so much gas in it's tank. What FAITH allows you to do, is to use that gas for the things that are going to get you closer to your goals. FAITH is like a gas regulator. With FAITH you will not waste your time on worrying. No need to worry when you have FAITH, because you know that everything work out for the better. If you play the hand you were dealt, to the best of your ability, you will come out ahead. Before you thought you knew, with FAITH you know. There is a big difference.

Here is how Faith should work.

Pretend a long lost relative has left you an inheritance of some sort. You don't know how much or how little but in able to find out you have to present to the lawyers what you will be doing over the next four months on your plan to reach millions. The better the plan, the more inheritance you will recieve. After you revreal this plan you find out that you will recieve 1 million dollars at the end of 4 months regardless if your plan is successful or not. The only clause is that you must do everything you said you were going to do with 110% of y

our effort.

Now everyday you are working your plan you are happy, because in your mind you are a millionaire already. You are singing in the shower, you are dancing in your car. You are a pleasure to everyone you encounter, and you are working your plan with certainty and confidence because you are not spending wasted energy worrying.. That's what FAITH is. It's that million dollar inheritance.

Maybe money isn't your goal, but what ever it is, act as if you have recieved it already. Thanks those around you and GOD for already having helped you reach your goal. Live every moment like you are at your personal finish line and before you know it you're already there.

As for the set backs, a quote from the great Jim Rohn:

.......here is what you can do: you can get stronger; you can get wiser; and you can get better. Remember that trio of words: stronger, wiser, better. The winters won’t change, but you can.

Before I understood this, I used to wish it were summer when it was winter. When things were difficult, I used to wish they were easy. I didn’t know any better. Then Mr. Shoaff gave me the answer from a part of his very unique philosophy when he said, “Don’t wish it were easier, wish you were better. Don’t wish for fewer problems, wish for more skills. Don’t wish for less challenge, wish for more wisdom.”

I can't say it any better then that.

For now I got the hoodie on in the Grand Prix, soon to be the CL63! Ryan Sheckler - I'll be up with you in a minute homie!

Let's get it!

-MJL

On-line Money Totals

2009-04-24T01:38:00.003-04:00

The slow and steady progress of getting money online is being chronicled honestly by two blogs.

One is David Kleine's Starting from $0.00

The other is: The Ups and Downs of On-line Money

David is close to $200 per month and has been doing great work. I will just mention in this blog when there is an update on the others. Making money using Paid to Click sites, and affiliate marketing is broad enough to have it's own dedicated sites.

Visit the sites, join the programs, make some money.

-MJL

INSPIRATION - REPOST FROM 2008

2009-04-21T00:02:00.006-04:00

April has been one helluva month. One filled with motivation and inspiration. I thought I was fired up before, well I'm really fired up now. I am crazy. Hence the Insane part of the title of this blog.

Three Saturdays I travelled back home to New Jersey to take care of some family business. I spent some time with my nephew and found out first hand how hard it is to keep pace with a 1.5 (Now 2.5 years old) year old. I got to inhale the East Cost flavor, bask in it and bring it back to Michigan.

With that being said I go to Walmart. Now I hate Walmart. I hate it with a passion, but you can't beat the prices, their inventory, and their customer service is pretty good. As I'm checking out,(it's about 8:00 AM in the morning) I look at the faces of the cashiers. They look like the saddest most depressed bunch of people I have ever seen. Then I'm thinking, "These people have succombed to life". You can't convince me that these people want to be Walmart cashiers.
There is no way in hell!
Life has took them out behind the woodshed for a good ol' Southern a$$ whippin. The sad part is, life is kicking the $hzit out of a lot of us, and we don't even realize it. They don't even know that life just bit their ear off, like Tyson. They are in a post knock out stupor where they will stay for the rest of your lives.

If you believe in god or not, you know you have free will. That means you can make decisions. Some of them are hard, tough decisions but they can impact the rest of your life forever. People always ask me why I work so much? The simple answer, "I DON'T WANT TO BE A 40 YEAR OLD WALMART CASHIER". That's why.

Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying there is anything wrong with being a cashier, because my job is just as mudane and unsatisfying. I AM a Walmart cashier right now. Right F'ing now, I am a Walmart cashier. I need to hustle and kick my own ass, and make the right decisions so that I can free myself. Then my family. It would be great if my nephew never had to be a Walmart cashier. Then my friends. If you are a Walmart cashier with a plan; and working at Walmart is part of your plan. That is OK, but make sure you are working your plan and not just talk.

Robert Kiyoski (of Rich Dad, Poor Dad fame), says, "the No. 1 thing people can do to increase their wealth is to start a part time business. They can start a small home based business, an internet company or network marketing business. " Many people fail to become rich because they value a steady paycheck rather then going through the learning process of becoming financially smarter and richer.

I have a new found respect for Robert Kiyoski. The Rich Dad Poor Dad books are amazing, but aside from that he was the first person to say that your house is not an asset. Something that I have learned and one of the main reasons I still have an apt today. If I had not read Rich Dad Poor Dad, I would be bound by a depreciating asset because I would have brought a house at the top of one of the worst real estate markets.

Not to sound like that annoying commecial but, get off the couch and go make your dreams happen. Please! You owe it to yourself. This life is nothing if you can't dream big, and the go make them come true.

Done!

-MJL

GOT TO PAY THE BILLS!

2009-04-20T19:59:00.001-04:00

ALL OF THESE WORK - NO SHZIT

Join and Post and you will make $10.00 / week

Join and Work aggressiely - The sky is the limit

I'm Back Again.....Sort of.

2009-04-18T22:07:00.004-04:00

Hey fans, I'm sort of back. I have been working on a lot of on-line stuff to help create my on-line empire. My goal is to just rent a small office, set up my laptop and just rake in the cash.

Far-feteched? Maybe, but online is where the money is at, so that's where I need to be. I will go back to chronicling my online marketing progress as well as posting the usual. In order to get the following I need, I will have to post details.

I have also started a conglamorate of blogs that will also generate adsense revenue.

Right now I am at $200 per week with Ebay, slinging T-shirts.

The goal is $5000 per month and I stop working; right now I'm at $800 only $4200 to go.

Let's Go.

-MJL

Spring Break or Break until Spring

2009-03-01T20:38:00.001-05:00

Hello fellow readers - due to some unforseen circumstances I will be taking a 4 week hiatus from the blog. Please believe, when I return I will have stories and experiences because I am on a wild ride.

I shall return.

God Bless
-MJL

WORK FROM HOME - THE REAL DEAL

2009-02-22T16:24:00.011-05:00

WORK AT HOME: MY PERSONAL INVESTIGATION.

Well my six week hiatus has come to an end. I made the most out of every minute, no make that, every second. During my time at home of course I explored every online money making scheme there was.

My summary is this.

EBAY
First and foremost, nothing beats eBay. I am currently killing it on Ebay and will continue to build a brand there. I have just under 120 unique items and adding more and more everyday. I’m have two sites and I’m a Power Seller with 100% feedback. Not get it twisted, Ebay is a lot of hard work that you have to be on top of all the time.

SURVEYS:
The big thing these days are survey sites. I have joined a few survey sites to see what they are all about. Most of them stink. The survey’s take forever and you only get 50 cents. Your hourly rate will average out to be around 30 cents per hour and you will get dumber with every click of the mouse. The site that I paid to join I wasn’t qualified to take more then half of the surveys.

PYRAMID SCHEMES
Most of these programs are just big pyramid schemes. You get your friends to sign up and money is funneled. I am absolutely terrible in doing this. I refused to try and con my friends into joining anything unless I know it’s to their benefit. The biggest scheme is “The Letter”. I’m not even sure of the legal aspects of it.

WHAT DOES WORK?

Check this out, I was picking up some packages from my rental office and this guy named “Josh” happened to over hear me on the phone discussing trying to get some products to sell on Ebay. When I got off the phone he and I started talking about online money making and he showed me his laptop. He was currently logged into his “Cash Crate” and “Deal Barbie” accounts. He was legitimately making money.

Before this, all I ever saw were doctored up photos of checks, nothing that I could really believe. He will break the $400 mark with Cash Crate probably today and will have a $500 total by the end of February. Now I am a believer.

Here’s what I’m going to do. Very similar to David Kleine’s site, I too will do the same. I will Join these sites and will report how often I do what and where and we will see if I can get to $500 like our boy Josh.

Since I’ve signed up under Josh when I make money he will make money, ya dig? That’s the reward for him passing on the info. Dude was even willing to sit with me and my laptop at Panera bread so we can get money together. We exchanged numbers and everything., that was enough to at least get me going. Both of these sites are different then pyramids, they combine both survey taking and affiliate programming and it’s legit.

I Googled Cash Crate and there were plenty of good discussions about people getting paid. Of course there are a lot of negatives but there were way more positives and none of it cost money. IT’S FREE.

SO DAY 1: I signed up for both sites and made a blog posting. I got my banner links and now I will email David to let him know that I have added his site to mine. I’m as honest as they come and if you read David’s site he is a super honest hardworking guy. Between the both of our sites you can get some honest work at home information.

That’s what’s up
-MJL

DAVE KLEINE is only in about a week himself: Here is his site. STARTING FROM $0.00. When he updates his site I will post a link here so we can track his progress together.

Deal Barbie Pays
Cash Crate
Millionaire
Rich
Work From Home

The Law of Diminishing Intent

2009-02-13T06:54:00.009-05:00

People always ask me how come I don't sleep much or at all. Even during this break from my 9 to 5 hustle, I haven’t been getting as much sleep as you would think.

It's because of the The Law! The Law of Diminishing Intent.

“The Law of Diminishing Intent states that the longer you wait to implement an idea, the less enthusiasm you will have for it”
- thus the less likely you will hit it with all the emotion that’s needed.

We live in the age of information and I have so many ideas that I'm pumped up about something new once every 33.839 seconds. I stay up late researching all the my new ideas, and thinking of more. When you have an idea, it's key to jump all over that shzit like Michael Phelps on a Bong. (Sorry I had to give a shout out to dumb people with money doing dumb things, uhh hmm Chris Brown).

Think about how excited and pumped you've been about ideas in the past and then waited so long that you ran out of steam, or talked yourself completely out of it. I try to never let that happened. If I get an idea in the shower, I might start working on it before I dry off.

At least get your idea started to build some momentum. Other things that help are telling people about it. I like to deliver on my word and when I tell people that I'm starting something, or that I'm going to do something, now I have the responsibility to deliver or come up with a legitimate reason why I can’t deliver.

Pro-athletes do that all the time. Terrell Owens, Kobe, Rasheed Wallace and other so called arrogant players don't just talk smack for the sake of talking. They talk smack because it helps them perform and deliver on their smack talk.

What ever it takes.

I was reading about Netlix founder (and CEO) Reed Hastings. He was returning a copy of Apollo 13 and got a $40 late charge. He was like WTF - (well back then we didn't have texting so he was probably like "What the f#$%k" -that's better). That was in 1997 for a VHS tape.

When he heard that DVD's were coming he ran to Tower Records. That's right...in the article it says that he RAN to tower records. He had an idea an hopped all over it. He mailed CD's to himself and waited a long 24 hours until they arrived at his house. I bet he didn't sleep during that long 24 hours. When the CD's arrived in the mail in great shape, the rest is Netflix history. In 2003 he hit a million subscribers. Can we say Cha-Ching.

Get your ideas out, jot them down and get crackin. Motion creates emotion. Get excited scream, yell and get working.

Rich or Nothing. The hustle is real.
-MJL

Lucky? or do we make our own Luck?

2009-02-05T18:21:00.001-05:00

I have always thought that we make our own luck. This theory is contrary to the book I just finished "The Outliers" which was very eye opening but had me agreeing and disagreeing with every alternate chapter.

The gist of this book is that Bill Gates, the beetles, Tiger Woods, etc. are who they are more by luck and happenstance then drive and determination. I disagree with that. I think we make our own luck. I think being open to opportunities and seizing them is luck.

Recently in Newsweek they identify lucky people by the following four criteria:

First, lucky people frequently happen upon chance opportunities. "Being in the right place at the right time is actually all about being in the right state of mind," Wiseman writes. As his newspaper experiment shows, lucky people are more open and receptive to unexpected possibilities. They tend to be more relaxed about life, and they operate with a heightened awareness of the world around them. Quite simply, they spot and seize upon openings that other people simply miss. They also tend to be more social and maintain what Wiseman calls a "network of luck." Most of us know around 300 people on a first-name basis. According to Wiseman, that means you're only two handshakes away from 90,000 people who could bring chance opportunities into your life.

Second, lucky people listen to their hunches and make good decisions without really knowing why. Unlucky people, by contrast, tend to make unsuccessful decisions and trust the wrong people. "My interviews suggested that lucky people's gut feelings and hunches tended to pay off time and time again," Wiseman writes. "In contrast, unlucky people often ignore their intuition and regret their decision." In survival, this kind of instinct can make all the difference.

Third, lucky people persevere in the face of failure and have an uncanny knack for making their wishes come true. They're convinced that life's most unpredictable events will "consistently work out for them." Their world is "bright and rosy," Wiseman writes, while unlucky people expect that things will always go wrong. Their world is "bleak and black." When Wiseman gives lucky and unlucky people a puzzle that is actually impossible to solve, the reactions are very telling. "More than 60 percent of unlucky people said that they thought the puzzle was impossible, compared to just 30 percent of lucky people. As in so many areas of their lives, the unlucky people gave up before they even started."

Fourth, lucky people have a special ability to turn bad luck into good fortune. Of all four defining factors involved in luck, Wiseman believes this one plays the most important role in survival. Wiseman's conclusion echoes the work of Dr. Al Siebert, one of America's foremost authorities on survival psychology. After more than 40 years investigating what he calls "the survivor personality," Siebert believes, "life's best survivors not only cope well, they often turn potential disaster into a lucky development."

The full article can be found here.

If you believe in God then it’s hard for you to believe in luck. God is the ultimate decision maker. That makes the four criteria above a lot more acceptable.

A lot of it is pure perception:
If you crashed your car, you’re lucky you didn’t get injured.

If you fall off a ladder, you’re lucky you broke your arm and not hit your head.

Looking on the positive side helps keep positive thoughts which helps motivation. We all know that motivation is the key to success.

YOU REMEMBER THAT JORDAN COMMERICIAL….ONE OF MY FAVORITES.

"I’ve missed more than 9000 shots in my career. I’ve lost almost 300 games. 26 times, I’ve been trusted to take the game winning shot and missed. I’ve failed over and over and over again in my life. And that is why I succeed "

Looking at it that way, then I am successful. What do you think?

-MJL

Corporate or not Corporate?

2009-01-29T15:51:00.018-05:00

In this newly rotten economy I have been asking myself, "What is the better way to go?". Is it better to be self-employed or to be employed in a large corporate environment?

Each has it's pros & cons and there is just a ton of variables to consider; thus leaving me just as confused as ever? But what else is new?

If you are a small business owner, you are at least making decisions for the good of your business and/or yourself and family. Nobody has your back in corporate America. As soon as you turn around, "They Getcha". I'm sure the 10.6% of unemployed people here in Michigan can attest to the “Getcha”; as they were cardboard boxed up, and walked out of their places of employment. Many of them didn’t even see it coming.

But what happens when your small business goes under?

Let’s say you are a dingle-berry provider, and the demand for dingleberries are just not there anymore. The dingleberry hut is in the red and there is no government bailout for you.

Now What?

Do you have any marketable skills to compete in today's supersaturated job market? That's a huge issue.

Here is a feasible plan:
Sell the dingleberry hut, and work at Home Depot while you go back to school for something that made you marketable. Damn! Imagine going from day to day as the big boss, calling the shots, to rockin' the Bright Orange Hope Depot Apron and punching a clock.

.................... Just put a bullet in my head.

The other plan would be to stack enough money during the dingleberry renaissance period; so that you can go back to school full time. You can get your “Happy Days” lunch box and your jansport knapsack and be a full time student again, until you can earn some dough.

Let’s take a look on the “Coporate America” side of things, you are virtually a bitch. Unless you are a CEO, CFO, Chairman or in executive management with a negotiated severance package, you are extremely expendable aka “A bitch”.

The key is to remember that shzit. That's a hard fact to remember when you are strutting around the office like a King, Hi-fiving (or the not so modern day fist bumping) co-workers, bringing in donuts, and throwing frisbees at the office picnic. You can be eliminated at any time. Granted the better you are, the harder you work, the lower your chances are of getting fired, but there is still that chance. If you let them, Corporate America will own you.

People always talk about how many hours I put in and how I wouldn't do that if I had a family etc. If little Johnny has to come home from college because Dad got laid off, I think that's a little worse then missing a little league tee-ball game. I'm not sure, you tell me. I am surrounded by the sad stories of kids having to leave college because dad’s who were making 6 figures for years, now can’t find a job.

REMEMBER LIFE IS A BITCH! YOU MUST BE PREPARED.

You know where your ambitions lie. You know if you want to be the CEO, or CFO. If you don't, then just start stackin your money. Prepare for the worse and hope for the best. I mean save...if there is something that this entire recession has taught us is the true value of stacking the money.

As I see it, if you stay and work in corporate America, and you are not willing to sell your soul to be CEO, CFO, Director etc....then constantly stay educated and save your money.

GOLDEN PARACHUTE PERKS – As profiled in Feb. 2009 edition of Conde Nast Portfolio Magazine.

For all you Executive types - You put in the work, here's what you ahve to look forward to:

Phillip Purcell
CEO of Morgan Stanley
Purcell will continue to collect an estimated $7.8 million in perks, which include a secretary and $250,000.00 in donations to his favorite charities, during his lifetime.

Joe Moglia
Chairman Ameritrade
Medical benefits to him and his dependents for the rest of his life. The coverage will continue for his wife if she outlives him.

Ed Whitacre
CEO of AT&T
received $158 million, plus benefits. He also received $26,000 a year automobile allowance and up to $20,000 a month in flight time on AT&T jets.

YOU TELL ME, IN BAD TIMES IS IT BETTER TO GO CORPORATE OF NOT CORPORATE?

-MJL

Corporate America
Lay Off
Millionaire
Rich
Small Business

TIGER WOODS AND MY MOJO

2009-01-24T17:06:00.012-05:00

………Here’s how it happended……about 1.5 weeks ago..........

So I’m home on my hiatus from work. I got my official return to work date of Feb. 23rd and I've come to terms with it to some extent.

What does “to terms” mean? It means sitting at home in my bathrobe eating a bowl of ice cream (for breakfast) that is resting on my belly like Tony Soprano. Not the skinny Tony, but the Season 5 gluttonous Tony. Yeah, that one.

Dishes in the sink, dirty laundry everywhere, growing a beard like Grady from "Sanford and Son" and a fro like Lamont.

I get a call from the “other” phone. The Bat phone or as I call it – The Batbery.

The bat phone? Yep. Only a select few have the number:

Labron,

Puffy,

Jay-Z,

Gates,

Tiger,

Kobe,
Jobs,

Buffet and Rock (That’s what I call Barrack).

So out of the list of greats, who’s on hiatus? Tiger! I bet he’s watching Oprah like me.

I pick up the Blackbizzle,

ME: Tig my nig, what’s up?

TIGER: Are you watching Opera. Can you believe that b_tch is talkin’ about food again?
Talking about she fell off the wagon! Her a$$ looks like she’s draggin the wagon.

ME: I was just watchin’ it homey. She said she ate the WHOLE bag of chips. I was like DAMN! Oprah money, a personal chef and a weight room in your crib. There is no need for her to be at “triple chin” status.

TIGER: You sound like you just woke up? It’s 10:30 AM?
ME: I Know I just been kind of chillin.

TIGER: CHILLIN! Are you serious? You expect to be great and you are using this valuable time to chill? Do you think I’m chillin?

ME: Hell Yeah. With your loot and free time; I would have chicks on top of chicks. I’d be havin’ bus loads of women rockin it out on Privacy.

(Privacy is his yatch, Umm yeah).

TIGER: Well you’re wrong. I’m taking this time seriously. I’m killin the workouts with my trainer. Two-a-days Brotha! Killin them. I’ve been working on my short game and my putting. My short game will make Phil’s short game look like yours when I return to competition.

I’ve been doing all of my rehabilitation exercises to the fullest. I’m working harder now then I was before. My golf course design company is in full affect. Recession or no recession, I’m designing courses. Buick just dropped me so I’m getting more sponsors. A Tiger’s got to stay paid.

Do you know how many people are happy that I’m injured? Do you know how many people are rooting for me not to come back strong?
I wake up everyday with those people inspiring me. They don’t realize the hate will make me great.

Jay, I thought you were smarter then that. You need to make sure you use every last minute of every one of those days off to get your hustles in line. Get your body in shape. You are a “business” man. Be a business. Get your mind right. Think about everything that you wished you had time to do. Then f-ckin’ do it.

ME: That’s whats up Tiger. I’m on my hustle. Good lookin’ out. I need that.
I will holla at you and wifee this summer. When do you plan to make your comeback?

Tiger: I never left.

-MJL

Tiger Woods
Lay Off
Millionaire
Rich
Hustle

2009 -BENCHED!

2009-01-19T13:05:00.006-05:00

Well, 2009 is off to a rocky start. I've been benched for 6 weeks! That's right, I was a sitting duck at work, and got benched! I must say, it is better then getting plucked. Companies in Michigan are just disappearing all together so I guess I'm still happy to have a job.

Even Lebron get’s benched right?

6 whole weeks, 3 will be paid, and 3 will be unpaid. This is indeed a unique situation. This is a direct effect of GM shutting their plants down for 6 weeks. That's what Congress doesn't see. GM shuts their plants down for 6 weeks and shzit affects the blue collar workers at the plant as well as all levels of the industry. Suppliers, surrounding businesses etc More then 1/2 of our company has either been terminated or temporarily laid off until the plants are back running.

This has been a very humbling experience to say the least.

These are unusual times, I should have paid attention to this list:

Top 14 Signs Your Company is Planning a Layoff
14. CEO frequently overheard mumbling, "Eeny-Meeny-Miney-Moe."
13. Dr. Kervorkian hired as "Transition Consultant."
12. Windows 95 shutdown screen reads, "It's Now Safe to Start Looking for Work."
11. Company softball team down-sized to chess team.
10. Sudden proliferation of teen-age geek interns.
9. Your boss keeps asking you when he can "show your cubicle."
8. Company president now driving a Hyundai.
7. Annual company holiday bash moved from Sheraton banquet room to abandoned Fotomat booth.
6. Old Milwaukee is beer of choice at company picnics.
5. Guard at front desk nervously fingers his revolver whenever you pass by.
4. Giant yard sale in front of corporate headquarters.
3. Babes in Marketing suddenly start flirting with dorky personnel manager.
2. Employee Discount Days discontinued at Ammo Outlet.
1. Company dental plan now consists of pliers and string.

One week into this 6 week ordeal and I have at least caught up on some sleep.

KEEPING MOTIVATED

The important part is to keep motivated during this time.

When I had something to do and somewhere to be every minute of everyday, it was easy to stay motivated. If I didn't get something done then someone was pissed or money was not made.

I still have a ton of stuff to do, but without timelines and deadlines the motivation is not the same. It actually takes more mental strength to keep things going.

“This is a blessing in Disguise”

If I had a dollar for everyone who told me that, I could end this blog because I would be rich.

Instead of poppin’ each person in the mouth who says that, I decided to make the statement true.

I still wake up everyday and work out before 6:00 AM. The last thing I want to do is have months of fitness go down the drain due to laziness and self pity. That alone helps me stay motivated.

Working out early also forces you to shower after your workout and eat, helping you somewhat keep your daily routine. Just for the hell of it, I shave to keep myself presentable.

I also keep a lot of good DVD's in rotation that help me stay focused. I have those in the background while I'm working in my office.

Now I have the time to crank work into my businesses and my blogs. I have time to spend with my friends and family, which I haven’t taken advantage of yet because I have been super cranky.

The good part about this layoff is it let's me know what I've done right and what I've done wrong.
1. Obviously my hard work at my job has paid off. 20% of my company has been terminated since August 2008 and they kept me and are paying me for 3 weeks to sit home.

2. Second it tells me that developing my own businesses is more important then ever. Diversity is the key.

3. Third, the sate of the local economy tells me that internet based businesses with low overhead is the key to the short term future. This way you are not dependant on the economy of one State. Michigan will be suffering for awhile. To have money being generated nationwide is a good thing.

As I make it through my remaining 5 weeks I will be finding great blogs to link to, interesting stuff, more money making opportunities and getting my silly day time TV on.

MAURY SAYS, "You are not the Father"

I WILL MAKE THIS A BLESSING IN DISGUISE…..and maybe relax a little.
-MJL

Lebron
Lay Off
Nuff Said Outfitters
Millionaire
Rich
Work Out

THE MACHINE......

2009-01-07T07:45:00.008-05:00

I'm a Machine

Sometimes I forget, and I have to remind myself.

I AM A MACHINE
I AM A MACHINE
I AM A #$@!%*# MACHINE

No Pain, No emotions, No Fear,
...........because nobody really gives a damn.
I

AM
A
MACHINE!!

I will respond in a compreshensive post regarding all of the weight losss inquiries, comments and emails, including steroid & supplement questions. No steroids were used but thanks for the compliment. (Keep the questions coming)

-MJL

2009 Resolutions - Real Talk

2009-01-02T16:18:00.015-05:00

Ok, for those who have been with this blog for years; you know this is the place to be for inspiration and a really good pep talk for the New Year. I have to say that 2008 was a big year for me. As much of an economic hemorrhoid as it was, I also was still able to accomplish some big things. I must achieve, otherwise you guys would just think I’m full of it. Talking the talk but not walking the walk.

Well Check out my 08 Swagger:

Before I rattle of my list; by no means am I happy or necessarily proud of myself. I’m my own worse critic and I promise to go “All In for 2009”. I had more in the tank last year and that's unacceptable. 2008 was a year where I understand better, (I think a full understanding never happens), the powers of the universe and how you can really do whatever you want.

2008 ACCOMPLISHMENTS
1. I was able to keep my job – SO far So good!

2. Started partnership of Nuff Said Outfitters; able to sell over 300 t-shirts in the last 6 months of the year.

3. Started Money Savings Mike’s gift shop, Sold over $20,000.00 worth of products.

4. www.Igarage.com went Belly up; but I saw it to completion. NO REGRETS

5. Weight loss and muscle gain (The 6-Pack I vowed to get 2 years ago on this blog). Almost there, I don’t know if that counts or not.

Nope, that's not the Nutty professor on the left, that's me. Right about the time of the infamous, "CURSE OF THE COFFEE CREAMERS" Those are embarassingly actual photos: January 2008 and October 2008.

I can't believe I let myself get like that. Busy is no excuse for that gut! So Gross.

6. Able to get Wash and Roll subcontract work for United Mobile; this will be our 2nd month washing accounts for them.

That list isn’t too shabby, but it doesn’t set the world on fire either. Sometimes I feel like, I talk a lot, but people won’t listen until the 1 million is in the bank. Well you should start listening because the millions are coming and you will kick yourself for all the time you will have loss. Looking back on my 2008 list, I know I could have done more, I know I could have went at it harder, and I will for 2009.

MAKING IT HAPPEN
Let’s talk about the fundamentals of “Making it Happen”. Why do some people make it happen and others don’t? How come you can have a seminar with 10,000 people in attendance and only 5 people use what they have learned successfully? How come Jim Rohn can talk about how much of an impact the book, “The Richest Man in Babylon” had on his life, and only 10 people from his seminar buy the book. That’s because those people understand how the world works. They understand how to shape and mold circumstances.

For instance, how many times have you been told to write down your goals? How many times have you been told that you need a written budget no matter how much money you make? These are small, seemingly hokey things that people are asked to do in these seminars that really don’t get done, or that don’t get looked at after the seminar is over.

Why wouldn’t you do them? You’re not rich yet and haven’t reached your goals, but someone who has, and is rich is telling you what and how to do it. Why wouldn’t you listen!

My budget – written down in my blackberry!

My Goals – Printed on a message board in my living room. I have to look at this board every time I go into my kitchen. If I want to eat, to survive, then I must look at my goals before I go into the kitchen. Talk about accountability!

The man, Tony Robbins says, “The bottom line is that people have within them a force that is so powerful, there is nothing that can keep them from doing, being, sharing, creating and giving whatever they envision in life”.

That’s deep and super true!

Tony’s three rules for life changing are:
1. Decide what you will no longer stand for and what your’re committed to. Clarity is power.
2. Take massive action. You have to be wiling to do the things you don’t want to do. You have to build a momentum that consistent action produces.

3. Notice what’s working and what’s not working and when it’s not working change your approach.

This is from an interview of Tony Robbins in “Success Magazine”. These are the types of publications that need to be read by the future millionaire. I continue to read and expand and get inspired by material. There is no other way, and I take action on what I read. Learning and knowledge is a huge part of my plight. I don’t attend seminars, but I have Jim Rohn’12 disk series on CD, which I listen to during my commute, I get success magazine which comes with a CD/DVD two sided disk. I have Robert Kiyoski on CD, I have Napolean Hill on CD, I have Stephen Covey on CD. I read publications (I buy the Hard Cover) for my future library. Last year I read about 1 book per month on self improvement/ empowerment or obtaining wealth. That’s 12 books, not including novels that I read for pleasure.

CHANGING THE SHOULD TO A MUST
To change your life things have to change from “should” to “MUST”.

Let’s take one of the most popular New Year’s Resolutions; Weight Loss! You have to treat it like a life or death situation. If the doctor told you that you were going to die if you didn’t lose 30 lbs, you would find the time to work out, and the knowledge to eat right. The chips and ho hos’ would be trashed. You must lose weight! Must Must Must. That’s how I loss my weight. When I got home at night, there was no choice. I must work out. When I got up in the morning; I got up an hour earlier because I HAD to work out. No questions. It was on my list and it got done.

You don’t realize the since of accomplishment and how powerful that sense is when applied to other aspects of your life. When you see the pounds melting away and the abs coming in; you realize, ‘Hey, I can do anything that I put my mind to!”.

“OK, big talker- what’s my goals for the New Year”, Is what you are thinking by now.

Let me break it down:
1. Not just to keep my job; but to get a promotion. That’s right. I said that. Get a promotion. The climate has changed and normally 9-5’s are not where we want to focus but these are extreme times, and my goals need to be extreme. I could have went harder at my job last year and almost had regrets. 2009 All IN.

2. 12% Body fat. Don’t care about my weight, just 12% body fat.

3. Getting Wash and Roll in the green! That’s a MUST!

4. Take a vacation – People don’t realize how huge that would be and how hard that is.

5. Close the gap on my 1st million by October 27th.

6. Sub 100 golf score - very important for business!

Big things are listed there, but as they say, “Go big or Go home”. On this blog we always go big!

I know these seem like trying times but I believe in what Tony Robbins says, “If you are psychologically strong enough, you can not only survive, but you can thrive when tough situations occur, as opposed to letting the environment control you and take over”; he says, “It’s really about mastering strength within yourself so that you can conquer the outer world around you".

That means, "don’t be a victim. ".

Hopefully you were able to take some motivating tidbits from this entry. 2009 has already started special for me so I have only high hopes that it will continue to be my best year yet.

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S

-MJL

Small Business
Resolutions
Nuff Said Outfitters
Millionaire
Rich
Tony Robbins

MERRY CHRISTMAS

2008-12-25T14:00:00.003-05:00

I just wanted to take a quick moment on Christmas and thank all of my blog readers.....all 2 of you! This thing has been in affect since 2006 with no plans to end soon.

These are some rough times, times like our generation has never experienced. If you are lucky enough to still have a job,

"Work the Hell Out of It";

.....at least until this blows over.

Your family is depending on it!

That's my little Christmas advice.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU AND YOURS......ENJOY THE DAY....BECAUSE TOMORROW THE PAPER CHASE CONTINUES!!!

I hate to do this to you but here is a little inspirational video to keep you focused!

Being a Sitting Duck is Hard Work

2008-12-20T17:08:00.008-05:00

Yep, that's me, A sitting duck. This was an extremely long week, as I watched some of my colleagues getting picked off one by one. It was long and scary. I was like a sitting duck, just waiting to be plucked. Pooping my pants, every time the HR lady emerged with a red folder in her hand. My back up plans were in motion but not in place. I was shook!! It was crazy watching peoples reactions as they got the news. Some people laughed, some people just sat there and stared, thinking about what they were going to tell their wives.

Some of the layoff's were deserving and long overdue and one or two were a surprise. Honestly you can still cut more due to non performance and the company wouldn’t blink an eye.

Middle management means you have no idea where you stand in the company. It's one of the worse, most difficult positions to be in; hence my drive to get out

If they would have pulled my card this week, I would have definitely been in some trouble. There is no "Golden Parachute" at my job, you get two weeks and then it's a wrap! No medical insurance and a direct ticket to the unemployment line; which in Detroit looks like an American Idol Audition.

With General Motors closing their plants for the first 6 weeks of 2009, there undoubtbly will be more cuts coming.

HERE’S THE GAME PLAN:

All I can do is turn it up even more at work. Work harder & smarter, more aggressive and more hours. Believe it or not, I'm not ready to leave Michigan. I will if I have to, but I'm not ready to leave…….just yet (more to come on that on a later post).

So I will be a sitting duck again in a few months and then probably again at the end of the 2nd quarter. During this time my goal will be to advance far enough in my company to get me out of middle management. I'm close but not close enough. Once out of middle management I will have the versatility to move anywhere in upper management in the country supporting a wide variety of industries. A move right now would put me from the top of middle management to the bottom or middle of the middle management ladder at another company. A step backwards. If (Or should I say "When") I make it to upper management, that ladder is short. It's more like a step stool. A Director is a Director, there aren't really any midlevel directors. I need to take this goal and tape it to the inside of the visor of my car. I need to flip it down and read this so I’m focused on the task at hand when I walk into that building every day.

For those people who are the sole providers for their families with kids,
GO TO WORK LIKE YOU ARE THE SOLE PROVIDERS
Don’t go there jerking around, emailing jokes, drinking coffee and bullshzitting.

Your wife and kids think you are working hard. This is like cheating on them. When you get laid off you are surprised and you are telling your wife how unfair it is. Boo-hoo.

DO WORK – Times have changed – DO WORK

2. I need to really start saving my money. I"m entering a phase where stability is going to be key. Marriage, kids, etc. If I can't escape being a sitting duck, then I need to be able to stare the barrel of the gun down knowing that me and my family will be "better" then alright.

3. Still concentrate on my entrepreneurial endeavors, but using generated money as capital investment money instead of dumping my pay check into the 100 ideas per week I work on. This will be key. I think I have enough momentum in my small hustles to keep the fire burning to a flame in almost all of them.

NEWS FLASH! WASH AND ROLL has been requested to quote a job bigger then life! If our quote is selected, my biggest money loser will be the biggest money earner. Please keep your fingers crossed, say a prayer, light a candle, what ever you can do for your boy. I need all the help I can get with this one.

I’d like to end with this: I want to keep this post serious because this was a serious week. Job loss is like the black plaque to this blog. If you are here and still reading, you are A.B.B. (Against Being Broke).

If you have time...here is a very interesting email sent out by our new company Prez, who I must say handles and continues to handle his business in this current automotive crisis....and it is a crisis. Here is the email sent by him that is really worth the read. As a responsible blogger with a voice (over 20,000 hits on this bee-ach), it's my duty to pass this on.

Holla at your boy...and I still got my job haters!!!!!
-MJL

It is likely that you, like me, are tired of hearing our government call for an end to the industry that puts food on our family’s tables. I am also sure that most of your friends or families outside the Detroit Metro area do not get a well rounded perspective of the true story of the Big 3 or the auto industry in general. If you would like to help others obtain a slightly different, somewhat biased, view of the situation than is currently portrayed by the media and the US government, I thought this was an interesting article that you could forward out to your network. I hope you find it good reading.

TS
President
CUBES R US Inc.

Incredible editorial from one of our Dealers
in the Pittsburgh Region....Attached is a well written
"Letter to the Editor" from Elkins Fordland.

Editor: As I watch the coverage of the fate of
the U.S. auto industry, one alarming and frustrating fact
hits me right between the eyes. The fate of our nation's
economic survival is in the hands of some congressmen who
are completely out of touch and act without knowledge of an
industry that affects almost every person in our nation. The
same lack of knowledge is shared with many journalists whom
are irresponsible when influencing the opinion of millions
of viewers. Sen. Richard Shelby of Alabama has doomed the
industry, calling it a dinosaur. No Mr. Shelby, you are the
dinosaur, with ideas stuck in the '70 s, '80s and
'90s. You and the uninformed journalist and senators
that hold onto myths that are not relevant in today's
world. When you say that the Big Three build vehicles
nobody wants to buy, you must have overlooked that GM
outsold Toyota by about 1.2 million vehicles in the U.S. and
Ford outsold Honda by 850,000 and Nissan by 1.2 million in
the U.S. GM was the world's No. 1 automaker beating
Toyota by 3,000 units. When you claim inferior quality comes
from the Big Three, did you realize that Chevy makes the
Malibu and Ford makes the Fusion that were both rated over
the Camry and Accord by J.D. Power independent survey on
initial quality? Did you bother to read the Consumer Report
that rated Ford on par with good Japanese automakers? Did
you realize Big Three's gas guzzlers include the 33 mpg
Malibu that beats the Accord. And for '09 Ford
introduces the Hybrid Fusion whose 39 mpg is the best
midsize, beating the Camry Hybrid. Ford's Focus beats
the Corolla and Chevy's Cobalt beats the Civic.

When you ask how many times are we going to
bail them out you must be referring to 1980. The only Big
Three bailout was Chrysler, who paid back $1 billion, plus
interest. GM and Ford have never received government aid.
When you criticize the Big Three for building so many
pickups, surely you've noticed the attempts Toyota and
Nissan have made spending billions to try to get a piece of
that pie. Perhaps it bothers you that for 31 straight years
Ford's F-Series has been the best selling vehicle. Ford
and GM have dominated this market and when you see the new
'09 F-150 you'll agree this won't change soon.
Did you realize that both GM and Ford offer more hybrid
models th an Nissan or Honda. Between 2005 and 2007, Ford
alone has invested more than $22 billion in resea rch and
development of technologies such as Eco Boost, flex fuel,
clean diesel, hybrids, plug in hybrids and hydrogen cars.

It's 2008 and the quality of the vehicles coming out of
Detroit are once again the best in the world. Perhaps Sen.
Shelby isn't really that blind. Maybe he realizes the
quality shift to American. Maybe it's the fact that his
state of Alabama has given so much to land factories from
Honda, Hyundai and Mercedes Benz that he is more concerned
about their continued growth than he is about the people of
our country. Sen. Shelby's disdain for "government
subsidies" is very hypocritical.

In the early '90s he was the driving force
behind a $253 million incentive package to Mercedes. Plus,
Alabama agreed to purchase 2,500 vehicles from Mercedes.
While the bridge loan the Big Three is requesting will be
paid back, Alabama 's $180,000 plus per job was pure
incentive. Sen. Shelby, not only are you out of touch, you
are a self-serving hypocrite, who is prepared to ruin our
nation because of lack of knowledge and lack of due
diligence in making your opinions and decisions. After
9/11, the Detroit Three and Harley Davidson gave $40
million-plus emergency vehicles to the recovery efforts.
What was given to the 9/11 relief effort by the Asian and
European Auto Manufactures? $0 Nada. Zip!

We live in a world of free trade, world
economy and we have not been able to produce products as
cost efficiently. While the governments of other auto
producing nations subsidize their automakers, our government
may be ready to force its demise. While our automakers have
paid union wages, benefits and legacy debt, our Asian
competitors employ cheap labor. We are at an extreme
disadvantage in production cost. Although many UAW
concessions begin in 2010, many lawmakers think it's not
enough. Some point the blame to corporate management. I
would like to speak of Ford Motor Co. The company has
streamlined by reducing our workforce by 51,000 since 2005,
closing 17 plants and cutting expenses. Product and future
produ ct is excellent and the company is focused on one Ford.
This is a company poised for success. Ford product quality
and corporate management have improved light years since the
nightmare of Jacques Nasser. Thank you Alan Mulally and the
best auto company management team in the business.

The financial collapse caused by the secondary
mortgage fiasco and the greed of Wall Street has led to a
$700 billion bailout of the industry that created the
problem. AIG spent nearly $1 million on three company
excursions to lavish resorts and hunting destinations.
Paulson is saying no to $250 billion foreclosure relief and
the whole thing is a mess. So when the Big Three ask for 4
percent of that of the $700 billion, $25 billion to save the
country's largest industry, there is obviously
oppositions. But does it make sense to reward the culprits
of the problem with $700 billion unconditiona lly, and
ignore the victims? As a Ford dealer, I feel our portion of
the $25 billion will never be touched and is not necessary.
Ford currently has $29 billion of liquidity. However, the
effect of a bankruptcy by GM will hurt the suppliers we all
do business with. A Chapter 11 bankruptcy by any
manufacture would cost retirees their health care and
retirements. Chances are GM would recover from Chapter 11
with a better business plan with much less expense. So who
foots the bill if GM or all three go Chapter 11? All that
extra health care, unemployment, loss of tax base and some
forgiven debt goes back to the taxpayer, us. With no chance
of repayment, this would be much worse than a loan with the
intent of repayment. So while it is debatable whether a
loan or Chapter 11 is better for the Big Three, a $25
billion loan is definitely better for the taxpayers and the
economy of our country.

So I'll end where I began on the quality
of the products of Detroit . Before you, Mr. or Ms.
Journalist continue to misinform the American public and
turn them against one of the great industries that helped
build this nation, I must ask you one question. Before you,
Mr. or Madam Congressman vote to end health care and
retirement benefits for 1 million retirees, eliminate 2.5
million of our nation's jobs, lose the technology that
will lead us in the future and create an economic disaster
including hundreds of billions of tax dollars lost, I ask
this question not in the rhetorical sense. I ask it in the
sincere, literal way. Can you tell me, have you driven a
Ford lately?

Jim Jackson Elkins
Nothing needs to be said...

Ford, Chrysler and GM's contributions
after 9/11. An interesting commentary:

CNN Headline News did a short news listing
regarding Ford and GM's contributions to the relief and
recovery efforts in New York and Washington.

The findings are as follows.....
1. Ford- $10 million to American Red Cross
matching employee contributions of the same number plus 10
Excursions to NY Fire Dept.
The company also offered ER response ! team services and

office space to displaced government employees.

2. GM- $10 million to American Red Cross
matching employee contributions of the same number and a
fleet of vans, suv's, and trucks.

3. Daimler Chrysler- $10 million to support of
the children and victims of the Sept. 11 attack.

4. Harley Davidson motorcycles- $1 million and
30 new motorcycles to the New York Police Dept.

5. Volkswagen-Employee s and management
created a Sept 11 Foundation, funded initial with $2
million, for the assistance of the children and victims of
the WTC.

6. Hyundai- $300,000 to the American Red
Cross.

7. Audi-Nothing.

8. BMW-Nothing.

9. Daewoo- Nothing.

10. Fiat-Nothing.

11. Honda- Nothing despite boasting of second
best sales month ever in August 2001.

12. Isuzu- Nothing.

13. Mitsubishi-Nothing.

14. Nissan-Nothing.

15. Porsche-Nothing. Press release with
condolences via the Porsche website.

16. Subaru- Nothing.

17. Suzuki- Nothing.

18. Toyota-Nothing despite claims of high
sales in July and August 2001. Condolences posted on the
website.

Whenever the time may be for you to purchase
or lease a new vehicle, keep this information in mind. You
might want to give more consideration to a car
manufactured by an American-owned and / or American based
company.

Apart from Hyundai and Volkswagen, the foreign
car companies contributed nothing at all to the citizens of
the United States ...

It's OK for these companies to take money
out of this country, but it is apparently not acceptable to
return some in a time of crisis. I believe we should not
forget things like this. Say thank you in a way that gets
their attention..

Boiling Frog Syndrome

2008-12-09T19:29:00.006-05:00

There is a strange phenomenon that biologists refer to as "the boiled frog syndrome". Put a frog in a pot of water and increase the temperature of the water gradually from 20oC to 30oC to 40oC…to 90oC and the frog just sits there. But suddenly, at 100oC, something happens: the water boils and the frog dies.

The frog has a fatal flaw. Having no evolutionary experience with boiling water, he is unable to perceive it as dangerous. Throughout their biological evolution, frogs have lived in a medium that does not vary greatly in temperature, so they haven’t needed to develop sophisticated thermal detectors in their skin. The frog in the pot is unaware of the threat and simply sits complacently until he boils.

As I sit here at Cubes –R – Us I look around and see how the Boiling Frog Syndrome actually works.

This is an actual picture of my job. Geeesshhhh! Depressing

On a Micro level, my job is a big ass bubbling cauldron. I was thinking, “ how can management plan on cutting 15% of our personnel without telling those who are safe that they are safe?” I am a Program Manager. By definition I get paid to think 4 steps ahead, and plan for the worse – but make the best happen, on time under budget. The better Program Manager you are, the better Plan A, B, and C you will have.

Well, as a good P.M. , I know that we will be reducing heads, and if no one has pulled me aside and assured me safety, I need to have a Plan A, B, & C; which would include getting a new job in almost all three scenarios. The only variant would be where, and what kind of job.

The Frog Syndrome is so bad and so rampant that our management just assumes that we will sit here and boil! As absurd of an assumption as that might sound, they are right. You would think you would see people working harder, smarter, longer hours, spending less money and interviewing for jobs "just in case". None of thee above is happening. Actually some people are spending more, and even taking vacations.
WTF.

People are yappin’ it up all day and on youtube.
I say it again, WTF!

The stress level here in Detroit has been brewing for so long so gradually that people don’t even notice. Then one day they are out of a job, with bills up the Ying Yang and no game plan. That would be just about when the little froggies heart explodes.

Another common example of the boiling frog syndrome is weight gain. I'm sure we can all relate to this one. As you get older, your metabolism slows down, your activity slowly decreases as you sit at a desk all day and before you know it, you've gained 5 lbs. No big deal. Then the holidays hit and you gain another 5. No big deal. You will start the new year hitting the gym. After three hardcore weeks working out and a 3lb weight loss, life catches up again and you fall back into your weight gain rut. With each 5 lb gain you learn to accept it, because it's only 5 lbs.
If you gained 20 lbs overnight (similar to getting placed in a pot of boiling water) you would be disgusted with yourself. Since it was gradual you have accepted the heated condition.

As future millionaires we need to stay ahead of the pack. We need to be in the minority. Stay tuned to our surroundings. When you feel the heat, don't necessarily jump out the pot, but have your exit plan jumpin'

Holla at your Frog
-MJL

REPOST: The Thinker

2008-12-01T19:03:00.002-05:00

HAPPY BE-LATED THANKSGIVING.

I have been ass over elbows in crap this last week. I thought I was gonna come out of Thanksgiving with 8 or 9 posts just chillin. Instead I bit off more then I can chew and have nothing!! I set the "to do" list at Extra Challenging and fell flat....but that's what I do. Reach for the stars, right?

Luckily I have posts that date back to 2006 and some of them are funny.

Here is a repost from 2006 - As you can see my thoughts are about the same now as they were then. I call this one...The Thinker!

THE THINKER

As usual, I am busy as hell, and loving every minute of it. It's 1:49 AM and my mind still hasn't stopped. What goes on in there? You don't want to know, or do you? I had a meeting this morning at 10:00 and decided to write down my thoughts, exactly as I thought them in that meeting. No editing, pure raw thoughts.

At 10:03 AM they were as follows:

F'ck this damn meeting
F'ck Warranty
How come I'm not rich,
Did I get enough done this weekend?
Damn, everyone in this room has a fat gut.
If I let myself go like that, sneak up behind me and hit me with a 2x4
My V.P. Sucks
My job Sucks
How come our lady at the front desk isn't Hot.
Am I that shallow......Yes
Everything cost f'kin money
Damn my Mom is going to need help soon
If I had a Gallardo - I would drive it butt naked with a clown nose on and an afro wig.
How are all these fat bastards still married and I cant' make my marriage last 6 months
F' my ex wife
I should hit some golf balls today
I got to work harder
I need more money
Is my posture as shzitty as his
I need to get more customers for my small business
Damn, let me out of this damn room
Damn Pirates of the Carribean II made 136 million in it's first week
How much would Pirates in the Hood make, starring Dave Chapelle?
Snakes on a Plane - What the F'ck
I could be getting so much done if I wasn't sitting here
If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt naked with tube socks on.
I wish I could do crunches in this chair
I need a hot girl before I'm rich, before the Gallardo
HOW COME I'M NOT RICH
I wish I had an office
At half speed I'm twice as good as everyone in this room
Who in the hell is breathing that heavy
An office with a bathroom is the shzit
Run from MTV's Run's house, does he really have that much money?
I did 110 mph on I-75 on the way to work this morning, I have to put away that Mobb Deep CD
I need a hot car, I need a hot girl, Shallow Shallow..
Girls make me loose focus, I need to stay focused
Snifff, Sniff, Who's breath smells like butt and B.O. ?
That's "B" B.O., ha ha ha
Jerry Seinfeld has mad money
If I had a Gallardo I would pull up to the club in tighty whites and tap shoes, and do the running man.
I need to make more money
I'm so frustrated. I need to do some push ups.
Tiger was the shzit this weekend
He is focused, and professiona, and rich.
My golf game sucks, sucks
Why am I not Rich
Damn I only slept 3 hours last night
Nip Tuck is the shzit
I can't believe I ate a donut on Friday
The Jefferson's are on TV Land
I hate the new Lionel the old Lionel is hood
Who would win, The old Lionel vs Lamont Sanford?
Aww shzit I"m suppoed to be writing a recco letter for my boy!
I can't forget to get cat food,
Damn, I have to go to China again.
If I had a Gallardo, I would drive it butt-naked with glittery gold cowboy boots and a neck tie
10:05 Damn fifty five minutes left.

-MJL

For your Reference: A Gallardo

No it's not mine, if it was I would be driving it butt naked.........

Shout out to Blog Reader Deuce

2008-11-22T17:02:00.006-05:00

This is the best ever....Previously I wrote about the dealership that I was calling and trying to convince them to let us do their detailing for their used cars.

Here’s a quick recap: I called the head of the Used Car department. His name is "Ricco". I knew I was in for a rough time with a name like Ricco. He gets on the phone, and shuts me down like a Nun to a thong salesman. I try my best but to no avail. He just doesn't want to use us, we are "too small of an outfit" he says; not to mention T-mobile dropping the call like it's HOT! Twice. After each call back, Ricco sounds like he wants to choke me out, to get me off the phone.

A week goes by and I can't get any other calls lined up. I'm feeling positive, but I feel like I need to do something really aggressive. I watch Boiler Room for the 245th time and double dose on “A" type personalities by watching Entourage. I'm ready to take on the world now. I have to do something that normal people don't do, otherwise I will be normal. Get it? Easy. Normal acts get you normal, Extraordinary acts gets you Extraordinary people.

So I call Ricco back. After they finally connect me, and I explain who I am, Ricco says, "Oh you; call me back in 15". Then he abruptly hangs up the phone. WTF!! 15 minutes later, I call back. He wasn't going to get rid of me that easy! I have no idea what I'm going to say different, but just that I want to here him tell me NO! I'm either going to piss him off for sure, or close this deal. After 10 minutes of back and forth, Ricco says, "Where are you guys going to be located?".
I got him! So I started closing him. Then he says, "Do you have insurance?".
Then he says, "OK" sounding like Scarface, "Come see me tomorrow after 2:30".

Ahhhhhh Yeeeeaahhh Boyyyeeee!!

Here's where it gets good.

So the next day, after a super crappy morning at work, I'm trying to focus for the sales meeting with Ricco. My Blackberry goes off, and it's an email. It's from blog reader/writer Deuce Carter, fellow hustler and author of blog: Hustle Basics. He says, "Like I told you before homie, "keep going".

That's What's UP. Now I'm pumped. Somebody truly understands my plight. I put in some Jay-Z "Show me what you Got". Then top that off with the old Special Ed CD, "I've got it Made".

Just as I pull up to the dealer ship, my blackberrry goes off again. It's Deuce Carter - I swear this really happened. His next comment says, "You’re making power moves".

It's like he was in my head!!! Yes, son. I’m making power moves. That’s just what I was thinking at the time I was thinking it!!

I walk into Ricco's office and throw him a good handshake. I got my only authentic Kenneth Cole watch on, that I’ve only wore twice. The handshake is firm and my hands aren’t clammy for once.

Now here is when being physically fit really helps the confidence. Ricco was a little shorter then me, and kind of out of shape. I am now a newly trimmed 182 - down from 207 a year ago, and feeling confident.

After about an hour of real talk, I close the deal. 16 cars per month. That's What's UP!!! That cuts my loss almost in half. One Sales Call, one meeting and my losses are cut in half.

GOOD LOOKIN' OUT DEUCE.
When the cash flow is right we need to hook up and make some money together.
We are definitely on the same wave length.

The celebration is only for a minute because more moves need to be made, and more hustles need to happen. But for a few hours I'm feeling good.

Cheers to the blog, my readers and my man Deuce!!

Holla
-MJL

Don't Break before your Break!

2008-11-15T17:56:00.017-05:00

Ok, this is by no means a "Whoa is me Post". It's just a post to help those who are taking this journey to wealth with me, understand why, when we get to our destination, and have millions, we won't feel guilty. We will have earned and deserved every last penny. The big car, the big house, big yard, & home theater will all be well deserved.

THE BEGINNING
So the saga begins.....I get a call from my operation’s manager about 10:00 AM on Wednesday. I'm at “Cubes ‘R Us” (how I affectionately refer to my day job) and he is out in the field working the small business. He knows that I am "in and out" of meetings all day, so if he calls, like E.F. Hutton – I listen. I know it's either really good news or really bad.

I step out the meeting and take the call.

ROD: "Yo J, the trucks are gone".
Me: "What the F@#$ you mean the trucks are gone".
ROD: "I rolled up to pick up the candy (for the vending machines - which he also manages) and the trucks were gone. Everything that was parked in the lot is gone!”

I couldn’t' believe it. Just 6 days ago, we broke the front axle on the big truck to the tune of $2100, and now all of our vehicles had been impounded.

WHY WERE THEY TOWED AWAY?
We’ve been parking our trucks in the same location for 2.5 years without issue. While we are generally neat, the truckers who shared the lot were not. They were throwing McDonald's and Arby's garbage in the lot after every truck run. There was a blown out 18 wheeler tire, a gas tank and even a charcoal grill. I have to admit, it was pretty bad. It was starting to look like a Junkyard. I could hear the Sanford & Son theme playing every time I looked at the lot.

The owner finally got fed up and towed everyone’s vehicles. Cars, trucks, vans, trailers, it didn’t matter.

I was pretty calm when the axle broke, but I wasn't prepared for any additional emergencies. Let alone one less then a week later. First we had to find the vehicles, then we had to get them out of impound.

JERK AND JERK-OFFS TOWING

After we finally locate the vehicles, I have to actually leave work and go and pick them up myself. In the middle of the day, I have to leave my job, which is on thin ice as is, and go pick up the trucks. Whooo-hooo am I pissed.

When I get to the first place I find out that “Jerks & Jerk-offs” towing doesn't take credit cards.

WTF! How can you not take credit cards. Cooter was kind enough to tell me where an ATM machine was.

NO shzit Sherlock, there is an ATM on every f#$kin’ corner Einstein. But you can only get $400 out. So I had to go to the bank.

Now time is running out. If I don’t' get to the vehicles by 4:00 PM then I incur another nights of storage fees.

After I get to the bank and explain to them 10 times that I'm the owner of the account and that's my F_ckin money, and I need my money now!! I hurry back to Jerk & Jerks. Cooter is back there making out with a jelly donut, half of which has found a home on his shirt next to the mustard I'm assuming from lunch. He doesn’t have a care in the world.

He looks up and says, “Can I help you”.

I almost had an out of body experience. I was just here 30 minutes ago MORON!!!

Finally Cooter calls Bubba and we get our truck released. 2:45, plenty of time to pick up my vans right? Wrong. We get the truck and it doesn't go into Park. The shifting gear feels like spaghetti. None of the gears are taking. OMG! – I’m going to freak!!

I'm so pissed. I’m Jack Nicholas in A few Good Men Pissed, I’m like Gary Busey insane. I’m Kanye not getting an award pissed.

We get the gear in neutral, start the truck and drive it right to the transmission shop. I'm writing checks like a drunken sailor at this point. We fill out the paper work and the transmission guy says he needs the truck overnight. That's the first good thing all day because at this point we have no idea where we're going to park it anyway.

Off to get the Vans. When we get to the other impound yard. Ms. Doubtfire behind the counter is super cheerful. I felt like slappin the smile off her fat face.
My van just got towed, how about dialing the “Cheer” down a notch or two sweetie.

We pay our fine and fees and go in the yard to get the vans. Guess What....the battery is dead in the old van. It can’t be jumped. It’s dead!

Cut another check and get a battery. But we better hurry because it's 3:50.

After I get all the vehicles out of the impound drop of my guy, and get home. I'm toast. I had $3000 set aside for business emergencies all winter and I was at $3150 and it was November 14th.

FEELING GOOD AGAIN!!

That was OK because I had a sales meeting before work the next day with a potential customer that could get us on track for profits. He agreed to meet me at 6:15 AM so I can still get to work by 7:30 AM for my conference call.

Every cloud has a silver lining. I was able to get myself out of my mood, and I'm feeling good again. You can’t keep a good man down.

I wake up early (3:00 AM) preparing and reviewing the information for my sales pitch. I read it over 10 times (because you have about a 10 second window to make your first impression), it has to go flawless. I'm going to sell this guy like Giovanni Ribisi in Boiler Room. I look in the mirror before I leave, tighten the tie – and I am Boiler Room. I’m Ari Gold about to close this deal!

I rush outside to the Bat Mobile precisely at 5:45 AM.. I hit the car alarm….guess what……….

All I could do at that point was laugh, turn on the TV, pop in Entourage Season 2 and zone out for an hour before I regrouped got my tire fixed and headed to Cubes R Us. Sales meeting postponed, tire fixed, I'm recharged ready to kick ass.

So as I write these details and remember the events from that day; it fuels me. I'm fired up all over again. One more emergency and my business is wiped out' but I feel more confident then ever.

I can't be stopped. Am I crazy, F&$%K yeah! But the potential is there.

No regrets. All I need is one small break, and Wash and Roll will survive.....I just have to hang in long enough for the break.

Don’t break, before the break; and I have no plans to do so.

-MJL

Small Business
towing
Nuff Said Outfitters
Millionaire
Rich

One leg of the Empire.....Still losing $$$

2008-11-12T01:02:00.003-05:00

Dang, Dang, Dang! (I'm trying to watch my language). Jim Rohn says, I can alienate potential readers by using foul language and I don't want to do that.

However, I'm pissed! My mobile Wash Company (www.washandroll.com) is still losing money at a steady clip. Thank God, gas is cheap. I can't tell you how happy I was to see $1.99 on the sign of my local gas station. I was so happy - well here's a clip of how happy I was:

Ok, seriously....the gas prices being cut in half is equivalent to me getting a new account. Just enough to keep me alive.

So what has the Self Proclaimed Hard Worker, Future Millionaire, Mogul in training done about the situation?

Not nearly enough. If I had, I would be writing a happier post.

Listed below are the 5 actions I have taken so far:

1st – WORKERS COMP INSURANCE
I got my workers compensation insurance. This was a big deal because we could not perform any subcontracting truck washing work without it. That was a huge effort because it involved an audit, and getting tax returns from the IRS. It’s hard as heck, to call the IRS while you are at work. Especially when you are at work in a cube 

2nd – SALES LITERATURE
I produced a top notch company description booklet. It’s a little more then a brochure with policies, insurance documents, customer referrals and pictures of work we’ve done.

3rd – MEET WITH UNITED MOBILE (The company we wish to sub-contract for).
I blasted out of work 2 Thursdays ago and met with one of the company heads. He was impressed with the information booklet I prepared. YES! – I was pumped! Our personalities gelled and I left feeling good. I didn't leave with work, or an account, but I left with a good feeling. I will take what I can get.

4th – FIND AN INDOOR FACILITY TO DO AUTO DETAILING
After months and months of building a relationship with the attendant (who’s uncle owns the gas station), I get gas from every day. I made a deal with him, to use his garage bay to let us detail cars. I worked out a percentage deal, from each car we detail versus a monthly rental fee. This was key, because right now, "I ain't got no cars".

5th – PURSUE DEALERSHIP ACCOUNTS FOR DETAILING
Here is my weakness. Your boy doesn't feel confident selling. Everyone I meet thinks I'm a great salesman, or would make a great salesman but I'm not. The good part is, I have no choice. There is nothing like desperation for motivation. So Friday, I put it down. I had a sales call with the guy in charge of a huge dealership. I was Nervous Nellie! There were hundreds of dollars per week vested in this call. This call was three weeks in the making; and it all came down to one 4 minute call.

After the first 10 seconds, it was like one used car guy talking to another. We were both trying to sell ourselves. I fell into my swag, and was trying my hardest to close the deal without sounding desperate.

At the end of the call he concluded that we were not big enough to handle him.
DAMN! It did not help that I dropped the call twice on my handy dandy T-mobile. Thanks to my job for switching service for cost savings. Imagine one of the biggest most intense phone calls of the month and you realize that the last 2 minutes of conversation that no one was on the other end of the phone. Not to mention your potential customer feels like an idiot. After the second drop, I knew it was a no deal, but I kept trying.

Now that I'm over the hump, I’m ready to try again. I mean really, if I’m trying to be a millionaire, and eventually a billionaire, a thousand dollar call should be routine. I have given presentations before in front of 100 of people in 4 differnt countries. It's time to pull up my skirt, grab my balls, and make it happen.

I will promise my readers that I will make at least one sales presentation per week. I know that seems light, but it took me three weeks to set up Friday's call! It's hard to get to the guy who makes the decisions anyone else you talk to is a waste of time. That's true for most sales call.

WHEN WILL I STOP?

When will I cut my loses? Hmmmm.....Not sure if I ever will. I believe in this business and I have put a lot of heart, soul and money. It might be stupid to keep losing money, but if that’s the case I was a Big Dummy years ago.

I don't really know the meaning of quit. No, I take that back. I do when it doesn't make sense. For instance: I-Garage. Didn't make sense. The concept was great but it didn't make sense to continue and it was clear. I had no problem scrapping the idea and writing off the financial loss. Wash and Roll still makes sense! The upside potential is huge, and until I think otherwise, or can't afford it - I will be a fool.

-Nothing can resist a man who will place even his existence on his purpose.
Translation (Rich or Nothing or “Insert Goal here” or Nothing)

Workaholic
Routine
Nuff Said Outfitters
Millionaire
Rich

-MJL

CONFESSIONS OF A POOR, INSANE, FUTURE MILLIONAIRE

Striving in Arnold's World is the Key to Success

The Re-reading of Rich Dad Poor Dad.

You Must Be Crazy to Dream Big

Surviving Time in Corporate America for the Entrepreneur

Celebrity Apprentice - A Lesson In Boardroom War by Richard Hatch

Success as Interpreted by The Greats

Doing what you love, I get it now!

Let Tiger's Third Swing Change Be Inspiration for Your Self Improvement

BALANCING A TYPE A PERSONALITY IN THE WORK PLACE

By: Eric Smitts

YOU’RE NOT GREAT, UNTIL YOU ARE GREAT - Introducing NSG Tiger Woods

I Can't Fail - Not: I will try to Succeed - Big Difference

Feed the Need to Suceed

Entrepreneurs, Don’t suffer from B.H.S. - Battered Housewife Syndrome

Hard Work - Part Deux

Working Hard? No one cares until you are a Success!

Fuel for Success: Disgust??

GET THAT PAPER

THE BIRTH OF PROJECT X

How to Get Paid What You Are Worth.

Repost from 2006! Man, I knew what I was talkin' About!!

Don't be a scape G.O.A.T

My Unemployment Anniversary and becoming Fearless!

Being a super hero 101 - Part 2 of a Series.....

THE TRUE SECRET TO SUCCESS - REVEALED!!!

WOW, I AM A SUPER HERO! Part 1 of a series...

I'm A Guest Blogger!

Wealth and the Recession

It takes Money to Make Money

Resolution Talk 2010!!

FEAR - HAPPINESS AND P.W.L.T.R.

So..how's that millionaire thing coming along?

Age is Just a number.....No cake this birthday, just humble pie.

Don't take life too serious...but take it serious..Sometimes

Why it's so easy to be Regular?

You owe it to yourself, Work harder!

My Epic Battle with Unemployment: Hustling to find a Hustle!

The Best Continue to Rise to the Top

No Golden Parachute for Tricky Ricky

Love him or hate him...he's Trump

Fortune Magazine - In Bad Taste

Recession Break: How much will it cost to run my Mansion

RECOMMENDED BY CELEB STAFF:

-Two nannies ($750 per week) -Weekend Nanny ($400 per week) -Housekeeper / Cook ($750 per week)

RECOMMENDED BY “ME”

-In laws ($Guilt-trip / week)

-Old Jamican lady from the hood (“four hun’ed” – Translation $400.00 paid under the table)

-Revised cost: $30k

MEDIUM ESTATES (<$650,000 / year)

5,000 to 10,000 sq ft.

(10,000 to 30,00 Square Feet)

Week 1 Earning Totals

FAITH - Essential for the Millionaire Mind

On-line Money Totals

INSPIRATION - REPOST FROM 2008

GOT TO PAY THE BILLS!

I'm Back Again.....Sort of.

Spring Break or Break until Spring

WORK FROM HOME - THE REAL DEAL

The Law of Diminishing Intent

Lucky? or do we make our own Luck?

Corporate or not Corporate?

TIGER WOODS AND MY MOJO

2009 -BENCHED!

THE MACHINE......

2009 Resolutions - Real Talk

MERRY CHRISTMAS

Being a Sitting Duck is Hard Work

Boiling Frog Syndrome

REPOST: The Thinker

Shout out to Blog Reader Deuce

Don't Break before your Break!

One leg of the Empire.....Still losing $$$

-Two nannies ($750 per week)

-Weekend Nanny ($400 per week)

-Housekeeper / Cook ($750 per week)