Author Archives: Craig Bailey

Nov 09 2014
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Financial Success, Successful Kids

Swim With The Sharks – Introduction

College students and young adults…As you transition into your professional lives you will begin to earn a noticeably higher level of income (as intended). Congratulations! That is what you invested all that time, energy and money in, to-date. And, remember, don’t stop!!!

Realize though, you will now become noticed — by the sharks. Consider yourself fresh new blood that has entered the tank and the sharks want some (of your money)!

To be clear, there are MANY products and services available to make life safe, comfortable and rewarding. And, more importantly, there are MANY which are absolutely unnecessary (a complete waste of our time and money). If we aren’t careful (and I certainly wasn’t) the sharks will take their portion.

The purpose of this series is to share a number of shark attacks I’ve been involved in, in my own life, which left me some scars of experience to share.

Realize, even sharks need to make a living.

The challenge is spotting them, as they “usually” don’t look like sharks. They often look and smell nice (all suited up). They can be very courteous, professional and polite. Hardly the look of a blood thirsty fish that we would fear for our life.

Tougher still, is that shark attacks are 100% legal. Legal, but totally unnecessary! They are simply a way for sharks to take our money so they can earn their living.

Now that I’ve whet your appetite, you might be asking: “What in the world could he be about to cover on the topic of legal shark attacks“. Well, this would include:

  • Certain forms of life insurance (Yes, we need life insurance. But, which kind?)
  • Certain (for fee) programs
  • Memberships (that we seldom use)
  • Credit Cards (the hidden teeth)
  • Paying for anything we can get for free
  • And, other things that I may think about along the way

In addition to the above being forms of “money suckers” they also create long term entanglements in our life that are just not worth our time. So, to keep life simple and low cost as possible, these are things that can be avoided (I certainly wish I had). But, then again, I wouldn’t have anything to write about on this topic 🙂

Makes me think of a quote, which goes something like:

The Best Kind Of Experience Is – Someone Else’s Experience

As such, you are encouraged to “consider” the experiences being shared here so that you can avoid these shark attacks in your own life.

All the best!

Nov 07 2014
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Personal Success, Successful Kids

College Education – Just Git-R-Done!

High school and college students…If you are like me (at that stage of my life), I had NO CLUE as to what I wanted to do or be when I grew up. I still don’t 🙂

As we are making the transition from high school to that next level in our life and/or about to complete our Associates Degree in college (for example) we often want to pause, take a break, and come back to continuing our education — later. It just sounds like such a tantalizing prospect, FINALLY having some time off from school.

For those considering this, please think long and hard…

There are a number of very good reasons to NOT take the break and simply forge ahead to get that college education done:

  • You are (likely) still living at home or are still under the wings of your parents, and therefore have reduced living expenses, allowing you to focus on knocking it (your grades) out of the park.
  • Mom and Dad are “more likely” to continue providing an “assist” towards “continuing” that education.

If you “pause” a number of variables will be introduced that may result in you not actually completing that degree:

  • You will likely want to move out on your own (which can be very liberating), increasing your living expenses.
  • You will likely meet a significant other (if you haven’t already), increasing your living expenses 🙂
  • You will get real focused on your current job(s) to pay for all the things you want to do. The job “may” not be as high paying as it could be, if you had achieved your degree(s).
  • You will have entered a cycle (stage of life) that will make it increasingly difficult (certainly not impossible) to go back to school.
  • Mom and Dad are going to retire at some point. Continuing to foot educational expenses may no longer be in their plan, in the future.

I’m certainly NOT saying the path outlined above is bad. I’m simply saying that, in taking it, you may not end up where you planned to be, in the desired timeframe. Said another way, the longer we delay getting the desired degree the longer we delay receiving the increased income that results from a higher level of education.

Time to repeat one of my favorite quotes:

Do what you MUST as quickly as possible, so you can do what you WANT for as long as possible.

As outlined in a prior post, education is the most powerful equalizing force. It is suggested that you take every advantage to get over the major hump of acquiring your degree(s) early, and then never stop self-education – that means FOREVER.

And, remember, education in and of itself is useless, unless we apply ourselves by working our tails off! If you do this, the sky is the limit!

As mentioned in recent posts, our oldest son (Ian / 25) just wrapped up his Bachelor’s Degree in Web Development, along with achieving an Associates Degree and related Certificates in his field along the way. His perspective: the time QUICKLY flew by, in the blink of an eye. He Got-R-Done! Now, he can look forward to building on this foundation!

All the best!

Nov 04 2014
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Financial Success

Who Are We Listening To?

The media has the tendency of sharing bad news.

Misery loves company, so it is an easy sell. Share bad news, people listen. Media’s goal: attract as many “eyeballs” as possible (on TV, radio, newspaper and the web) to up their ratings and up their revenue from advertising. Quite simple, actually…

But, do you and I really need to allow a garbage truck to pull up to our brains on a daily basis and let them DUMP all this negative energy in? My opinion: it only serves to slow us down.

We have a choice:

  • Listen to the stuff (misery is made of) and wallow around in it
  • Turn it off – completely, and do something productive
  • Tune-in to what can make a difference in our lives and the lives of our children

During my visit to Yahoo! Finance today, there were several articles I had to skip covering the elections and the undercurrents of low wages, income inequality, etc.

The reality: This doesn’t REALLY have to matter – unless we allow it! If you disagree (many will, I know), please read on…

As I skim the day’s “eye-candy” on the web I look for uplifting stories that share the potential each and every one of us have, if we simply make the decision and take appropriate action.

I was encouraged today, when I found an article covering how A 27-Year-Old Millionaire Reveals How He Built His Wealth. Click here to view it.

Contrary to what many would think, he did not:

  • Receive an inheritance from a rich relative
  • Found a .com company making it big in an IPO
  • Win the lottery

What did he do? In a nutshell, he:

  • Worked hard
  • Began saving as much as possible, early, when he was still earning minimum wage
  • Entered the military
  • Maintained a low cost of living
  • Invested early and wisely
  • Set goals and tracked progress

He is ONLY 27…I can just imagine where he’ll be in another 5 years 🙂

This doesn’t sound that hard, does it?

If you watch the video, you don’t here this person talking about low wages, income inequality, the economy or any other EXCUSES. You hear him talking about making the best of what he had access to.

The biggest thing most of us need to overcome is the need for instant gratification. By simply focusing on the above for a relatively short period of time anyone (short of those we must absolutely help, because they cannot work due physical or mental handicaps) can become a millionaire.

So, the choice becomes: listen to the negative input (from the news, relatives and/or friends) about what can’t be done and stay right where we are. Or, tune it out, make productive use of our time and DO SOMETHING ABOUT OUR FUTURE.

We are all endowed with the same resources at birth (a brain for thinking and a body for moving around) which we own free and clear! Other than the exceptions noted above, it is simply a matter of what we do with these resources.

All the best!

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