My Personal Economy - Status Report August 2010

My family economy is still struggling to stem the negative cash flow as we seek improved income and decrease expenses.  I resigned from my full time job and started freelance contracting in mobile (phone) applications.  I am currently engaged in a four to six month contract with Sprint, and although I have to pay for my own benefits, the rewards of job satisfaction and compensation are so much better than they were just six weeks ago.

What I noticed when I switched jobs, is that there is an incredible churn of money to reestablish benefits, buy supplies and equipment.  This has to be good for the local merchants and web merchants.   Obviously, some of it is a shift of cash from the ex-company's huge benefits insurer to the smaller staffing agency's benefits insurer, but the new electronic purchases and daily coffee at Java City and lunch at the cafeteria flow directly from my paycheck to the merchants.

I still aspire to take my hobby to market (as I alluded to in a previous post).

A Home Spun Success Story?

Every once and a while, I like to report about a home-started business that I think is a success. I do not necessarily know the details behind the company, but it may have an outward appearance of success or just be an admitted success. My wife bought a new "jelly - jam" for our weekend toast. It is actually labeled as a "spreadable fruit." The variety she bought to try is the peach-apricot and it is heavenly.

So, I went to the website to share the discovery with my family and read the About Us page.  It reads like that idilic hobby-to-riches story and the owners now have a local (to them in New York City) factory, which undoubtably employes locals, thus feeds the economy.

Sarabeth's Bakery

The products are pricey, but that just makes it a niche.  I suggest you try the products and patronize Sarabeth's website and maybe it will inspire you to market and sell your hobby.

Happy Fourth of July

A big "thank you" to all of the service men and women who are serving the citizenry of our great United States of America. Thank-you to those who gave their lives, those missing in action, those who are in harms way -- right now, those who are soon to be enlisted, the veterans and the honored dead.

I am truly humbled to be living and raising a family among your hero greatness.

Huh? Midwest?? Oh, not USA, but Malaysia

Surfing other blogs, I found this "Midwest Kitchen" and it put a smile on my face. Naturally, living in Kansas USA, I wanted to know where this restaurant was located. We travel a lot in eastern Kansas, so maybe we can stop by.

Check out the menu ... yum if you are from America and a foreign taste if you are from elsewhere. But you will have to travel to Malaysia to taste the Midwest (USA) cookin'.

Betty's Midwest Kitchen

A Business With a Conscience

Small businesses have an opportunity to differentiate themselves from their competition by adopting admirable characteristics. What does it take and what does it mean for a company to have a conscience?

First a definition - Wikipedia.org

Conscience is an aptitude, faculty, intuition, or judgment of the intellect that distinguishes right from wrong.

But more than an academic definition, what it can mean to a company is word-of-mouth advertising. Customers will provide references and recommendations, but even a wanna-be client is likely to recommend the company. Recall when you were talking to a group of friends about a new project that you are trying to kick-off and all the friendly advice that comes pouring in to your check-list. Someone will remark, "I just ran across this company that does ... and I think it sounds great ..."

If the company describes itself with a characteristic that hits your heart, soul or intellect, it is remembered. This reference company from Bainbridge Island, Washington makes me want to build a new home -- but right now it is not a financial option. But I would recommend it and when my situation evolves to where I am ready to build, I will check to see how it worked out for you ...

Check out StudioHamlet.com

A diversion from the economy ...

Today was the most incredible day of my fatherhood. My son was a participant in a baseball tryout in Owasso, Oklahoma today. He looks great on a pitcher's mound ... good luck to all the young men who were there today.

There were about 135 baseball players, 40-50 pitchers, 50+ scouts from colleges and the MLB.

The only sad part was that we had to leave our dog at the Pet Ranch for two days while we ventured to Oklahoma and back to Kansas. We can't pick her up until tomorrow morning. Now that we are back at the house, I really miss her. Normally, she would be lying or sitting in the front doorway protecting us from squirrels. We could be eaten alive! I miss her . . .

Make a career of something you like doing

My dad always told my sisters and me to do something we like to do and not worry about trying to do what everyone expected you to do. This referenced clip from YouTube is the brother of a friend who I used to work with at Edify Corporation. He is clearly making a living while doing what he likes to do ... check it out, it is very entertaining. Then search for more Dan Menendez. There is an original clip when he was on the Johnny Carson Show, later on the Jay Leno Show and various bootleg clips of him at various venues.

5 Ways to Use Google for Your Business

This are quick notes that I jotted down when listening to a new clip about using Google web tools to help your business.

1. Google Profiles

   Guaranteed page one of search for your business or name when you fill out a profile.

2. Google Alerts

   Notifications of competitors or rapid response of your business and / or products. If there is a web posting to a blog, twitter, photo tags, etc., Google Alerts will send you a notification that you have been mentioned online.

3. Google Places

   White pages are gone. Map the location of your business. Add your business to Places with profile, coupons, video, etc. pay extra for more.

4. Cloud computing

   Applications and content are stored, managed and made available on servers in the internet (the cloud) and the documents become accessible from anywhere as you travel, share or collaborate.

5. Google Trends

   Reports of what is going on in your industry.

Reference: Steve Straus of USA Today on ABC News Money Matters.

The 4 "D's" of Time Management

I learned this about 25 years ago and it has been committed to memory for life.  I don't always practice the rules, but I always can recite it to young colleagues.

When you are presented with a task, what do you do with that task. Remember, your time is precious and you like to get your work done so you can relax and enjoy other lifestyle activities.

First step that you do is Dump ... like junk mail.  Don't even open the task, just dump it in the trash and say "no." (You might want to shred :)

Second step is Delay ... leave it alone.  If it is important, then you will get a reminder and then you can reevaluate.  Put in the bottom drawer and at the end of the week, check on it and if no one has asked about the task, then you can Dump it (see step one).

Third step is to Delegate ... give it to someone else.  You have more important things to do, besides that other person really wants to do the task.  Practice your leadership and both of you are heros.

Finally, if all else fails, Do ... these are your 'A' tasks that you like to do, you are good at doing and you want the recognition for its completion.  Put it on your task list, get it done and check it off.

That's it ... Dump, Delay, Delegate, Do.

 

Important Stuff -- Or Not : WOO HOO! No More Daily Grind!

"It would be funny if it were not true" department

This is outrageous that the government can actually get away with this rhetoric. If it is true, then it is even worse. Why single out a workforce group? Further evidence that this health reform is really going to mess things up!



Blog: Important Stuff -- Or Not
Post: WOO HOO! No More Daily Grind!
Link: http://importantstuffornot.blogspot.com/2010/05/woo-hoo-no-more-daily-grind.html

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President Obama - Nearly half flunk

This needs to be shared. I just read this article about one of President Obama's, "I'll fix the economy stupid" programs. Were you aware of how devastating it can be? Share this story for others to read.

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/23/BUJH1DGQEO.DTL

Nearly half flunk

The administration's most recent report on the Making Home Affordable Program shows that more than one-quarter million participants - 277,640 households - flunked out of the trial-mod program, meaning they will not get long-term help. Often those people are liable for all the past-due amounts accumulated during their trial mods, plus fees and penalties. Slightly more households - 299,092 - did get permanent modifications.

Read more: http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2010/05/23/BUJH1DGQEO.DTL#ixzz0om0nzO5a

My New Economy - A Startup

When I first joined the workforce out of college, I quickly realized that one can't get financially secure on their salary alone. Back in 1981, I thought $27,000 was all the money in the world, but soon found that I barely had any savings at the end of the month. Managing cost-of-living, life style and compensation for contributing to a corporation is a long struggle. At several milestones, I felt that I 'made it', but that flame was extinguished in an instant when my department was eliminated during the downsizing in 2002.

My New Economy is to start my own business. I have been investing in myself and I am near ready to publish my company objectives and start selling products. I took the "make my hobby, my company" approach. This is the least stressful thing that I can think of and it only requires confidence in yourself and belief in the market for your hobby-product. In future blogs, I will outline the activities that went into this venture.

Please wish me well and support me and others with the same dream and aspirations through encouragement. If you are inclined to value the product, then make a purchase and tell two friends. If its not for you, then still tell two friends who might be interested.

Coming soon to the web-market near you . . .

Happy Mother's Day

Giving back to the community :)

I like this idea ... someone, while on-the-job, is giving away money to people on the street. Isn't that a nice way to infuse and invest in America!

I don't really condone a job-of-crime, but this story made me smile. Thankfully, no one was injured, but, stealing from an institution is really stealing from the individual account holders. You must admit, that amidst all the financial and banking white collar crime, it is pretty easy to rationalize bank robbery.

http://www.foxnews.com/us 2010/05/03 Man robs Ohio bank and hands passers bills

More Liquidity

I was surfing for something funny and I found myself on The Atlantic Magazine's website searching 'cartoons' and I thought this was worthy of a reference posting.

There are so many financial terms that are used to obfuscate the state of an investment, business transaction, true worth, etc. Liquidity is one of those words as, quite often, liquidity comes with a price (i.e., a fee). This time the price is actually fuel to a fire storm.

Enjoy ... I hope it gets a chuckle at least.

Off-topic ... Tara and Bella's friendship

I received this video on FB from my childhood friend. It really speaks mountains about the character of animals. I can say no more ... but, "you have to watch this short video."

Tara and Bella :)

Buy Handmade -- Great Idea!

Now this is exactly what I was talking about in a previous post ... build locally with local resources and you really are rebuilding the economy!

I found this site http://www.buyhandmade.org ...

... while visiting this blog http://jenvecc.blogspot.com/?expref=next-blog

Good work by both and I hope it is inspiration for others to follow a similar path.

Massive oil shortages by 2015?

US military warns oil output may dip causing massive shortages by 2015

• Shortfall could reach 10m barrels a day, report says
• Cost of crude oil is predicted to top $100 a barrel

Not to be an alarmist, but this news item has raised a few eyelids from a drowsy nap.

The US has to adopt new policies and lifestyles to reduce oil consumption. My suggestion is to take advantage of all the dark bandwidth, light-it-up and go to a four day work schedule. The business can still be 7x24, but the employees would work overlapping shifts on-site and one day remote. This reduces 1:5 of commute energy. For example, a manager would allow half of ones employees to work Monday to Thursday and the other half Tuesday to Friday. You can imagine rotating the schedule.

Schools are considering this across the nation and health services have always operated in this long-shift approach with longer recovery gaps. There are potentially some very real upside consequences.

First, if this can be coordinated with the whole family, there could be increased family contact ... some employees could put their forty hours in during the four days and have more restful recovery time ... happier, less-stressed (therefore) healthier, more productive workforce ... higher employment by hiring one new employee for every five currently ...

Obviously, there are some jobs where that does not work -- oh well, not everything is a 100% solution, but if we achieve 60% that would be a measurable success.

Personally, I work better with more front-loaded, overtime working and thrive on three-day weekends. The technology is here to support a secure, supervised, remote workforce. Does anyone know the origin of a 5-day on 2-day off schedule? Maybe for historic reasons it made sense, but now, is the time to change.

This is only one idea ... what is your idea? More ideas are needed. Comment and leave your mark.

Understanding Supply Side Capitalism

This reading is a bit daunting, but it is worth reading. This was authored by a former colleague, Jack Menendez, who put this commentary out on the web and it has received at least one significant re-post.

Jack is a very pragmatic individual with a love of outdoors and healthy life styles for both body and soul. So when Jack comments on something like economics, he is likely concerned with the impact it can have on individual's lives and lifestyles. Enjoy life as Jack does by fighting back social injustice.

Good work Jack! I salute you and your efforts to share your experience and knowledge.

The latests trend for startup business

Here is a good industry strategy to participate in ... you don't have to be the technologist or the business manager; you can also be part of the infrastructure. Recall that companies like Delco and Goodyear were successful because of Ford and Chevrolet without being an auto manufacturer.

Tablet computing. Smart phones. Real-time conversations. The geo-stream. The evolution of advertising. Rich media platforms. Software in the cloud. And social media. All of these things are connected, and are converging in different ways.

I also read a report (from Jan 2009, but still relevant) about the success of making money with "Free" applications. This makes sense to me ... join me as I embark on a free mobile application for iPhone and Android.

Just How Much Money Can Free iPhone Apps Make? Quite A Bit

... applications that crack the top 100 in the Free Apps list make $400-$5000 a day – a wide range to be sure ...

Two jobs are better than one

Back when I was a young child, my dad might work a second job to try to get ahead of his bills. It was a hard choice, but at least there was an opportunity to do so when necessary - a buffer zone. My mom put her career on hold to be at home with the kids, but she might work an occasional night shift. Today, it is expected that the family will be funded by dual-income. However, there are consequences to having both parents work. First off, the buffer zone is gone. What do you do when a child has to stay home from school? Also, society (not just the markets) raise prices knowing that the cost of the product or service can be afforded. It sounds absurd, but it is true and is reflected in the supply and demand of capitalism.

Our family has a stay-at-home mom and as such we are struggling to pay the bills. There aren't many 'extra jobs' out there with so many unemployed and there is fear of losing ones primary job.

Arguably, I have two jobs -- at night, I am trying to start a business to increase my income. Since I don't have any product in the market, it does not generate any income. My 'day job' has demanded "voluntary overtime" of the salaried employees and I am afraid that if I do not participate in the overtime, that I will lose my job. This means longer hours, no more income and less time to generate more income in the long run.

The point of my sharing is that I have some questions ... is this just an anecdotal situation or is this the social economic experience of everyone at large? Is it the definition of middle-class? How do we make a change and turn this around? I have some ideas ... but let me hear yours first.

Advertisement for outsourcing on my blog -- argh!

The irony is probably lost on everyone else, but I loath the consequences associated with outsourcing and Google just placed an ad for outsourcing on this blog-site. Outsourcing is one of the major contributors to our country's failing economy. The US consumer voted for the imported products with their bank account and now they wonder why their neighbor or relative is looking for work. USA needs to infuse a culture of manufacturing and exporting finished goods. It isn't sufficient to export resource, which only results in importing the finished product.

To make this happen requires purchasing power of US made products. There isn't a strong argument for investing in American manufacturing if the American consumer finds better value in imported goods made with extreme, low-paid labor. We are in an economic battle to survive that is as big as any World War we have engaged. American has to find a rally-point and hero like Rosie the Riveter was in WWII.

Where is the voter Representation?

Who isn't frustrated with the lack of democratic process in the past year? So many decisions are being made that are not consistent with the represented vote. Back-room politics has reached a new low of integrity. Despite polls, letter writing campaigns, etc., the arm-twisting and round-the-back rules that are only there to defeat the intentions. This article explores the consequences of the action. I am particularly focused on this one paragraph which speaks to the Obama approach to a "democratic" vote. He appears to find ways to make it, 'my way or the highway' for everything.

The beauty our government structure is that is has built in 'checks and balances'; actions such as the Slaughter Solution are undermining the purpose of our process and putting our freedoms at risk. I am not an alarmist, but for the first time in my entire adult, voting, life of 34 years, this administration has me sincerely, very concerned.

... If the reconciliation fixes pass, the House can send the Senate bill to President Obama for his signature without ever having had a formal up-or-down vote on the underlying legislation.

Many Democrats could claim they opposed the Senate bill while allowing it to pass. This would be an unprecedented violation of our democratic norms and procedures, established since the inception of the republic. Article 1, Section 7 of the Constitution stipulates that for any bill to become a law, it must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate. That is, not be "deemed" to have passed, but actually be voted on with the support of the required majority. The bill must contain the exact same language in both chambers - and in the version signed by the president - to be a legitimate law. This is why the House and Senate have a conference committee to iron out differences of competing versions. This is Civics 101.

... The lawmaking process can be rigged to ensure the passage of any legislation without democratic accountability ...

Read the entire article from the Washington Times KUHNER: Impeach the president?

This Week: Karl Rove and David Plouffe Spar Over a Mission Accomplisheda - Topix

This is a very scary time in our Country's history. If the decision is wrong, there may not be any financial way to turn it around.

This Week: Karl Rove and David Plouffe Spar Over a Mission Accomplisheda - Topix

How does Google pick the "next blog"?

I like to surf for interesting or eye-catching blogs using the "next blog" link at the top of the page. I expected it to be totally random, but lately, either I have already visited every blog and I am starting over :), or the random link generator is stuck and it is sending me to a lot of repeats. Also, I have been to a bunch of "Anime" blogs -- is there a way to filter out blogs that are guaranteed to be of no interest.

Just a short rant before I head off to sleep.

Dr Clinic has free wifi

I was at the Leawood Family Care clinic Saturday (my cold turned into bronchitis) and they have a hot spot so I was able to blog while waiting. Now that is the type of infrastructure sharing needed to promote better business and client relationships.

The doctor I saw took an interest in *me* as an individual. Dr Horton and I talked about technology and protecting the health records of patients. We both agree more needs to be done to protect the databases. Hmmm ... a business opportunity maybe??? Whose in with me?

If you live in the area (or traveling through) and are sick 'after hours', I highly recommend the care at the Leawood Family Care clinic.

BTW - Dr. Horton is an avid podcaster. He claims to be old-school, but he is really up on the technology.

But is it better?

News can be misunderstood when it is provided without commentary. I used to think it can be unbiased, however, I have lost that niave thought. There were two news items this week that were left out as signs of an improving economy. First, I heard the radio news report that there are going to brought 1200 jobs opening in Overland Park. Good news? The job as bill collectors will pay up to $30000 USD. Is that a growing industry? What happens when they run out of clients as they must?

Second. Our trade imbalance improved because we are buying less. Not that we are shipping more. That is a downward improvement.

Let's continue to seek a manufacturing society. If you learn of new home grown products, patronize them and share the name with us with a post.

Job Angels - helping others find a job

Did I mention ...

Job Angels

A former colleague from Edify Corporation days started a Twitter presence to help people looking for a job. It was started over a cup of coffee and a healthy discussion about thinking of a way to improve the economy.

Book sharing - Unsustainable, a book about the Information Age

I picked up this book back around 2002 as I was learning, first hand, about the concept of "down-sizing." It is a book about Common Sense Economics and how the United States, by off-shoring its product manufacturing and resource refinement, was giving away its economic growth to the foreign countries. With a growing trade imbalance and producing "products" that have no resources (i.e., financial services, brokerage services, paper investments, etc.) that would be unsustainable compared to digging and growing resources and manufacturing them into finished goods to trade over seas. It was a foreboding crystal ball that I hoped would turn itself around.

I lent the book to a colleague at work as we are both in daily discussion about this economy and watching the news of our leadership's latest stimulation package. I will have more to say about that when he gets a chance to read a few chapters.

It isn't a book about the sky falling, so much as it is an awakening to make change.

You can find the book on Amazon, "Unsustainable: How Economic Dogma is Destroying American Prosperity", by Eamonn Fingleton.

What was the weather like?

Today was a very long day. After rolling out of bed with a head cold, I decided to make it a short day at work; however, my boss had other plans. He wanted to see some long awaited progress and asked for detailed status and a checkpoint by end of day. Needless to say, an eight hour day turned into twelve. So, I have no idea what the weather was like.

Welcome to mobidawg blog

Welcome to the mobidawg blog, a journal of commentary about the current economy. If you are struggling to understand how the world economy could have gotten so out of control and are thinking of ways to improve your personal economy, then join our discussions and impart your wisdom and together we will all prosper -- once again.