Wallet Based Values

Posted on January 31, 2008 by Sam

What does your spending say about your values? Where do your dollars, euros, pounds or other currency go?

Make a list of where your money goes each month. Some common items can include:

  • Mortgage or rent payment
  • Food- groceries, snacks, restaurants
  • Cars- loans, gas, maintenance
  • Church, charities, organizations
  • Medical & dental care
  • Knick knacks, etc.

Now put an average dollars spent with each category. Which is your highest? Where can you cut costs if necessary? I hope it doesn’t show that your values are all about you. Invest in other both time and money. Someday you will need help from others. Ask yourself the question– If someone were to see my expenses without taking with me, would that reflect what I want them to think about me?

This can also reveal if you can manage your money (or moving deeper into debt). Do you have a plan to get out of debt? Here are a few things to looks at to reduce expenses, increase income and help with debt:

  • Try to make a little more money at your job. Hourly wage earners ask to work a few more hours. Salary personnel should ask their supervisor how they can move up the ranks to earn more.
  • Get a second job. Be careful with your time, don’t let this take away from your relationship and quality time with your family.
  • What can you get rid of? Sell it on Ebay, Craigslist, at a yard sale. This generates a little income and can clear a little clutter in your house.
  • How many cars do you need? Family of two adults and 2-3 kids; do you really need three cars? Sell the extra one to save on the monthly payment, insurance and maintenance.
  • Wait for the movie to come out on video. Renting it ($4, someplaces $1) versus in the theatre with popcorn for two adults ($25-$30 plus babysitter).
  • What about your favorite possession- TV. What channels do you normally watch? Can you get by with the basic package instead of the Digital Premium Pack? (I have a bunny ears antenna that I bought for $30 a couple of years ago. We get the main networks and thats all we need.) If you miss a show, now most of them are available for online viewing for free, at least for the major networks.
  • Learn an in demand hobby or skill. Then sell your services as a freelancer locally or sites like Elance or Guru.com.
  • Cook dinner at home more instead of going out to eat.
  • What can you do without for a few months?
  • Do you have any reoccurring monthly bills/charges that aren’t needed?

For more tips check out: http://www.danburrell.com/?p=502

Improve your finances and let it speak your real values,
Sam Carrara

Posted in Finances | Tagged , , | 4 Comments

Creating A Job?

Posted on January 30, 2008 by Sam

Are you building a business or creating a job?

Recently I went to a Quiznos Sandwich shop near me for a quick lunch. Interestingly the owner was operating the cash register while he had four other employees putting the sandwiches together. Whose business was he building? I’ve seen him do this for the last two years, he probably started this way and will continue to work his Job. (He’s building Quiznos’ business.) Simple facts from Quiznos:

What is the initial investment?
On average our stores range between $190,000 and $250,000 nationally.

And other sources report that first year income is around $30,000 – $40,000. How long would it take to just break even??

Was that the best use of his money? Did he own his business or did he own his job? Interesting! So how do build a business instead of creating a job? You need to put processes in place in order to allow others to do that job for you. Continue reading →

Posted in Processes | Tagged , , , | 3 Comments

Why I Lose Time

Posted on January 29, 2008 by Sam

Do you feel like you are reading emails, blog posts, articles and ebooks all the time? Oh I forgot about watching videos and listening to MP3s. I sometimes do!

I have realized that being successful isn’t about having and learning the most information. You could go broke by buying all the over hyped “Must Have Info.” I’ll add another name to the list of Hypesters, sounds like F M. He’s a butterfly guy. I know, I’ve suggested it before. Its one ok product and the rest of his products are rehashed info with slight variations.

I recently unsubscribed to his hypester emails because there was little to no content or value. They were all marketing messages. There were a few others that got the ax also, to include JC (Adsense). I won’t promote him either. Their junk mail is enough to make anyone go crazy.

Here are some great headline ideas from “Gurus”:

  1. The Ultimate Product You Don’t Have
  2. Why I’m Rich and You Make Me More Rich
  3. Why I Am Successful
  4. Give Me More Money
  5. You Are Getting Sleepy, Now Open Your Wallet
  6. These are all in jest, but funny none the less!

So what am I promoting?….. Read less, but take action with what you are reading! Find one or two techniques (articles, links, blog, comments, etc.) get really good at it and let it grow your business, then you can venture out and try one more thing.

Here’s a short list of started projects that never went anywhere (for now):

Want more? Check out what Keith Goodrum has to say about “Gurus” and Unsubscribing:
http://www.keithgoodrum.com/unsubscribe-run-away-run-away/

Get Your Time Back,
Sam Carrara

Posted in Advice | Tagged , , | 2 Comments

Once Is Not Enough

Posted on January 28, 2008 by Sam

How many times should I get my message out to my prospect? The answer is the same for Gen Y, Gen X, Baby Boomers, Etc.

J. Conrad Levinson writes in his Guerrilla Marketing book that it actually takes nine (9) times for the ad’s message to run before it sinks in.

Guerrilla Marketing

Let’s look at the progress… Continue reading →

Posted in Marketing | Tagged , | 1 Comment

Three Sticks

Posted on January 25, 2008 by Sam

Are you Three Sticks Strong (3SS)?

One stick, two sticks, three sticks, red stick, more… Sounds like a Dr. Seuss book doesn’t it? What’s with all the sticks?

If you take one stick like the one below, it breaks rather easily.
One Wood Stick

Now put two sticks together, its a little harder to break. Add a third and the difficulty is increased. Great we’re playing stick games! What does this have to do with my marketing efforts or building my business?

Are you only driving traffic to your website by PPC? Or articles or links, or etc.? Get yourself a few more sticks to strengthen your business. If you only have one stick like PPC and they raise cost per click, lower quality of the lead or anything else that prices you out of the game, WHAT are you going to do? Don’t rollover and cry in your Cheerios, get more sticks!

This also applies to many other areas…

  • Outsourcing– Do you only have one article writer or web designer?
  • SEO– Are you only optimized for G oog le?
  • Web servers or Accounts– What if one of your providers shut you off or went out of business?
  • This list can get quite long… Think about your 1 stick. You need some redundancy.

Get More Sticks,
Sam Carrara

Posted in Marketing | Tagged , , , | 2 Comments