The Best Way to Become Wealthy

Every honest man and woman should earn their own living in the free trade ofvalues with other humans. One of the best ways to become wealthy is to create values which didn't previously exist. If you merely trade values, then you make a living but do not become wealthy and empowered. There is nothing wrong with this, of course, if that is what you want, but creativity is the key to riches. As an example, imagine we are on an island together with ten other families. Let's trade values. I'll fix your hut roof for two hours, while you husk coconuts for me for two hours. Fair? Sure. No problem. Tomorrow, I'll fish for my family and your family for five hours as long as you collect firewood and water for your family and my family for five hours. Okay? Yes. No problems here. There's nothing wrong with this way of going on, and we could exist for centuries like this. In fact this is exactly how primitive societies did (and still do) operate. But there is no progress. Why is progress desirable? Because without it we are all still working for sixteen hours a day in mindless, numbing physical toil - just as people did for centuries, just as they are still doing now in many parts of the world. The fact that we swap jobs (trade values) doesn't actually improve our lives very much apart from a slight efficiency due to division of labor. Now, let's create some values. Assume all ten families spend three hours a day collecting fresh water from the distant mountain stream. As an 'entrepreneur' you see a way of greatly improving the physical comfort of your family while also greatly improving the physical comfort of every other family on the island. Indeed, you intend to create an honest, tradable value that will make you wealthy, but also make everyone else better off too. This is the essential point about getting wealthy through creating an honest value - everyone benefits. Note one vital principle here: You are not motivated by altruism to improve the lot of others. You are solely interested in improving your own lot, and that of your family. You are acting selfishly. How can you act in any other way? This is what gets you out of bed in the morning. You are rational, because you know that the only sustainable way of becoming wealthy is to create something of lasting benefit to others (an honest value) otherwise they won't 'buy' it. The only alternative is for you to use force to enslave the population of the island to your desires, or to con them out of their values. Okay, so what are you going to do? Through your ingenuity, your creativeness and your honest toil during what should be your rest period, you are going to create a neat piping system of bamboo cane that brings water down from the stream right into the village. You plan, you scheme, you work and sweat and toil. You sacrifice your leisure and a portion of your life. You take risks - it might not work. You place yourself in danger - the mountain is steep and slippery. Of course, you need to conduct a market survey, so you gather all the villagers together and say this: "For centuries the women have walked two miles a day to that hill with their water jars to fetch the daily water for their families. You all know that each family spends three hours a day in this pursuit. If I could bring you the same water, here, into the village and you could collect it in five minutes instead ofthree hours, would each family work for one hour a day on various tasks dictated for my family?" Now of course the resounding answer would be "Yes!" Note the vital point here: everyone is a winner. Each family gains two precious hours a day for nothing - absolutely free, for zero effort on their part. They can use this time to grow more crops, fix up the hut, or whatever else they want to do. The net effect is that their lives are enriched and their standard of living rises, all due to your ingenuity, risk, and discipline. In return for your effort, ingenuity, skill and daring, you become a wealthy man or woman. How? Because you now have ten families working one hour a day for you and so you can 'retire.' In other words, because you created value for others that they willingly bought from you, you have freed yourself from the need ever to work again. There is no money on our island, but money is merely a token of so many units ofhuman labour. There are several important points here. Firstly you did not force anyone to do anything. This is not slavery. The man who says that modern work is slavery is a fool who has never felt the lash on his back. In fact you freed the people from two full hours of soul-destroying donkey work each and every day of their lives, and the price you charged them for these two hours was - zero. Secondly you did it for you, not for them, and you're proud to admit it. You're also proud of your water system. You're trying to add filtration and perhaps design an automatic coconut husker too. Furthermore, you are proud of your wealth and your achievements. It makes you feel good to be alive. You know you created something of lasting value, and you're receiving the rewards which you are due. These rewards spur you on to greater efforts which will make you wealthier and improve the living standard of all of the villagers. Also, no villager is prevented from following in your footsteps, and so you act like a hero or heroine leading others on to greater efforts. Perhaps another villager will be inspired enough to start making boats in his free two hours - the two hours which you created for him and gave to him free. Now we can all go to where the fish are plentiful - by 'renting' his boats, of course. Instead ofspending three hours fishing, we now spend one hour, and pay him one hour in rent. So we are all better off to the tune of another hour a day, with no drop in living standards. In other words, we work less hard for the same amount offish and fresh water. Or, of course, we can choose to work the same hours as before and get more fish and fresh water. In other words, everyone has become wealthier. Note that if the island were to suddenly turn communist, the following would happen. The islanders would 'seize the means of production,' in other words, take by force that which you created and built. In this example they would seize your water system in the name of the glorious people's collective. You would be executed or imprisoned as an 'intellectual' or 'enemy of the state.' People would be temporarily better off in the short-term because they would now have free water. Looters, thieves and parasites are always better off in the short term by stealing the values of others, but they are ultimately powerless because they depend for their existence on those of productive ability. Incentive and entrepreneurial spirit is rapidly crushed. Your neighbor who was thinking of designing and building a boat? Forget it. He's not stupid. He saw what happened to you and so he just keeps his head down and his eyes lowered. That coconut husker never gets invented either. Society atrophies and dies. People mooch for handouts instead of engaging in creative work. The parasites and leeches suck and bleed the island dry until all that remains is an empty husk - rather like some countries I could name today! Perhaps you are objecting that not everyone is creative and ingenious. What about the poor dull people, don't they get a break? Yes, a level playing field is desirable. It would be nice if we all had equal chances in life, but it doesn't pan out that way. Some hunters are born stronger and faster. That's not fair, but should we weight their ankles with irons to slow them down to our speed? Pretty women get all the guys. That's not fair. Should we disfigure them to give the plainer girls a chance? Handsome rugged guys get all the girls. Should we legislate to make sure that ugly people get the same number of dates as handsome people? No, and yet society is intent upon making sure that smart, creative, bright and energetic people don't get any further financially than dull, lazy or inept people. Is this sensible and desirable? Do we really want a level playing field anyway? Don't a few hills and trenches make life an exciting challenge? Compare the honest trade and creation of values on our hypothetical island with our current society of looters. Every penny of collected income tax now goes in handouts to people sitting at home with their palms stretched out. The rest of the governmental mechanism is funded by other taxation such as sales tax, capital gains tax, excise duty, etc. Moreover, this is considered reasonable and normal. It is hardly questioned. The beggars now outnumber the active producers and so there are no votes in changing the system. The only votes to be had are in assurances to the beggars that they will get morefree handouts, that 'fat cats' will be taxed harder and their money given away to the masses. Since it is your stated aim to become a 'fat cat' too, you'd better have some pretty clear ideas about your own views on taxation and socialism. Nobody, particularly a stranger, has the right to place a mortgage on your income (your life's efforts), then to sit at home while you sweat and strive on his behalf. But the government has made this compulsory and back this position with violence or threats of violence. And what is the current viewpoint of the majority of people in this country? They ridicule, lampoon and despise people who have become wealthy by honest creation of values. They seek to vilify them, scandalize them and seize their wealth. They are jealous of the talents and abilities of others so they minimize them. They focus the spotlight of the media upon successful people and wait for the tiniest slip that is then magnified. They claim that wealth earned by talent and ability is really due to luck or accident or worse. They applaud a government that seeks to confiscate wealth and share it out amongst the beggars. They demand more free money for this, or that. They complain about the government not doing enough for them. Their lives are devoted not to the creation of honest values, but to seeking ways in which they can join the leeches, claim their share of the loot, suck on the collective teat, con or scam their share of the 'free' money. Decide which side you’re on, and then be happy with it. Of course, deep down, can you honestly be happy with the side of the socialist? The human spirit was not founded on such principles, and your soul knows it. Best Regards, Mark Patricks

Making Money on Fiverr.com

Do you have a fun, creative talent that you feel you haven't been able to benefit from?

Are you an expert at the kazoo? Are you a great doodler who hasn't taken the ill-advised step to becoming a street caricature artist? Have you been told more than once that you have a baseball announcer’s voice?

If you have a hidden talent or hobby, then I have a sure-fire way for you to start making money from it right away.

I'm talking about www.Fiverr.com.


What's Fiverr.com?

Fiverr.com is a website that allows you to advertise almost any service (legal,of course!), that includes short videos, songs, voice-overs, kazoo solos, etc., for $5. To quote the website itself, here's how you can make it work for you, the seller:

1. Settle on a gig you are willing to offer.
2. Advertise that gig on Fiverr.com.
3. Wait for the orders to start coming in.
4. 48 hours after you've delivered the work, you can withdraw $4 to your PayPal account. (Fiverr.com charges $1 commission, similar to other online job services.)

So What Services Can I Sell?

Like I said, virtually anything can be advertised and bought on Fiverr.com. Just this morning, I looked at the top featured services, and they include - but are not limited to - drawing a Manga-style character for web icons, recording a professional voice-over, creating a positive review video, and proofreading and editing a text of up to 500 words.

You may think to yourself that the range of services seems huge, and you certainly have a few bags of tricks that you can put to use here… but is it worth it for $4?

The answer is yes, absolutely.

Do a little math. Say you're an amateur graphic designer who, while not exactly in the same caliber of talent as the artists at Pixar Studios, can design charming and simple logos. These logos may take you 15 or 20 minutes to create from the bottom up.

If you create, say, 10 of these a week in your spare time, you're looking at an extra $160 a month in your pocket for something you may do in your spare time anyway. And as you delve deeper into Fiverr.com, you'll see this is a very conservative number.

The Unique Angle to Exploit Fiverr.com

While it's true you won't necessarily become rich using Fiverr.com, although some have,, you can use it immediately to start making extra income using skills you already possess.

And it will get your name and your brand out there. Take my example of logo design.  Say you design a logo for a small, up-and-coming company and in a few months time that company really takes off.

Well, you were there from the beginning… and you're free to promote the fact that you designed their logo. Pretty soon, the demand for your design work will increase and so will your profits.

The other thing to keep in mind when selling your work on Fiverr.com is not to extend yourself too far or work too much. Remember, your clients will be paying $5 per deliverable, and they expect to get what they pay for. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece.

For example, don't pull an all-nighter trying to create a minute-long video. Keep the projects you're selling small, professional, and quick to make, and you'll soon be lining your pockets with short projects that are fun to make and as silly as you wish them to be.

I've seen folks on Fiverr.com advertising that they'll sing you Happy Birthday wearing a Santa Claus outfit... how long do you think that would take? A couple of minutes? Spend an hour or two a day doing those at $4 a pop, and you're looking at some serious spare change!

The most important thing I can suggest to you is to browse the services people offer on Fiverr.com. You will find virtually every kind of service you can imagine (legal, of course) for sale here. There is no doubt in my mind that you, too, have something worthwhile to offer.

Strategies for Maximizing the Money You Make from Fiverr.com

So you've got your service ready to sell and you’ve posted it onto Fiverr.com.  How do you create demand and get hired? Not to worry, friends. I have some strategies that will get your ads seen by the most people – and before those ofyour competitors’.

Tip #1: Become a Top Rated Seller on Fiverr.com

Basically, this means you deliver your service on time, exceed expectations, and conduct all business in a courteous and professional manner.

Respond to queries quickly. Communicate your needs. If you want to become a Top Rated Seller, you need to have a 99% positive feedback rating from allof your customers. Yes, this means going the extra mile, but once you earn that coveted Top Rated banner across your ad, your business will multiply a hundred times over!

Tip #2: Become a Level One or Level Two Seller

This is essentially the same as earning that coveted Top Rated banner. Becoming a Level One seller on Fiverr.com means that you're getting serious. You've had 10 or more sales and things have gone smoothly. Your customers have given you excellent ratings. Level Two Sellers are in the Pro League. They've had at least 50 sales in two months with excellent ratings. This means a consistent track record in terms of both sales and quality.

Tip #3: Tag Your Ads Correctly

Without the proper tags associated with your ad, it will not be seen by the folks who want to hire you. Similar to SEO, making sure you have the right tags linked to your ad can mean the difference between a mountain of sales and no sales at all. If your service is graphic design-oriented, make sure you tag it under “design”, “art”, “logo”, “header”, “graphic”, so forth. And remember, the more tags, the better!

Tip #4: Getting Those Positive Ratings

As I said in Tips # 1 and 2, getting positive ratings is a huge part ofsucceeding on Fiverr.com. So how do you do it? After all, it's a well-known fact that folks are much more likely to go to the trouble of leaving a negative comment when they're not satisfied than they are to leave a positive comment when they are satisfied. That's why I suggest that when you deliver your product, no matter what it is, send a courteous and professional note along the lines of, “I've completed your order! I would truly appreciate it if you could take a moment and leave me a positive review.” You'd be surprised how nice people will be if you approach them politely.

Tip #5: Use Twitter!

As I've already outlined in a previous article, Twitter is a tremendous marketing tool. And with a little creativity it can turn your Fiverr.com business into a serious business. Tweet messages like, “Check out my logos atYOURLINK #design #smallbusiness #graphics”. All your Twitter followers have to do is click on the link and they'll be at your Fiverr.com account page, ready to purchase!

Best of luck!

John Hollister

P.S. I've just given you all the information you need to start making money using Fiverr.com, but here are a few resources to give you a better footing in this exciting and profitable field.

Resources

http://fiverr.com - Browse the services people advertise on Fiverr.com. I really cannot stress this enough. You will find literally any service (legal, of course) for sale on here.

http://www.buzzblogger.com/fiverr-traffic/ - A cool little article on using Fiverr to drive traffic to your website

http://www.warriorforum.com/main-internet-marketing-discussion-forum/594107-using-fiverr-create-nice-side-income.html

http://forum.fiverr.com/discussion/8376/how-do-successful-sellers-make-so-much-money/p1

Videos

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wcwzR4hY8ok

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PC_pFR3ttGU&feature=related 

Cashing in On Facebook

The recent headlines confirm it: Facebook is a juggernaut of a company.

The massively popular social media site, started by some college kids, recently made a big splash during its IPO. It was a bit of rocky start, true. But the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, is still one of the youngest billionaires in the world.

And really, the profit opportunity I’m going to discuss today has nothing to do with Facebook’s share price. What I’m interested in is how this social network has become one of the most useful marketing tools on the web. Here are some statistics to chew over:

• There are 845 million active users
• Over 50% of the U.S. is on Facebook
• More users in Europe than North America

That’s a huge market of folks who are on the same website every day, probably several times a day. With numbers like those, it's easy to see why there is such great potential for online businesses to use Facebook to increase profits, generate leads, boost sales, and keep in constant contact with customers.

You probably have a personal Facebook page yourself. I do, of course.

Since I moved to Costa Rica earlier this year, it’s been a great way to keep in touch with friends back home – and feel, at least a little bit, that I’m still part ofthe group. And I know our family back home has appreciated being able to keep up to date on what my wife, son, and I are doing down here.

I also manage Facebook pages for several clients – online businesses that have realized that being “social” attracts prospects and keeps customers engaged.

So Let's Get Started

Like I said, you probably already have a personal Facebook page. In order to use Facebook professionally, you'll want to start a new one that will be exclusively for your business. You can get all the details on starting a Facebook business page here: http://www.facebook.com/about/pages.

Most big corporations these days have a dedicated Facebook page, because it helps them connect to consumers. Whether it's a Fortune 500 firm or the bakery on the corner, every company can benefit from the connectivity that Facebook offers.

That means you'll want to have a professional-looking, yet friendly, Facebook page. Have a look at a couple of these established businesses:

• http://www.facebook.com/sierranevadabeer
• http://www.facebook.com/Nissan
• http://www.facebook.com/aquafina

One of the best things about using Facebook as a marketing tool is (besides it being totally free) is you can showcase a different, more down-to-earth sideof your company. You can post photos of your annual company barbecue, a recent live event hosted at your store; even fun little videos that show how you make the products you sell. For solo entrepreneurs and information marketers you could share details of a product launch, shoot funny little videos ofsomething that happened in your home office, or update folks as you attend an industry conference.

This gives the customer a deeper sense of WHO YOU ARE as a company. This, in turn, means trust. And customers always shop at a place they think they can trust. So have fun with it. Don't be overly aggressive with you sales-pitch, at least not on your Facebook page. It's all about fun, fun, fun. (At least, in the beginning.)

And remember, your business’s Facebook page isn’t the only marketing channel you’ll be using.

You should always be linking back to your website. In fact, that’s the best way to monetize what you’re doing on social media.

For example, when you are running a sale on a product, you could mention it on Facebook and link back to the sales page on your website. You should also include links to sign up for your email list. You want to capture those leads that come in through Facebook.

But remember, you don’t want to engage in the hard sell on Facebook. Keep the mentions non-hypey and casual, when people are ready to buy, they will.

Making Connections!

Your company’s Facebook page is all about making connections. You'll find that the vast majority of serious users of the Internet follow the Golden Rule: treat others as you would wish to be treated yourself.

I've witnessed this firsthand in YouTube, another big social media site. Now, I'm aware that the comments section of YouTube is notoriously vicious and mean-spirited. But as far as actual users of YouTube (by which I mean uploaders of content), I have found them to be unfailingly polite. Subscribe to someone's channel, and I can virtually guarantee that person will return the favor by subscribing to your channel.

My old friend the carpenter found a number of channels on YouTube that focus on the same topics that he does: woodworking, simple DIY projects, and home fixes. He subscribed to their channels, they subscribed to his channels, and both of their audiences just multiplied.

And it's the same thing with Facebook. If you're a carpenter yourself, for example, send a friend request to http://www.facebook.com/homedepot. Build your network, from the small mom and pop (who probably DO have a Facebook page) to the big dogs like Ace Hardware and Lowe's. You never know where it's going to lead.

This strategy, of course, works with any type of business in any niche. All you have to do is find like-minded businesses and follow these steps. If you’re an information marketer, seek out other information marketers, for example. They’ll be happy to help you… because you’ll be helping them too.

Once you've made connections with businesses in your same field, start posting on their Facebook page. Make it informative information. For example, a carpenter could say: "I saw you used a miter joint on that cabinet. Would've gone with a mortise and tenon, myself."

These kind of expert messages not only identify you as a leader in your specific field, but it also makes people who don't know as much perk up and say, "Hey, this guy looks like he know what he's talking about! Maybe I'll click over to his page/site.” Simply post your message. People will automatically be able to click over to your Facebook page. You could even include an URL to your website, too.

The most important thing is to be interesting and useful.

If you’re doing things right, the same thing should happen to your page. People will visit, post messages about your niche, your company, or your products. And these fans will start recommending you to their friends. And thus your network grows.

The New Age of Internet Connectivity

We, as Internet businesspeople, are privileged to be on the cusp of something big: the great connectivity of the Internet. Marketing with Facebook, the largest social platform on the web can be very lucrative and introduce your business to thousands of new prospective customers. Don't you think it's time you cashed in?

Best of Luck!

John Hollister

PS. Now you’re ready to market your products to millions using Facebook. But here are a couple more resources to help you succeed.

Resources

http://www.facebook.com

http://www.facebook.com/about/pages (Business Page Set Up Guide)

Examples to Follow

http://www.facebook.com/sierranevadabeer

http://www.facebook.com/Nissan

http://www.facebook.com/aquafina

http://www.facebook.com/homedepot

Facebook Marketing Strategies

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/stats-on-facebook-2012-infographic/40301/

http://jameshicks.net/facebook-marketing-strategy

http://www.socialmediaexaminer.com/9-facebook-marketing-strategies-to-build-super-fans/

http://www.flashmint.com/show-type-facebook.html

http://mashable.com/2012/04/26/facebook-marketing-strategy/

The Ultimate Secret to Getting Rich: Doing What You Love

By Allen Says

Washington DC was nasty as could be. As I sat on the bench waiting for my bus to arrive I couldn't wait to get back to the backwoods of Louisiana. I had almost sat in a pool of blood that was on the far end of the bench and I was ready to go. I truly hope people coming to visit our country don't make DC one of their stops.

Anyway, before my bus arrived I was approached by a nicely dressed elderly gentleman in need of directions. I told him I had no idea what he was looking for as I too was just passing through. To this day I'm not sure why, but we started talking as if we had known each other for years.

We talked about life, people and eventually the conversation turned to business. It was here that the gentlemen saw something in me, I suppose, that made him feel like sharing what he said was the greatest secret ever told. He said everyone had heard it but almost no one paid any attention to it, even though it was the one thing that could bestow a fortune upon any man or woman who used it.

My ears where definitely starting to perk up. Something about his tone told me this man knew from whereof he spoke. And I wanted to know what the secret was with a passion. He must have sensed my anxiousness because at that very moment he gave me a warning that was almost a scolding.

I'll try to recount here as best I can the rest of our conversation...

Man: "Do not make the mistake of shrugging off what I am about to tell you because you have heard it before. No doubt you have heard it already from at least one person in your life. You may have even heard it many times. Do you have any aversion to religion Mr. Says?"

Me: "No I don't. I don't believe many preachers know what they are talking about or even what they are trying to teach, but I do know the Bible has a lot of great knowledge in it."

Man: "Good. I would not want you to discount what I am about to tell you because it does come directly from the Bible. But its applications reach far beyond what most people can conceive of. It will take thought, intense pondering on your part, to begin to get some inkling of its power."

"This simple secret, when applied to business, will draw money to you as easily as water runs down a mountain. Even a fool can apply it and prosper. When applied to relationships, it will create more friends than you can handle" (laughing heartily)

Me: "What is it, I'm dying to know now?"

Man: "Patience Mr. Says, Patience. I will not give it to you as it has always been repeated by fools who have no respect or knowledge of what it even means. No. I will give it to you another way. What type of business are you interested in?"

Me: "Well, I'm dabbling in Mail Order right now. I would like to place ads and sell books."

Man: "Fine. Fine. Mail Order it is. Let me tell you how to create a fortune in this Mail Order. All you have to do is create the product you want to buy"

Me: "I don't understand"

Man: "You will"

"You see, you are your market. Whatever you want, there are millions of other people wanting the same thing. That elusive product you are looking for is the product millions of others are also looking for right now."

"All you have to do is create the product you want to buy, the product you yourself have been looking for. Once you have this product, what would you want the sales message to say so that you know this is the product you have been looking for?"

"If someone else where selling this product, what would you want the ad to say, what would get you to buy this product? When you have that answer, that is the ad you want to create."

Me: "I see." (hesitantly)

Man: "See the business across the street here? Pizza. I could triple the business that place does inside of 10 minutes. That's what I do by the way." (smiling)

"All I would do is walk into the business as a customer. I would sit there and imagine all the things that could be done to me that would make me a loyal customer to that business for life. What could they do for me that would make me feel this way?"

"Once I had the answers to that question, I would implement them across the board. Every customer would be treated the way I had imagined. And without any doubt what so ever that business would triple the profits it now makes."

Me: "I think I know..."

Man: "Wait, you don't really know anything yet. That's the problem with people. They brush something off because of where it came from or because they heard it many times. Leave that for fools. You won't "know it" until you have deeply pondered it and put it to use."

Me: "Ok"

Man: "What I am telling you has power undreamed of. The simple words used to describe it cannot contain it. Does not do justice to it, and has been prostituted by blabber mouths who let wisdom fall off their lips with not even a single brain cell grasping what they are rambling about."

"What I am telling you is Law, not man's Law, but the very Law's of nature herself. It's the way things work and those who truly understand it rise to the top in every field known to man."

"What people don't understand is that it applies to everything. This secret can be applied with virtually every step you take, everything you do, every word you speak and everyone concerned profits by it."

"If you are a writer, write like you would like to be written to" 

"If you are a salesman, sell like you would like to be sold to" 

"If you are a speaker, speak like you would like to be spoken to" 

"If you want more love, then love like you would like to be loved" 

"If you want more friends, be the friend you would like to see"

"When you infuse everything you do with this secret it takes on a magical power. Businesses dominate the market, books become best sellers, leaders attract huge and loyal followings."

"How would you like it?"
"How would you respond to it?"
"How would it make you feel?"

"Those are great questions to think about every time you do or create something. You will get into the hearts and minds of everyone who comes under your influence if you will first think how you would have it done to you."

"I'm certain you already know the quote from the Bible I'm referring to. But don't repeat it, just ponder it and practice it."

Me: "I do. But I've never thought of how it could actually apply to everything in life. I too was one of those fools who passed it over without so much as a second thought. I really want to thank you for sharing this with me."

Man: "It's been a real pleasure talking with you Mr. Says, have a safe journey home."

And with that, he was gone. The funny thing was, as I was riding home on the bus I realized I never got his name, nor do I remember ever giving him mine. Maybe he saw my luggage tag. I'm not sure. It really doesn't matter. What does matter is that I've profited from that advice for the last 15 years.

I'm not even really any good at it either and I've still pulled in huge amounts of money. Especially from the Internet. This is one place this knowledge can really shine. People have always asked me my secret. How come the Warriors is still here, with the same products, with all this competition, after all these years?

This one simple secret is the answer. I always ask myself how would I like to be treated by this company? What would I like to see? What would I like to get? How would I like to be dealt with?

Those simple questions are all you have to answer. When you do get the answers, put them into action and watch what happens.

Create The Site You've Been Looking For
Write Like You Would Like To Be Written To
Sell Like You Would Like To Be Sold To
Talk Like You Would Like To Be Talked To
Deal Like You Would Like To Be Dealt With
Create For Others What You Would Like Created For You
Excite Others The Way You Would Like To Be Excited

http://www.mindpowernews.com/MillionaireSecret.htm

The power of confidence

BUSINESS MATTERS(Beyond the bottom line) By Francis J. Kong (The Philippine Star)

I attended the TedxManila event a few days ago, not as a speaker but as a participant. My son, Bryan, together with his band mate, Siops, did a talk on music and technology.

Their lead singer, Sara, completed the presentation by singing a new song of their own composition.

It was a very good presentation. And the key element that made the presentation good was because of the confidence they have shown.

Perhaps, it’s because their group named “Taken by Cars” has performed in many places not only here but also abroad. Or they have really taken the desire to do a good presentation right to the heart. And so they practiced hard and developed the confidence to present well.

Confidence is key. What makes me confident today?

I wouldn’t stand in front of many people to speak if I don’t have the confidence. And the more I think about it, the more I realize that building confidence should start as early as childhood. And it starts with something as simple as always handing things to an adult using two hands. This Asian custom always gives a good impression.
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Confidence is important because it sets the tone.

Confidence creates favorable impressions that build up your public image. Confidence is not cockiness. Cockiness is for people with shallow minds and empty hearts camouflaging their insecurities. True confidence comes from the inside.

To create a good first impression while exuding confidence, here are some suggestions:

Dress appropriately for the occasion. Casual clothes are for casual occasions. And if the occasion is not casual, do not wear casual.

Hand things like business cards, pens, etc. using two hands.

And when somebody gives you his or her card, take time to study the details printed on the card. Do not just casually put the card away.

Shake hands firmly.

Make sure you pack with you the following tools:

Courtesy. Always be polite.

Attentiveness. Listening makes you a great conversationalist.

Being pleasant. There is power in charm.

Confidence. Do not be cocky.

Preparedness. You do not want to waste other people’s time by being sloppy with your work.

Consistency. Be constant in what you say and what you do.

Being positive. Do not relish in giving negative comments.

And most important of all, do not try to be somebody you are not, this is hard to live up to, just always be yourself.

And if you cannot exercise the suggestions given, then I would highly recommend that you spend more time working on your attitude and character.

This simply means you lack the confidence needed to create a positive impression. Read books on personal growth. Get a mentor. Attend seminars. But most importantly, be the person God wants you to be. Seek constant improvement and remember, the more you learn, the more confident you become.

And above all, consider others better than yourself. True humility is the most convincing evidence of confidence.

Become a Consumer Consultant

Chances are, you're a consumer. And if you're a consumer, that probably means you have some strong opinions about the products and services you buy.

What if I told you there's a way you can make money from your opinions? Thanks to the Web - and a little technical savvy – it’s possible these days. That’s right… you can get paid for your opinions.

I'm talking about joining ExpoTV.com, which allows you to create your own video product reviews and get back rewards in more ways than one. The videos created by their contributors have been viewed more than 40 million times on social media sites, manufacturer sites, and more.

Reviews
Don't worry if you don't have any experience as a writer or product reviewer. It doesn’t even matter if you know much about the Internet or have never even reviewed a product on Amazon.com (although this is a great place to get an idea of the style and flavor of good product reviews in some cases).

Your authority as a product reviewer comes from the only experience that matters… and the expertise you already have as a consumer. All products brought to market hope to cater to you. Whether they meet your expectations and needs is up to you; in other words, a matter of opinion.

And your fellow consumers are interested in your opinion. It’s like when your friends and family ask you about your new smartphone or HDTV… except on a much larger scale.

You don't need to know the inner working of the new flip cam you bought or processing speed of your new tablet computer. All you need to know is if it's easy to use, intuitively navigable, and enjoyable to use. Since you're the consumer, and you're reviewing consumer products, yours is the ultimate authority. Whether a product fulfills its advertising is your call.

Which brings me to joining ExpoTV.com.

Basically, this is a free service where you can post video reviews of everyday products of all kinds: cleaning supplies, tools, electronics, cars, bikes, towels, you name it. All you need is a simple camera (even an iPhone is more than adequate) and a product to review. Most of the videos are short and demonstrate the product's function, followed by your commentary about what features you liked and didn't like. Try not to exceed three minutes.

Some quick video tips:

-Make sure you, as the subject of the video, are well-lit. Watch out for shadows.

-The product should be clearly visible.

-And ensure that you can be heard clearly. So make sure you’re close to the camera’s microphone or speak loudly enough.

-No need to write a complete script. But you should have an outline that covers the essential points of the review. Practice once or twice before recording.

Check out some of the existing ExpoTV video reviews, too. You can always model successful videos.

Once you upload your review video to ExpoTV.com, you'll earn points. These points can be redeemed for rewards such as televisions, computers, gaming consoles, and a whole host of other gadgets.

You can also answer questions from fellow consumers about products to gain rewards, as well as take surveys.

What can you review? The sky is the limit really. Here’s a list of some of the most commonly reviewed products. (You can check out the full list on the ExpoTV website.)

• Art supplies
• Strollers
• Laptops
• Cookware
• Ice cream makers
• Computer speakers
• Bedding
• Digital cameras
• Shavers
• Books
• Vacuums
• Vans
• Fitness DVDs
• And that’s just a small taste…

Look, working this site is not going to break the bank by any means. But it’s a fun spare-time activity that can yield fun and useful rewards that'll save you money.

The Exclusive Products of ExpoTV

ExpoTV.com has another cool feature where you can review products that haven't even reached market yet. It’s called “Tryology.”

Some current product samples being offered right now include Herbal Essences hair products for the gals and Old Spice and Gillette for the guys. They’ve also had diapers, breakfast cereal, laundry detergent, and much more.

You'll have to establish a decent reputation with ExpoTV first. But once you do, you can pick which products you'd like to review in video. And remember, many of these products haven't even hit the shelves yet. You'll not only get to be one of the first consumers to test it, you'll also be able to post a video review of the product.

And one of the great things about these exclusive offers are you'll get to keep the product. So, if you're reviewing a new brand of Kraft Mac & Cheese, guess who gets a boatload of free macaroni and cheese? You! Reviewing a new shaving cream? Well, you won't have to shop for shaving cream any time soon.

By using ExpoTV.com and starting out by reviewing by video some products you already have laying around the house, you could soon be testing not-yet-released products and getting great rewards for doing so. If you've always had a flair for presentation and you're comfortable on camera, give ExpoTV.com a try. I promise you won't regret it.

I wish you the best of luck!

John Hollister

P.S. I just gave you all the tips you need to succeed as a product reviewer for ExpoTV.com. But here are a few more resources to give you that extra push.

Resources

Product Review Tips

http://www.frugalityisfree.com/2011/10/how-to-be-product-tester-reviewer.html

http://www.reelseo.com/five-tips-for-creating-product-review-videos-that-wow/

http://www.clicknewz.com/1995/how-to-write-a-product-review/

Examples to Inspire You

http://www.crutchfield.com/S-KpeZgN51ATI/App/Learn/default.aspx

http://reviews.cnet.com/

http://www.digitaltrends.com/product-reviews/

http://www.consumersearch.com/

http://www.toptenreviews.com/

http://www.acefitness.org/product-reviews/

http://www.makeupalley.com/product/

Is It Better To Save Money Or Pay Down Debt in 2015?

This is one of those chicken and the egg type questions. No matter which side of the argument you take there are strong reasons to believe the other side. 

Many Americans are wondering which financial task they should tackle first. The chicken or the egg? Pay off debt or save money? 

Simple math suggests it’s better to get rid of your debt before saving money for an emergency fund and/or retirement.  If you look at the current interest rates for savings accounts (currently hovering around 1%) and compare it to the interest rate on your debt (credit cards usually charge about 18%), you’ll quickly see your money would go farther paying off your debt first. 

So is that the end of the argument? No. Rarely are financial decisions so black and white. Like most decisions, this too is about striking the right balance for you and your unique situation. 

Building savings before paying debt 

Every personal finance expert believes that having money stocked away for an emergency fund, a rainy day and retirement is paramount. To some it’s the most important pillar to finding financial success. 

The idea is you need to be prepared for the unexpected – like job loss, car repairs, health issues, etc. If you aren’t then you’ll simply add on more debt should you be unprepared. 

Although other personal finance experts advocate you sock away 3-6 months’ worth of monthly expenses in an emergency fund; I believe in these tough economic times you need to have six months to a year’s worth of salary saved up. If you do lose your job, it’s a tough market out there and you may not find another job quickly or you may only find ones that offer you less pay than your previous job. 

While your dollar may go further by paying off debt when you compare interest rates there are a number of situations in which it makes perfect sense to save money before paying down debt.  Generally speaking, any time your employer offers a matching program for retirement you should put your extra cash towards that instead of using it to pay off debt. Doing this essentially doubles whatever you save, plus it goes into the stock market which typically sees returns of 10% or higher a year. 

You should also build savings instead of paying off debt when the interest rate on your debt is low. Usually interest rates on car loans are zero or very low interest rates. In these cases you’d do better to make monthly payments on your vehicle and use any extra money each month to build up an emergency fund or put it towards retirement. 

Other than these scenarios it’s tough to justify channeling your extra cash towards savings accounts that are earning virtually no money. Especially when your debt is costing you way more each month that you have a balance. For every dollar you put in savings, several more are lost to loan interest. 

Paying Debt Before Building Savings 

Given that math, paying down high-interest debt before building up any savings makes good financial sense. If a man has $10,000 in savings (earning 1%) and $10,000 in credit card debt (at a rate of 14%), he is losing 13% of his money unnecessarily each year. 

Unfortunately, even though the math makes sense, many people do the opposite. Most people find more joy in numbers that go up, rather than down. This causes people to save money rather than pay down debt. Often times, people who just pay down debt get depressed and give up when they see how slowly a repayment process works. 

Even though the answer to this riddle is pay debt before diverting your money to high-interest savings accounts, most people need to do both. This way they get good emotional feedback by seeing both their savings balance rise and their debt load go down. 

The added benefit of this approach is that you train yourself to develop good money habits.  Cultivating sound spending and saving habits will benefit you even after you pay off your debt. Once the debt is gone, you should divert that money you were spending each month to your savings account rather than use it for spending. It may be easier to do this if you’ve been doing it for any length of time and have gotten used to not being able to spend that money. 

How much should you pay towards debt while building up savings? This really depends on the size of your debt. The more debt you have, the more money you should put towards paying it off.  I recommend using the 80/20 rule. Put 80% of the money you have after paying your monthly bills towards your debt and the remaining 20% towards building up a nest egg. Once you’ve built up a sizeable amount in your nest egg – enough to cover at least six months’ worth of expenses – change that ratio to 90/10. Put 90% of your money towards your debt and put the remaining 10% in savings. 

Whatever method you prefer, make paying off your debt and saving money a priority. You’ll never find financial success if you have debt and no savings to speak of. You also won’t find success if you have debt and savings. The only way to be financially free and live a stress free existence is to eliminate your debt. For helpful suggestions on how to pay off your debt faster, read my article on debt repayment plans. A better way is to increase your income so you can pay off debt and build up savings even faster, if you want to find out how to do that you can check out this program. 


Keeping Money in Your Pocket, 

Nancy Patterson 

Marketing Your Business - and Profiting - with Online Video

Mention online video and what pops into mind?

Cats and dogs getting into silly situations? Or if you're a sports nut, maybe it's the year's top 10 soccer goals or golf shots. Kids doing funny things, perhaps? I don’t have to list them all – you no doubt have some on your Facebook page right now.

But even the most popular “viral” videos, the ones that rack up hundreds of thousands of views, don’t make any money. Sure there are some exceptions.

“David After Dentist,” which features a young boy talking to his dad as the effects of anesthesia wear off and has 108 million views, is estimated to have made David (or his parents) a profit in the low six figures through sales of T-shirts and other merchandise. But that really is the exception to the rule.

That’s why today we’re not going to be discussing viral videos. Instead we’ll focus on a whole other type of online video, one you’ve probably seen before but didn’t give much thought to its money-making potential. 

Videos in this market can form the basis of an entire business. As you’ll see in a moment, they can get you more bang for your marketing buck, make content creation fun and easy, and much, much more.

And if you’re worried about not having the skills or equipment necessary… rest assured that you don’t need any on-camera experience, editing skills, fancy software or expensive cameras and lights. I’ll show you how to put together professional looking videos with low-cost solutions all around. And give you tips for getting comfortable in the spotlight.

With a little practice you’ll be making profitable videos in no time.

Speaking of online video let me share with you a video that actually had me pulling out my wallet.

On a recent trip to Costa Rica my family and I decided to head down to the Pacific coast for a day trip. There are a ton of wildlife tours in the area, and we were having trouble picking which activity we wanted to do… that is until we saw the video for Jose’s Crocodile Tour. You can check out the whole video here: http://www.crocodilerivertour.com/.

Why Make Online Videos?

Let's get the most obvious question out of the way first: why should you go through the trouble of making videos for your online business?

The simple answer is, people love watching them. After all, which would you prefer: reading page after page of information, or watching a video that actually shows that same information in a much more exciting, stimulating manner?

Plus, online videos aren’t just attractive to people. They will also increase the visibility of your website on search engines like Google and Bing. Here’s an industry secret: Websites that contain videos will appear higher on the list of search results than those that don't. And hosting videos on YouTube (owned by Google) is also a guaranteed traffic driver – just be sure to include your main website’s URL in the video or in the information section below.

Say you have a website that teaches how to use digital cameras and on your website you include videos that demonstrate the features of the different models you review.

If somebody does a search on how to operate a digital camera, your website will automatically be higher on the list of results than those without videos. Your competitors without videos may even do a more thorough and knowledgeable job than you, but since the search algorithms used by Google and other search engines favor websites with videos, your website will be closer to the top every time.

And the more eyeballs that land on your website, the more money in your pocket.

The sky’s the limit when it comes to the type of videos you can create: how-to or instructional, travel, talk shows, “talking head,” webinars (using Camtasia, which records your computer screen), interviews with experts in your niche… basically, almost anything can be an online video.

Check out other websites in your niche or do a YouTube search to get some ideas.

Profiting From Your Online Videos

There are a couple of ways for you to turn your online videos into money in the bank.

If you have an existing Internet business, simply start adding video content with the guidelines below (you can skip ahead a bit, if you like). If you’re a new online entrepreneur, you must first pick a niche for your business.

One of the most profitable kinds of video to produce are instructional videos. People are watching these videos for their informational content, not their production value, so your approach can be relatively low-tech. This means a smaller start-up investment.

For example, a carpenter friend of mine, J.R., recently started making a series of how-to videos showing how to make simple wood-working projects. It started out purely as a hobby, a creative outlet for something he loved to do.

His setup: a single camera set on a bookshelf pointed at his workbench and a microphone hanging overhead, just out of frame. J.R. doesn't need fancy lighting or flashy special effects - part of the appeal of his videos are their simplicity. And just like him, with a little ingenuity, you can make your lack of polish an asset, not a handicap. By making these short, instructional videos, J.R. turned a hobby into a tidy little passive income of $1,000+ a month.

The important thing is to pick something you're passionate or knowledgeable about. Like J.R., his start-up cost was limited to a camera and the microphone – that should be your initial goal. Since carpentry is his trade, he already had all the tools he needed. And like most folks, he already had a computer. Nothing fancy, either, just your standard desktop.

It's important to remember - you're not looking to make the next Hollywood special effects bonanza - just a clean, effective production with valuable information.

But you also want to pick a topic that will appeal to a wide range of people. Your passion might be bird-feeders, for example, but that is probably too narrow of a niche to turn a profit by making informational bird-feeder videos. If you wanted to expand your scope to all-around care for birds, on the other hand, and include videos on cages, seeds, hygiene and yes, bird-feeders, then you might be on to something.

Once you have your niche continue on…

If you're making your own videos for the first time, you'll probably want to offer them for free. Because you'll be offering your informational videos for free, you'll need to build a library, or hub, of information for your target niche.

In addition to the videos you make, you can include articles, podcasts, or anything else you can think of that contains information your prospect will find useful. But, of course, videos are going to be the main focus.

All these videos and other types of content will, as I mentioned previously, drive traffic to your website. People searching for information on your niche will find you through Google or Bing.

Because you have informative and fun-to-watch videos, that’ll speed up the process of having viewers come to know, like, and trust you. That’s absolutely essential for a prospect to turn into an actual customer… and then a repeat customer.

In this model you won’t actually sell your videos – let’s save that for a future essay. For now, you’ll be making money on website ads and affiliate marketing. So the videos themselves are more like marketing tools.

First, look into Google AdSense and sign up as a publisher. Google will give you a little code you can pop into your site to automatically run ads related to the content throughout. Each time a visitor clicks on those ads you make a few cents (or more, depending on the topic). May not seem like much, but when you’re talking about thousands of website visitors… it can add up over the course of a month.

Then you’ll start offering affiliate products. The beauty of affiliate marketing is that when somebody buys something by clicking through your site, your revenue is guaranteed - and there isn't the hassle of customer service or shipping. You advertise (through ads or editorial mentions) and then get a commission on sales – that’s it.

You'll be able to place both the space ads and affiliate product mentions throughout your website. And since your website contains video, more people will find your page, which means more people will click on the advertising on your site.

How to Make Great Online Videos

Making a video can seem like a daunting task: gathering equipment, shooting video and audio, editing, adding titles and music…for the entrepreneur who didn't study filmmaking in school, it can seem a little overwhelming.

And while there are plenty of companies out there that can take your ideas and turn out a professional-looking product, making a great-looking and effective video yourself is not as hard as you think.

Let's break it down step-by-step:

1. Get Your Equipment (The Essentials)

Chances are, as an online entrepreneur, you already have one of the most important tools needed to make online videos: a computer. Many computers today even come preloaded with easy, intuitive video-editing software. But if you have to buy the software, there are plenty of programs under $100 that will fit your needs. Some programs, like Video Spin and Serif MoviePlus Starter, come with a free trial so you can try them out first and find the one you're most comfortable with. Windows Movie Maker is free.

The next piece of equipment you'll need is a digital camcorder. A simple flip cam will do the job – but even your digital point-and-shoot should have a video option and even your iPhone has the ability to shoot high-quality video.

Also, not vital… but you also might try an external mic to boost audio quality. But don't worry, they're cheap. Check out Amazon.com for plenty of options under $20.

As far as lighting, use what you already have – table lamps, windows, whatever you can think of. You might try a utility floodlight from Home Depot – about $10. Just be sure to watch out for pesky shadows.

For the true beginner, you might not even want to think about editing. All you really need to make a video is a simple point-and-shoot camera. You shoot your video, transfer it to your computer using the software included with your camera, and upload to an internet video-hosting site, like YouTube or Vimeo.

2. Cast Your Video (The Fun Part)

If you're comfortable being on camera, by all means, be the "talent" in your videos. But if you're camera-shy, don't worry. You don't even need an on-screen person. Many successful online videos feature voice-over narration alone. The software program Camtasia is handy for this, especially when you’re demonstrating something on your computer.

But if you're producing a video on a topic you're not familiar with, think about hiring a qualified expert. For example, if you're at the gym one day and notice an elderly gentleman with muscles that a twenty year old would envy, consider approaching him with an idea to make informational videos showcasing his specific workout routine. It can't hurt to ask, and who knows, you may have just discovered an untapped niche market!

3. Shoot and Edit (The Big Part)

When you're making your first video or two, simplicity is the key. Just make sure you or your subject is in focus. And stay out of shadows. Maybe open the blinds to get better lighting. Experiment with camera angles. These little details can really have a big impact and can transform your videos from seeming like amateur efforts to solid, professional, and reliable products. And once you've found the right set-up of camera, lighting, and sound, you'll be able to use it over and over.

Other items to consider: who is your target audience? If you're marketing to children, the tone and style of your video will be very different than if you are marketing to lawyers. Are you going to insert graphics or music? What types would be appropriate for the market you're trying to reach?

Also, decide on a balance between information and entertainment. A purely informational video might make the viewer feel like they're in a classroom while a video that mixes information with humor, for example, will not only hold their attention, but also get them excited about your product.

Too much entertainment and not enough information, however, might have the opposite effect, and succeed only in convincing your prospect that your product has little substance. Experiment until it feels right.

Next, write the script for your video. This is the blueprint. It includes the words that are spoken as well as detailed descriptions of the visuals that accompany the words and music.

Writing the script is an organic process. It can evolve right to the point of actual filming. Who knows, you may do one take on-camera and be struck with inspiration and change it for the second take.

Now, when you have your footage shot, it's time to load it into your computer and edit it down into a compelling, information-rich video. Watch commercials on TV. Scan the internet and see how other companies that you admire do it, and borrow a little of their style.

How long should it be? You'll want to include your website and contact info somewhere in the video, as well - should it be in the beginning or at the end? These are all things you should consider.

Like I said before, experiment. You'll know it in your bones when you've found the right combination.

The last tip: just get started. Your first videos don’t have to be perfect, and it’ll take some practice before you feel comfortable. But soon you’ll be filling up your spot.

So… just go for it.


Best of luck!

Mark Edwards

P.S. I've just given you the steps you need to start making profitable online videos. But here are a few extra resources to help you navigate this exciting, dynamic medium.

Resources

Equipment

Amazon - www.amazon.com – The venerable online retailer offers several low cost options. Try the Flip Cam.

Camtasia – www.camtasia.com - This screen capture tool that records your computer screen in real time. Great for online demonstrations.

Window Movie Maker – www.microsoft.com

Building Your Site

GoDaddy - http://www.godaddy.com

WordPress - http://www.wordpress.com

Video Hosting

Vimeo – www.vimeo.com

YouTube – www.youtube.com

Marketing and Affiliate Networks

Commission Junction –  www.cj.com

Amazon - https://affiliate-program.amazon.com/

Google AdSense - https://www.google.com/adsense

Online Video Tips

If you’re stuck for ideas for the content or format of your videos, check out YouTube – and not just for examples in your niche: www.youtube.com

Surviving Market Crashes: 7 Steps to Take so You Come Out Unscathed and Even a Bit Wealthy

Timing is everything. Just imagine if you could have known when the real estate market was going to crash. You could have made millions or saved yourself a lot of heartache and money.

A former boss of mine is a big real estate investor. He’s made the bulk of his millions from rentals and flipping properties. He would buy distressed properties, fix them up and then re-sell them for more money or rent them out for way more than his monthly costs were on the property.

And unlike a lot of real estate investors he didn’t get caught in the housing market crash a few years back. Instead he stopped buying real estate altogether in 2004, a year before the crash. Everyone told him he was crazy. His investing partners thought he’d gone mad. But he was adamant.

How did he accurately predict the housing crash? He attributes it solely to a man who he hired to paint his house.
See Michael, my old boss, needed the interior of his beachfront mansion repainted. And because he’s got plenty of dough he hired someone to do it for him. He still did his due diligence and interviewed a few companies and picked one that gave him a good price and reasonable timeline.

When the company showed up to his house, he gave the painting crew of three men a tour of the rooms he wanted painted. As the crew was taping off the ceiling and covering the furniture they asked him for advice on how to become rich like him. They saw an obviously wealthy man and wanted to know how he built his fortune so that they could possibly do the same.

Michael told them he was retired now and just living off his passive investments and some consulting. He didn’t want to have a forty five minute conversation with them about all the ways he built his wealth. They were there to paint, not get a lesson in wealth accumulation. Two of the men seemed to accept this vague answer and went back to work. The third wasn’t satisfied with that answer. He told Michael the real money was in real estate and that he could buy a house twice the size of his current one if he became a real estate investor.

Michael told me that was the exact moment he realized the housing market was headed for a crash. He knew the bubble was going to burst and it wouldn’t be long. He saw the writing on the wall. When the everyday man starts telling you to invest in an industry, it’s time to get out of the market.

Still don’t believe me? Look what happened to gold. Gold has seen a steady rise in price since early 2000. It hit a new record of $500 an ounce in 2005. By 2008 it had reached an all-time high of $1,000 an ounce. In November of 2010 gold climbed above $1400 for the first time. It hits its highest peak ever in September of 2011, closing at $1921 an ounce. Since then it’s slowly dropped to under $1200 an ounce.

Now no one could have predicted gold would drop this much or how much further it might go down but certainly the signs were there that it would. What signs you ask? Just watch TV at any time of the day to see them. For the past few years we’ve been watching commercials advertising gold bars and investments for gold play across every TV program night and day. When a hot market like gold starts being recognized as a savvy investment by the everyday man, a pullback is sure to follow. And it did.

It happened to the housing market. It happened to gold. And although I’m in no way predicting this I have seen a few signs that indicate we might be headed for a stock market dip.

I bet you think I’m crazy. The market has been on a tear since 2009. It just keeps going up and up. The DOW has gone from a low of 6,594 in 2009 to nearly 18,000 this year. The run up has been amazing and extremely profitable for investors. Those are not the reasons I’m worried about a stock market crash.

In January of this year more than $60 billion was injected into the stock market. Investors who were previously sitting on the sidelines have decided to give Wall Street a chance. Perhaps they were tired of earning 0.003 percent in their savings accounts or CD’s. Perhaps they’ve been kicking themselves for missing out on the huge run up that has occurred over the last four years. Whatever the reason, large numbers of investors are getting back into investing in the stock market.

That’s what scares me. It’s that everyone sees investing in the stock market as a way to make money. The everyday man has seen the hot investment option and is now trying to capitalize on it for themselves. If history is any indication we might be headed for a bear market and a correction in the markets.

The time to prepare for a market crash isn’t when it’s happening, it’s before. So I’ve put together my stock market survival guide. I intend to survive all market dips, crashes, pull backs and what not unscathed. And perhaps even profit a bit. Here’s how you can too:

Your first line of defense is to have a plan…your second is to stick to that plan. Hopefully you and your financial advisor worked out a retirement strategy. One that was created based upon the retirement lifestyle you hoped to achieve. Your strategy took into account the age you hope to retire at, your income needs and your risk tolerance.

Whatever course you charted for yourself was done with purpose. So don’t allow yourself to be blown off course now by the temptation of this or any market upswing. You can make nips and tucks here and there but do not make sweeping changes to your overall retirement investing plan.

Those investors that change their investment plans and strategies to the whims of the market often get caught with their pants around their ankles. For example look at what happened to those investors who jumped on the tech bandwagon a few years ago. Investors who sold out of some of their investments to free up money to invest in rapidly rising technology stocks were left with withered up portfolios in the dot com bust in the early 2000s.

I know it can be hard to resist investing in an industry, company or asset class that’s on fire. The media can make it seem like those stocks will keep climbing forever. But making investment decisions based on what’s hot right now can leave you open to more risk than you ever were comfortable with before. If the bubble bursts and you don’t have a diversified portfolio you can easily lose forty percent or more of your overall portfolio. That’s too much risk for retirement investors who have a nest egg to protect.

That’s not to say you shouldn’t add or shift your investments when you find something you feel is a good investment. Good investments emerge all the time. The trick is to maintain a balanced portfolio.

Whenever you add an investment or free up capital take a look at your overall portfolio. Over time the investments you picked will grow or shrink in size and that can leave your portfolio unbalanced.

If you noticed you are too far exposed in one particular area of securities then rebalance your portfolio to create a more diversified portfolio. Refer back to your original retirement plan on how to do this. Look at your risk tolerance and how long you have until retirement or until you will need to sell these investments to provide you with income in retirement.

You can easily fall prey to market volatility if you are relying on your stock market investments to pay off debt. You never want to put yourself in a situation in which you have to sell in order to manage your debts.

Managing debt is important for everyone, but it’s particularly important for those nearing or in retirement. These investors don’t have enough time to recover from market crashes and pullbacks. Anyone who has debt shouldn’t rely on money from their stock market investments to pay off their debts in the short term (less than 5 years away). In the Great Depression those that had sizeable debts were the first wave of people to get hung out to dry when the time came to pay up. Don’t leave yourself open to this kind of risk. Pay off your debts with money from employment or if you are already retirement from risk-free investments.

Another way to not leave yourself open to the inevitable ups and downs of the stock market is to maintain an emergency fund. Long time readers will know how often I recommend this financial strategy. It can protect you from sudden and unplanned expenses that pop up as well as any unplanned periods of unemployment. It can also be a safety net for stock market dives and crashes.  As well as give you cash to take advantage of these dips to buy cheaply priced equities.

Investing in the stock market is meant to be for the long term (ten years). If you need income or if the stock market goes into a steep sell-off you can quickly put yourself in a bad place. Keep your cool and maintain your finances by rejecting the media hype of market crashes by not selling off your investments. If you find yourself needing income that a pull back in the market no longer provides then an emergency fund will be there to see you through the downswings in the market. Those with cash set aside are able to roll with the punches better and are immune to any market volatility.

If you find yourself getting panicky anytime the market makes a downward move or the media proclaims a coming bear market, then your retirement portfolio has most likely taken a beating or two. That kind of alarmist behavior won’t do when it comes to investing. Instead prepare yourself for the inevitable-that at some point the market will pull back. It may not happen tomorrow or next month or next year, but it will happen at some point. Preparing yourself for normal fluctuations in the market can keep you from panicking when it happens.

Good luck!


Regards,

Mark Patricks