Posted by: creativemultitasker on: May 23, 2010
It seems like forever since I wrote in my blog, and perhaps, for some bloggers, the amount of time I have not been writing is really forever. But I have almost lost my drive. It’s a dim and dying flame inside my heart. I even let my library books get so overdue that I may as well have bought them. What have I been doing instead? Avoiding. I’ve come to see that my fashion idea will probably not happen, and soon I’ll be returning to the workforce. Perhaps in a year or two when I can’t stand going to work anymore, I’ll return to this idea, but for now, I am not motivated. I know it’s sad.
I even got myself a website started of my artwork. It’s not really what I had in mind for myself, but I guess that’s what I get for having a student create it for free. It’s so simple, that I feel that I could have made it myself. I thought that once I’d have one up, I would start drawing and painting. But the opposite happened. Now I feel like if I pick up my art materials I’m doing work. I have no desire to create art. It’s really silly because this is exactly the time when I should be doing art. When I don’t have to go to work. But that’s why I don’t want to do anything. I”ll never have this time for relaxing again. Soon it’ll be July, and I’ll be working in a camp and then my serious search for a full time position.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: March 21, 2010
I just finished “E-myth Revisited”, after reading “awaking the entrepeneur within”. Awaking the entrepeneur within was written after E-myth, and when I began reading it, I wondered if it made a difference that I was reading it first. Well, it did. In Awaking, Gerber goes through steps that an entrepreneur would follow to realize his dream of building his business. I couldn’t believe that Mr. Gerber even considered charging people $5000 to take a seminar that would help them realize their dream, as he mentions in his book he would charge for this service. I couldnt’ believe that people would actually pay that amount of money, instead of doing the work themselves with the help of the very book I held in my hands. As I was getting inspired, after a while I was getting bored. This book was describing a business that seemed to have nothing to do with me. I wanted to be small. I expected to stay small. I had no intention of building my business idea into something that would change the world. I just wanted to work at something that I could control and possibly stay at home doing. It wasn’t until I read E-Myth Revisited that I discovered that I was setting myself up to fail. I was just the “technician” that Mr. Gerber was describing. And as he described the story of “Sara”, I immediately saw my father and his business. I saw how Sara’s mistakes in her business were the same ones my father made. My father had a very successful business, and somehow, it slowly died. I thought that I knew why it died, and that his story was singular. But reading Mr. Gerber’s explanation of what stages a small business goes through made me see that my father ended up being another statistic. His story was not the exception. In some ways, I wish I could have known then what I am learning now, and perhaps helped him somehow. But at least I can now help myself and try to keep my future small business from also being another statistic. It’s hard work. As Gerber explains, the technician must change. I must change. And it’s hard. It’s like telling a fat person to think skinny. It’s trying to deprogram your whole sense of self and reprogramming something foreign and unpredictable and unsure. It’s not the best feeling, but it’s necessary to succeed. A relative who read my blog said that all my new interest in business is just a phase that I’m going through and I will get over it. I believed her. It must have been, since it’s so not me. But if I ever want to have a small business, I cannot get over this phase. I need to invite the change. I need to review the philosophy over and over and keep reading and learning until I’ve imprinted it into my being. Writing about it helps keep me going too. To anyone out there reading this, thanks for just being there.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: March 17, 2010
To anyone who’s reading my blog, I apologize for not writing in a long time. See, I was reading a book that was taking a long time for me, and I didn’t want to write anything until I finished it. Well, I didn’t finish it yet because I just lost the fire. I forgot about my business plans, or more honestly, didn’t care anymore. I was job hunting and doing other errands in life while my ideas for starting a business slowly diminished. Only the library was keeping me connected, letting me know that another book i had put on hold was ready to be picked up. So now, I have TONS of books from the library to read, and I refuse to give them back until I at least read most of each book. So off I went, beginning the next book on my list without finishing the one I was going to review. I am once again on the path to learning more about business and money. I guess it’s so hard for me because it’s not something I naturally enjoy doing. It fits into my enjoyment for learning new things, but given the choice to learn about business or liberal arts, I would choose the latter. So I’m struggling. I’m pushing myself. It’s still a dream of mine to work for myself, so I am trying to continue to keep learning so when I, one day, finally get to the trying out point, I won’t be going in without a clue.
So, I’m back and writing again. Stay tuned for 2 book reviews by Michael E. Gerber.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: February 17, 2010
I just found out the second catch to getting this home based business packet. I don’t remember agreeing to this, but apparently, if i don’t return the introductory packet, they’ll charge my credit card $35!!! UNBELIEVABLE!
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: February 11, 2010
So because I’m on the internet a lot lately, searching for something to do at home in order to make some money, I came across a website that advertised a home based business. I found this site on Craigslist where I was searching for a job. The writer on this website convinced me enough to spend $10 in order to receive a packet that would have a step by step proven system that I could learn from to start a business from home. He even offered to pay back the $10 for shipping if I wasn’t satisfied. So I thought, Hey, why not? If this all seems to just be a scam, at least I only spent $10. What convinced me most was that the company was aproved by the better business borough. I became excited. This might be what I was searching for; an online home based business that would be taught to me. They also promised me that someone would call me within 24 hours to be my mentor. Doesn’t that sound good? So, I signed up.
My mentor called me the next day. I missed the call and he called again the day after. Such persistance was reassuring. He said I’d be getting the packet in the mail the next day and I should read it, watch the DVD and then we’ll talk again and he’ll answer any questions I have. During this time, I dreamed of all the money I would make, and how I would spend it. They advertised this fool proof system so well. All I needed to do was follow thier detailed instructions…. what could be difficult?
The packet came in the mail. It was much smaller than I expected. I thought, how could a fool proof system fit in such a small booklet? I read it and watched the DVD. Once again, it was the same advertising. Other people’s success stories, and a vague explanation of a home based business. One thing I detected (although they, in no way, directly said it) was that whatever this system was, it included me selling something that had to do with dieting. That’s when I became sceptical. What was this product? why were they taking so long until they revealed it to me? I couldnt wait until I spoke with my mentor again.
The next day my mentor called. He had a system of his own that we were to go through before I hammered him with my questions. Lucky for me, his audio program was not working and I got to ask them.
What was this product nobody was mentioning? Herbal Life! Well, why didn’t you tell me to begin with? I wouldn’t have wasted mine and your time! I’ve tried the diet and it didnt’ work for me, and I know how much money you have to shell out initially on all thier products, and I was not willing to do that either. This “fool proof system” was not for me.
This made me wonder: why did they keep the product a secret for so long? Is there something about this method of marketing that works to get people to sign on? How can I use this learning experience in my own business?
In the meantime, I’m trying to get back my $10. Wish me luck!
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: February 9, 2010
Gary’s book reads like he probably speaks: overly enthusiastic and scattered. At least he admits in the book that he can’t write. He speaks about his own personal journey to becoming a millionaire through his passion and using social media and encourages the reader to follow similar steps. This book also speaks of having a certain mindset for success, which I guess will probably be a running theme in all these books I’m reading. It makes sense, doesn’t it? It takes me back to that children’s book with the mantra “I think I can, I think I can”.
He encourages everyone to have a blog, and comment on other people’s blogs in order to get people to see yours. He says that it may be possible that someone might end up offering you a job or a good deal or something. (I guess we’ll find out sooner or later).
I think he favors tumblr over wordpress for blogging. He encourages you to create a facebook fan page, and explains how to market yourself on twitter and other social networking sites.
The problem: Because I’m so new to social networking, I really don’t fully understand how all the websites work. For example: he says that after you create a blog post, you should distribute it through tubemogul or Ping.fm…. but once I’m on those websites, I have no idea what to do! I could create a username and password to be a member, but then what? I have the same issue with hootsuite.
In chapter 10 he goes into a step by step process. 1st: buy your domain name from godaddy.com. Then start a blog. Then, somehow find the money to hire a web designer or, for the poor people like me, just use a wordpress theme. He has 13 steps altogether which will bring you on the path of getting your messages out there and says that if this seems too tedious to do then close the book because you’re not cut out for this. Well, yes, to me this seemed tedious, but mostly because I still have to learn about how each site works.
After your blog or product becomes popular, he advises advertising. My issue is that he promotes decknetwork.net which costs $7600 a month! I’m going to look up Google Adsense first (after I read the book about how it works, because I have no clue!) He also gives tips on how to create more interest and make more money. (one tip I still don’t understand is: “Post it with an eBay affiliate link for the game. You’ll get a commission every time someone buys from the link” page 116.)In the appendix, he reviews all the steps to creating your personal brand and suggests some topics.
Overall, Gary seems to have a real desire to help the reader become popular and make money, and proves this by repeatedly inserting his email address so you can contact him with your questions, which I will do.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: February 9, 2010
I just finished my second Book by Robert Kiyosaki (RK), Cashflow Quadrant. It’s the follow-up book to Rich Dad Poor Dad. It does go into more detail about how you would begin to go from an employee or self-employed to a business owner and investor.
Because I have a hardcore employee mindset, it was really difficult to wrap my head around a new way of thinking. But RK is so repetitive, that eventually the philosophy gets ingrained. I have read his sceptics criticize his repetitiveness, saying it’s like an infomercial, and he must not really have what to talk about. I don’t agree. It was a little annoying after a while, but he succeeded in ingraining his philosophy. I do agree that this book may be juvenile to the business school graduate, but I don’t think that he is targeting people who know anything about business (Me). Perhaps one may think that I’m the typical sucker for paying for RK’s books, but I don’t have money for books…. it’s called a Library Card, and I’m using it!
RK sometimes seems to advocate against the traditional educational system, which could be misleading. For the school slacker, this sounds amazing because it sounds like he’s saying that you don’t have to go to school to be rich. That’s not the case. He’s basically sending a message that is not new: Education should be more engaging and less spoon-feeding information.
Pros:
He gets you to think differently about your spending habits and about your financial future. He motivates you to search for an alternative way to generate income in your life.
He admits that the process will be hard and you will most likely have failures.
He goes into detail about what kind of investors are out there and encourages you to find where you fit.
He gives you your first step to begin on your path to financial freedom. It’s as simple as creating a personal financial statement. It’s so simple, It’s almost comical that he needs to put it in his book, but it fits with his target market.
Cons:
RK tells you about three kinds of business systems you can get into, but doesn’t give you the first step into how you’d get into them.
Some of his deals seem impossible or unlikely, but it could be that it’s because he doesn’t go into much detail about the steps he used to make them. His critics say that some of his personal stories are just that: stories. Even if that’s the case, his general message is still worth something.
He begins the book by telling you the story of when he was homeless in order to show that you don’t need money to make money. But he doesn’t go into the details about how he was able to create his business system at the time of no money, and I sense it was because he somehow used some money in the end…..He tells you to use knowledgable people like financial planners and accountants and such in your business….. those people’s advice costs money….
Conclusion:
Although RK has his shortcomings (one even being that his critics accuse him of making up this “Rich Dad”), the message of his book is still clear and rational. You need to know about money in order to make money. Get an education in money making. If you didn’t go to school to learn this, then take classes, seminars, and read. I intend to read.
Stay tuned for my next business book review!
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: February 4, 2010
So when I started this blog, I was really motivated. I was going to change my career, join twitter and tweet. Get a website ASAP and blog every other day. But just as fires tend to die out, so did my motivation. I’m finding that I’m forcing myself to read the next book on my list of business books. I haven’t watched CNBC in a week. And I almost completely forgot about this blog. Twitter? that’s what people who have blackberries use. I have an old phone that I can barely text with. That’s not going to last very long.
But about my motivation to change the way I work? It’s hard to motivate myself. Sure, if I had a job I would work, but that’s only because I wouldn’t want to be fired. And I wouldn’t want to let down the people I was working with. But at home, it’s much easier to nap while the baby sleeps than work. Reading a boring book on business in my spare time is not fun. I almost finished one of the books on my list, and was ready to give it a review on this blog, but I misplaced it, and I have no idea where it is now. (It’s a library book, so I’ll eventually have to turn the place upside down to find it). In truth, my second book that I started was not that boring. I just have trouble picking it up when other things are more enticing.
I have to set goals for myself.
My first goal: Finish my second book by the end of the week and write a review.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: January 28, 2010
For the past year, I have been suffering from a skin condition called Linear IGA. It’s painful, itchy and when it spreads, it’s usually so bad that I can’t wear clothing. I feel like I’m an Egyptian in biblical times, suffering from the boils plague. There is a medicine that I used that works wonders. The day after I take it, I can feel the difference. I recently had to get a new health insurance plan so I needed a new prescription for this medicine. You would think that it would be something simple like, the doctor writes a prescription, I take it to the pharmacy and eventually I pick it up and use it. But not this medicine. Because it’s an injection, and costs about $3000, it needs to be approved by my insurance. But why? why do they need to make me wait over a week, to find out if they approve a medication that will take away my suffering? Don’t they know that every day that I don’t have this medication in my system, I just get worse? I’ve been suffering this whole week, each day hoping, that tomorrow, somehow, I’ll get the medicine. In the meantime, I don’t like to leave the house and doing the simplest things, like holding my baby, is uncomfortable.
Posted by: creativemultitasker on: January 24, 2010
First, Let me tell you why I even picked up the book to begin with. I just had a baby and had no interest in going back to work so I spent a lot of time on the internet, searching for a job that I could do at home. One site mentioned something about working for yourself instead of someone else, and posted a link to a short video of Robert Kiyosaki talking about how to make millions. It interested me enough to ask my husband where he put his “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” book. You see, my husband did things like read books on business, read biographies, read “The Economist” and “Wall Street Journal”. I read novels and watched movies. But I figured that this book was short enough for me to read, since it takes me forever to read just a few pages.
There I was, taking a week to read what my husband would read in a few hours. I had so many questions. At least my husband could answer some of them for me. But as I read the book, I realized that I needed to let go of so many of my preconceived notions on life. For example:
I thought that in order to provide for a family, you had to learn a profession that made lots of money and go to work every day to get a paycheck, medical benefits and a 401k. Robert Kiyosaki says that this is the philosophy of “Poor Dad”.
I’ve been thinking about starting a home business since May 2009, while I was pregnant and suffering in a job that I hated going to. But six months later, with the stress of having less money, I was ready to forget my home business ideas and the fact that I hated going to work, and go back to doing the same job, or any job. Robert Kiyosaki said that it was my fears and insecurities that made me search for a job and not that I was just trying to be responsible and provide for my family.
Robert Kiyosaki says that in order for you to make money, you need to learn about money. This would include learning about stocks, bonds, real estate, and business. But all these topics were always so difficult for me to grasp. I always thought that people only went to business school because they couldn’t decide what else they wanted to do. Apparently, I was wrong, and people go to business school to become the next Warren Buffet. (For those of you who dont know who that is, dont worry, I only found out last week.) I thought that puting money in the stock market was only for gamblers. And real estate was only available to brokers and people with loads of money.
Robert Kiyosaki was saying that I was wrong and I needed to enhance my “financial IQ”. But there was no way I was going to go back to school. I don’t have the money or the time. But I do have a library card and I know how to put books on hold over the internet. So I now have ten books on hold in the library that I never thought I would ever read. I am hoping that I will be able to learn what I need to from these books.
I also started to watch CNBC. I am reading the Wall Street Journal, and The Economist. My husband can’t believe how much I’ve changed. I can’t believe it either. I’ve “Let Go” of all my former philosophies and thoughts to make room for new information that I hope will, some day, help me be financially secure.
