Tag Archives: Jamaica

Get Mad and Get Going!

Goals, , , , ,

“When will this ever end?” Martha groaned in frustration. “If I have to face one more tirade from Mr Johnson for a mistake I didn’t commit, I’m going to scream!” Martha reflected on the practice of her dishonest supervisor to blame his junior staff for his own errors of judgement. Since Mr Johnson got promoted six months ago, he had made her job a daily nightmare.

For the third time that day, Martha daydreamed about what her life would have been like if she had followed her heart. Doing administrative work was not her real desire; in school she had excelled in home economics and had wanted to pursue a career in catering. However, she doubted that she could have earned a living at it, and had studied business at the community college instead.

Twenty years later, Martha was amazed at the developments in Jamaica’s food industry and a little envious of all the persons who had risen to stardom in the field. She still treasured baking as a hobby and enjoyed the praises of her friends who encouraged her to go into business using her talent. “What’s the point?” she sighed. “I’m too old now to make a change.” Continue reading Get Mad and Get Going! →

How To Motivate Yourself to Sell

Book Review, Income Creation, , , , , , ,

“You wrote recently about the importance of creating your own income. I agree, yet I find it almost impossible to proceed as I just don’t know how to sell anything. I have no motivation to make the effort to make the extra money I need, because I feel like I would be a total failure at it. How can I overcome this problem?”

Earning an independent income is vital for goal achievement; and selling is an integral part of this process. For some persons, the thought of selling is as welcome as going to the dentist with a cavity. However, you must conquer your anxieties to fix an ailing tooth; and if you really want to realise your financial dreams, you have to overcome your resistance to doing sales.

One reason that may demotivate many persons from trying something new, like selling, is that they lack confidence. The good news is that sales, like any other life or business skill, can be learned. There are simple, repeatable steps that novices can take, which will help them to improve their techniques and eventually excel at the task of selling. Continue reading How To Motivate Yourself to Sell →

Money Mission: Discover Your Motivating Force

Goals, , , , , ,

Recently I spoke to students in the Young Entrepreneurs Society at my former high school, showing them simple strategies to earn income even before they graduated. I encouraged them to learn how to establish viable enterprises in the future, reminding them that small business is the engine for growth that can turn around our country’s ailing economy.

After my talk, we had a brief question and answer session, and one of the students had a very interesting question for me. “What drives you to be successful?” he asked. Usually I am quite speedy in providing responses, but this question made me pause. To be able to give an honest answer, I had to really get introspective and consider my true motives.

I have always said that when you are establishing a goal, you need to be certain about what you want out of life and focus on why it is important to you. Don’t worry too much about the how it will happen. You only need to formulate the initial strategies that will get you started on the journey to your dreams; the rest of the pathway will reveal itself over time. Continue reading Money Mission: Discover Your Motivating Force →

More Money: Finding Earning Opportunities

Income Creation, , , , , , , ,

Most people will agree that having more money is essential, but many will admit that they don’t know where to find opportunities to earn from their own efforts. Our education system does not really put much emphasis on self-employment and entrepreneurship; so many graduates leave school with a dependence on external sources to generate an income.

Our columns for this month have been dedicated to helping you understand what you need to do to increase your earning potential by creating your own sources of income. If you are going to survive and succeed in these challenging economic times, you will need to focus a lot of your attention on making extra money in your spare time.

This week, let’s look at some simple strategies that can help you to identify and take advantage of various opportunities to create your own income. Continue reading More Money: Finding Earning Opportunities →

What does it take to earn more?

Income Creation, , , , , , ,

Last week we looked at the importance of placing a value on your work effort. Most employees are constrained by the amount of money that their jobs will pay them, as their work value is dictated by someone else. To earn enough money to fulfil your goals, you need to create your own avenue of earning where you can determine the true worth of your work time.

Over the years, I have recognised that many persons only wish to have the end result of having more money, but are not really prepared to put in the necessary work to get it done. Before you can enjoy the fruits of success, you have to be willing to do whatever it takes to generate a consistent and worthwhile income source.

You must understand that positive changes will not occur in your life if you simply continue along the same pathway that you are on today. If you wish to generate additional funds to build your financial future instead of just living from pay cheque to pay cheque, you have to be willing to make some big sacrifices and do things differently. Continue reading What does it take to earn more? →

What is Your Work Really Worth?

Income Creation, , , , , ,

Our focus for this month is all about finding extra income sources that will give you the ability to save towards your financial goals. It’s not enough to just have a clear and specific dream that you are passionate about; you also need to identify exactly where and how you are going to create additional income to invest in your plans.

Last week we set a challenge that was especially directed at employees and anyone who believes that a job is the only way that they can earn. Your mission is to find a product or service that creates values for customers, and offer it to your friends, family and colleagues for profit. The objective is for you to get accustomed to making money from your own efforts.

With the current economic challenges, most people have few opportunities to increase their on-the-job income. Those who are fortunate to get a raise or bonus will find that inflation eventually eats away at the extra earnings they make. If you are determined to have enough money to improve your standard of living and attain your dreams, then you need to look within. Continue reading What is Your Work Really Worth? →

Money Mission: Earn Your Own Income

Goals, Income Creation, , , , , , ,

The goal-achievement race is more like a marathon than a quick sprint; unless you continually focus on the finish line, you might get discouraged by the long journey and give up along the way. Our Money Mission columns are aimed at challenging you to accomplish a specific task each month that will help you persevere with your dreams.

Previously, we addressed two of the stumbling blocks that can prevent persons from making progress on their plans – procrastination and the inefficient use of time. Another major drawback that many people face in their quest to attain their goals is that they don’t earn enough money to save for important financial objectives such as buying a home or retirement.

Independent earning is important

The reality is that with the rising cost of living and the inability of most employers to pay increased salaries, you will have to change your outlook on earning if you want to have more money. You can no longer expect a job to supply you with all the income you need to create your desired lifestyle; you have to learn how to generate other sources of earning from your own efforts. Continue reading Money Mission: Earn Your Own Income →

How to Overcome Time Poverty

Book Review, , , , , , ,

We have been looking at one of the main stumbling blocks to personal and financial success — the inefficient use of the precious resource of time. Many people will argue that they really wish to start the process of change that will take them towards actualising their goals, but they find it very difficult to dedicate enough time to do what is required.

With work commutes that can take hours, job responsibilities that go beyond the contracted nine-to-five, and various commitments to children, service clubs or school, the average person is severely starved of unscheduled time. We may be able to find ways to alleviate our money deficiencies, but how can we overcome the challenge of time poverty?

Educator and author of Overcoming Time Poverty, Bill Quain, explains that if you feel like you don’t have enough time in your life, you may think you can fix the problem by becoming more efficient at what you do. On the contrary, Quain says, “You don’t need more time to do the same things you are doing now. You need to do different things in order to have more time in your life.” Continue reading How to Overcome Time Poverty →

What Makes the World Go ‘Round?

Money Reflections, , , , , , ,

When asked, “What makes the world go ’round?”, some people will empathically answer “Money!” while others will firmly declare, “Love!” It’s been said that “money can’t buy love,” but there is also wisdom in the concept that “it takes cash to care.”

Many people think that it is impossible to actively pursue love and money at the same time. A job, the main source of income for most persons, is seen as a tedious chore that is only tolerated because it pays the bills. The idea of working for love seems like a childish fantasy.

Others are so obsessed by the need to amass riches that they will sacrifice human kindness to gain a dollar. In their greed for money, they will abuse and take advantage of people; and cheating and corruption often become necessary evils in their pathway to progress. Continue reading What Makes the World Go ‘Round? →