Tag Archives: personal finance

Why Do Many Small Businesses Fail?

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I often receive enquiries from persons who are looking for advice on how to be successful in starting and running their own small businesses. I also get feedback from disheartened business owners who have seen their entrepreneurial dreams transformed into financial nightmares.

A common complaint from local entrepreneurs is that it is extremely difficult to operate a business in Jamaica. However, business challenges are not limited to this country, as international statistics indicate that anywhere from one-third to one-half of new enterprises will fold within the first five years of operation.

While owning a business can be a route to achieve personal financial security, it is a reality that many people will experience a negative result from their entrepreneurial attempts.

There are many reasons why business success may be elusive, but I think they can be grouped into three categories – inadequate knowledge, insufficient capital and inappropriate opportunity. Continue reading Why Do Many Small Businesses Fail? →

Knowledge is Power in Business

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Sixteenth-century philosopher Sir Francis Bacon is credited with coining the phrase “knowledge is power”. I enthusiastically support his viewpoint, as I believe that the pursuit of knowledge is an important means of personal development.

However, acquiring knowledge by itself is not sufficient; the key to real growth is applying what you have learnt to improve your life.

Searching for new ideas may sometimes be likened to opening the mythical Pandora’s Box. Like the ancient tale, exercising a natural curiosity to find the unknown could result in the discovery of truths that would have been better left hidden, and may even bring danger in some instances. Continue reading Knowledge is Power in Business →

Developing Successful Jamaican Businesses

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Many of the financial books that I have read indicate that establishing a business can be a means of increasing your personal wealth. Whereas being frugal and saving consistently may eventually produce a significant nest egg over time, if you wish to fast-track your money growth, then business ownership might be your best route.

Last week we looked at the option of joining an established network marketing organisation as one method of getting involved in a business system. However, many persons who desire to be their own bosses may prefer to personally create a unique entity in order to satisfy their business dreams.

The reality is that starting and building a new venture can be one of the most difficult strategies of wealth creation.

To be successful, an entrepreneur must commit a lot of time and resources, acquire specific business knowledge and skills, and develop a persistent outlook that can overcome the various challenges that will inevitably arise in operating an enterprise. Continue reading Developing Successful Jamaican Businesses →

How to build a business with little time or money

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“You have advised that if I want to increase my wealth I should focus on earning income from my own business. I have a full-time job and I don’t have much time or extra funds to put towards starting a business or making any investments. Given these limitations, how can I possibly own a business?”

We have been looking at some of the steps recommended by several financial experts that can help you to increase your wealth and achieve financial security. Robert Kiyosaki, in his insightful book, CASHFLOW Quadrant, advises that owning a business should be an important element in your personal wealth accumulation plans.

If you really want to be financially free, it’s important to create an income source that is independent of your personal work efforts.

According to Kiyosaki, owning a business system is an integral part of creating this freedom. However, running a successful business is not a hobby or part-time exercise; it takes time, courage and determination. Continue reading How to build a business with little time or money →

Create Wealth by Building a Business System

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We have been looking at some key principles of financial success – becoming disciplined about budgeting and saving, being prudent about getting into debt, and setting and achieving smart goals. We have also discussed the importance of creating additional income to meet your basic money needs.

However, if you want to attain financial security and eventually become financially free, you have to move beyond just managing your money well and learn how to effectively multiply your money. You need to acquire new skills and techniques that can help you to create long-lasting wealth.

Understanding how to multiply money is usually difficult for most people because it involves changing long-held negative mindsets towards making money. Although many people say they want to be rich, they are really not willing to put in the hard work that’s required to learn how to do it. Continue reading Create Wealth by Building a Business System →

Money Lessons from the Mango Tree

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There’s no time quite as enjoyable for the typical Jamaican as mango season. Every sense is stimulated as the sight, smell, feel and taste of a delicious mango will herald an enjoyable experience. Even hearing the words, ‘Would you like a mango?‘ can bring a heady anticipation of coming delights.

It may not be immediately obvious how eating a juicy mango could lead me to reflect about money. However, because I’m immersed in money issues — coaching people with money problems, reading material from money experts and developing resources to teach others about money — then anything and everything becomes an opportunity to discover something new about money.

I have recently been sharing some of the money lessons that I learned from books and CDs, but there are also everyday occurrences that continue to teach me about basic financial principles. If you have a desire to uncover the secrets to financial success, then even the simple realities of life will supply you with useful insights.

Here are some of the lessons that I learned from observing the mango tree and its fruit. Continue reading Money Lessons from the Mango Tree →

Where does your cash flow?

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Are you struggling to find the answer to an important financial question? It is possible to find the solution to practically every money problem if you read extensively, concentrating on material that can educate you about personal financial success.

Over the past weeks, I have introduced you to several books and CDs that have helped me to learn the essential principles of money achievement. Just like physics, accounting or other subjects that you learn in school, money is governed by basic rules that dictate how you should manage, multiply and maintain it in order to attain financial success.

There is no magic solution that can help you to accumulate the wealth you desire; no perfect investment or sudden windfall of money will instantly turn your money situation from desperate to desirable. To obtain long-term financial security and freedom, you must first learn these money principles, and then apply them consistently over time. Continue reading Where does your cash flow? →

Developing Your Millionaire Mindset

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Last week, we introduced a fascinating audio book, Secrets of the Millionaire Mind, in which author T Harv Eker explains how people’s thoughts can actually influence their financial results. This week, we explore some of Eker’s insightful suggestions about how you can create a mindset for wealth.

Acknowledge that you create your results

It’s important to understand that you have the ability to design the destiny that you desire. Eker insists that you are the “steering wheel of your financial life” as you have the power to create what you have or what you don’t have. Unfortunately, too many people never achieve their goals because they think that forces outside of their control are responsible for their success or failure.

Instead of taking responsibility for their future, Eker explains, people with poverty mindsets often blame other people and circumstances for their money problems. They also try to justify their financial lack with comments such as, “Money is not that important to me.”

Constant complaining is another form of negative energy that actually ensures that they only attract more problems. Continue reading Developing Your Millionaire Mindset →

Who Wants to Have a Millionaire Mind?

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Here’s a fantasy scenario: If you had to choose between getting a million dollars in your hand tomorrow, and being given the mind of a millionaire but no money at all, which option would you take? Would you say, ‘I’ll take the money!’ or ‘I’ll take the mind’?

There are many benefits to be obtained from having access to a large sum of money; the opportunities for profiting from a sudden influx of wealth should be almost immeasurable. Yet we constantly hear unfortunate stories of persons who have received sudden fortunes, such as lottery winners, and who end up losing all their money in a short time.

On the other hand, there are inspirational tales of very wealthy people who, through business failure or some major calamity, lost everything they worked hard for, only to regain it in a few short years.

Donald Trump’s riches-to-rags-to-riches-again story comes readily to mind as a perfect example of someone who, although he lost his money, didn’t lose his ability to make money. Continue reading Who Wants to Have a Millionaire Mind? →

Procrastinate at your peril

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“Procrastination is opportunity’s natural assassin.” – Victor Kiam

The failure to finish important tasks is one of the major challenges that can stop you from achieving your financial goals. Many persons truly desire to improve their finances, but their dreams fade away because they make little effort to carry them out. Talking about your goals is great, but you have to take action in order to achieve them.

Years ago, I realised that my habit of procrastinating was seriously hindering my ability to create the financial lifestyle that I desired. Although I learned the right steps to make with money, many times I put them off for a later time that never arrived. I have regretted instances in the past where opportunities remained unfulfilled just because I didn’t act in time.

I had attempted to conquer my habit of procrastination by reading about ways to become more efficient in my use of time. My attempts to change were largely unsuccessful as I would often put off doing the recommended action items!

However, I knew that if I was going to be successful with money, I would have to learn to slay the dragon of procrastination, once and for all. Continue reading Procrastinate at your peril →