ABS, CBS, FOX, NBC - Examine the Evidence

We are already well into the mud slinging, positioning of a presidential election. We should listen to what the good ole boys at the local coffee shop are saying about the current state our economy.

The concrete contractor is down to only 2 crew member beside himself. The painting contractor has just filed chapter 11. Craigs list is filled with people selling computers dirt cheap. Wages for the blue collar worker is $1 to $3 lower than a year ago.

All we hear from NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX, and other news organizations low housing, and terrible storms. Otherwise they are painting as not so bad picture.

As the famous CSI, Gil Grissmon, says, "Examine the evidence". Look at is going on around you. The higher learning centers are reporting some interesting evidence. Take the look at the chart to the right from Fed Research. (Left click on the chart and examine the details.)

Cyber Crime Is Scarier Than Halloween

This is the season where all those scary ghost stories are told, in the movies and on television. But I can tell you an even scarier story that is no story. It is about the thief of peoples identity.

It starts by the Jeff visiting a website that is offering a great deal on a new iPhone by Apple. After the purchase information is entered on the website, and the credit card is verified, the website when to a thank you page.

That person never received their iPhone. Their credit card was maxed out in less than a couple of hours. Before Jeff realized what had happen, several days had passed. The thieves where working on from another website.

This year the FBI reported that crimes like mention above have surpass the drug trade by $40 billion dollars per year. Now that is scary!

There is many solutions, but I recommend INVISUS

Are We Adding To Britney Spears Troubles

Hours after losing child-visitation rights Thursday, the troubled pop star apparently ran over a photographer's foot with her car. Iggy may be in hiding, but the whole world has an opinion as to wheither to return Iggy or not. There is more on the news and daytime talk shows than there is about world affairs.

Britney Spears, Sandra Oh and other celebrities are hound by the C. Every turn any celebrity makes there is a lensman ready to take their picture. Good or bad their camera is poised to take a celebrities picture that we are more than will to see. Most of time the celebrities are just trying to be normal in an everyday world. It doesn't matter if it is a paper , television or internet tabloid.

Do some of these celebrities act out just to get more attention from the paparazzi? After all what better way to increase ones celebrity status.

Ellen DeGeneres' Influence - Where is mine?

Ellen DeGeneres' through her emotional out break on national TV has brought a wave of phone calls and emails on the animal rescue mission. Then that story hit several of the news wires. Is that fair?

Over the past several years, I have been preaching what the average computer user can do to protect themselves from identity theft. I only get these looks that it is going to cost them money. The idea anti-spyware, and anti-virus programs is a forgein idea to many people.

There has only been slight acknowledgment from the tech community about the answer. The influence of anti-spyware and anti-virus program vendor want to sell their products.

Why can't I have Ellen DeGeneres' influence on an issue that will affects more people worldwide?

Larry Craig - Please No More

The Today Show and all over NBC not to mention comments and bits on the other news networks.

Please! I am tired of covering my daughters ears. Don't you think that enough is enough.

There is a time when a news story is cover, but this one has been ruin. Who out there still wants to listen to more of Larry Craig?

Earthquake Los Angeles

Early this morning, while the residents of Los Angels there was a 4.2 earthquake. At the writing of this blog not much is know about what was the resulting damage. So say any more about it be to spread rumors of fear or comfort.

As one who has been through numinous earthquakes, I know it can be scary. A house or apartment starting to move from one side to the other. Starting out slow gaining in intensity, then as you start to panic it stops. Then you wait for more as scenes from earthquake disaster movies flash through your conscience mind.

The one big reassuring fact is that as long as I can remember building codes required a level safe. This means any building will with stand earth damage. Dishes and other lose items maybe shaken to the floor, but massive death and destruction is prevented.

Bottomline: I don't expect any loss of life from the earthquake. If there is any real major damage, it will be from old or decaying building.

Kelly Ripa Is Human

I was in Wal Mart at the check out stand when I saw a magazine with the words Kelly Ripa, caught my eye. Next to it was a round face woman. I had to look at it real hard before I could recognize it as Kelly Ripa.

Sometimes I come overwhelmed by all the problems in my life. I see people in the public eye and wonder why do they have problems. They have money, looks, and reputation. That is why I have to take a step back and realize that they are human too.

We all have problems. We all have failure. We all difficulties. The bottomline is how we deal with them.

We can be overwhelmed by the pressure or we can rise above the pressure. The choice is ours. Ours alone.

Sin, Sefishness, and Wastefulness

A selfish, wasteful, sinful youth doesn't make for a good life when you get old. God I wish I could undo a lot of what I have done, not to mention the my influence to others.

I sit in praying to make my family's life better. Thinking about the scripture that reads, "you reap what you sow". Praying that in the last few years of my life I can make a turn around and a difference.

I had left my first wife and two children. Not spent any real time with them as they were growing up. The 40 years of my life it was all about me. Money, sex, drugs, and my way. Now I want to change that.

Here I sit at 53 with a wife and 7 year old daughter on the edge of being on the street. I want to work, but the volume of work is not there. Bills are piling up. I am praying not just for a miracle, but redemption.

I don't want my wife and daughter to suffer for what I have done. I want them to see and experience I know to be true. That truth is that God is real and He will supply all our needs.

Life Takes Faith

Yesterday, I went on a service call where I could not understand why they called me. The problem was straight forward. Even through I did not open up the laptop and dive disassemble it to the system board, I knew the problem. It was as if they wanted someone to confirm the cause of the problem.

Later that day, I posted on Craig's List my surplus printer. I didn't expect them to sell, because used printers are a dime a dozen. The most expensive one sold before 7pm.

Considering the current down turn of the economy, it is hard to maintain a good cash flow. Owning a business, requires faith. Not just faith in my skills, but faith people will come knocking on my door, for work.

Faith is the bottom line. Believing that what needs to happen will happen. It is a much part of life as eating and breathing.

Politics and Life

Standing on a soap box and shouting to the world just merely informs the world that you care about an injustice. Writing about it in a blog or book is little more than trying to motivate people to take action. Either way they are words of inward passions making an attempt to rally other to the cause.

As we close on an Presidential election words, emotions, and passions are flying like bullets in the middle of a heated battle. The one who is speaking those words is looking out of one corner of their eye to see the reactions of the masses that are watching.

You may think that its hypocritical. Well, the winner is going to be the President of the United States for the next four years. It is how we elect our leaders.

The fact of life is we all make a statement. Stop! Then look for the reaction of those around us. If the reaction is positive, we continue on that course. If the reaction is negative, change and look for a new direction. Such is life.

North American Piranha

North American Piranha is related to their South American cousins in behavior only. Their physical traits come in the form of the two-legged human. North American piranha is known for their feeding frenzies on money that comes close. Food, unlike their South American cousin is a secondary motivational force. The North American Piranha is driven more for monetary gain with the promise of luxuries.

The North American Piranha run in groups with hierarchical structure. The top ones are trying to get the lower ones motivated to bring in more money and reproduce more piranhas’ to their group. This is done through meeting and phone calls to the groups weekly if not daily. Conversations always end up in a persuasive manner talking about the great good of the group and what it takes to climb the latter of success in that group.

They sell goods and/or services that are unique and top quality, so they say. The goods range and services range from flowers, soaps, to even computer security. They are always told what is being sold is what every person in the world needs.

You can bring in a lot of money if you pay this small fee to join my network. Then you can make more money if you reproduce more people selling for you. This type of behavior has been given many names. Only a good lawyer and the United States Securities and Exchange Commission can tell you the difference between Pyramid Schemes, Network Marketing, Multi-level Marketing, and Network Marketing.

South American Piranha

Piranha nicknamed the “Wolf of the Water,” is an amazing fish. It hunts in pack called shoals. They do not leave any chance of escape for their prey. The piranha’s anatomy is designed for short, sharp, bursts of speed. Their mouth is lined with razor sharp teeth. A piranha can strip most fish and animal to the bone in a very short time.

Piranha will not just eat what is front of them. They are fussy eaters. It is believed that piranha habits consist of small ducks, dogs, and small children. It has been well documented that human corpses have been dinner.

Piranhas have evidenced a strong influence use of habitat, and social structure. They go in a toforaging mode like other fish communities. The foraging mode shifts allow for flexibility to adapt to a variety of ecological conditions.

A school of piranha (or shoal) will have one or more dominant piranha, depending on the size of the shoal, i.e. the leader(s) of the pack. Even though the fish will often hang out together, in crucial moments the dominant fish will show its might. In most cases, the alpha-animal will be the largest, most aggressive and bold specimen, first at feeding sessions and owning and guarding the best spots. Any unwilling servants will be corrected instantly by aggressive behavior, chasing or even inflicting wounds.

American Piranha

In the rivers of South America is a fish that feed on flesh live or dead. They are known for their feeding frenzies of any flesh that fall into the water.

In the United States and Canada is a group of humans that are know for their feeding frenzies on money that comes close. They are looking for all the people they can find to be part of their business.

They sell goods and/or services that are unique and top quality, so they say. It is always, you can make a lot of money if you pay this small fee to join my network. Then you can make more money if you get people selling for you.

The goods range and services range from flowers, soaps, to even computer security. I have nothing against the products and services, even if some seem to be priced a bit on the high side. There are times I feel they are feeding off my time and money.

Spread Your Wings As Eagles

An eagle will sit on the edge of a cliff then spread out its wings. In the process if leaning forward it falls into the air current. The air currents lifts him. In flight the eagle uses its wings and body weight to navigate.

This is what it is like starting a business. Call it faith in the laws of physics. Call it suicidal. It can grasp and paralyze you with fear or it can lead you to fly to new heights.

I have talked to several people who wanted to go into business for themselves. The first thing that held them back was fear.

A calm attitude. Intelligent market research. Good skills in the business model. Then a fearless passion along with hard work will lead to success.

Eagles or Turkeys?

Do you know the difference between and eagle and turkey?

An eagle will fly above circumstances. While a turkey stay in the middle. I am told turkeys will when it rains will open their mouths with heads up and drown.

If I am to rise above having customers pull me down with their request and delay actions, I must find a better quality. Usually it is the customer looking for a better quality and service from a business. The reverse holds true for the business?

Sitting patiently waiting for a customer to see you is not productive. Hagging over a price after the job has been completed. Changing conditions after the bid is given, and expecting the work to be done for less. All of these are will drag a business down. Not to mention the frustration and hating working for customer.

Never Give Up Never Give In

"Never Give Up, Never Give In," is the inspiring phrase that Tim Allen would say in a Star Trek parody like movie. The movie was about Tim Allen playing a character like William Shatner. In the movie a group of space aliens saw the transmission of a TV show, and believed what they saw. Tim Allen ended up helping the space aliens defeat the evil space empire.

There are times, I feel, helplessly trapped in a situation where I do not have the training, skills, or ability to accomplish what is required of me. Within in myself I want to run and hide within a safe zone.

But there is something within me that says, "Never Give Up, Never Give In".

Each time I go forward, I find I have the ability to do more than I think I could. It is just a matter of pressing forward pass all the doubts, and insecurities.

Business is Business

I am soft heart. I want to have my customers/client have the most efficient computer. I want them to be able use their computer's resources to the best of their ability. But their are times where money and their wishes must take first place.

I have a client whose computers and network is in bad shape. They have ignored the basics for quite some time. I want to go in and get it running top at peak performance, but they don't want to spend the money. It is going to a couple three thousand dollars just get it up to an acceptable standard.

I can give them only so much extra time. Any more will be cheating my business. It is like the old Biblical say, "casting pearls before swine". I am afraid what improvement that I do will not be kept up. The same condition of poor performance and spyware will exist in a few months.

Years ago when I work on commercial gas appliances, I spent half the night working a commercial gas stove. That range was used through breakfast, and lunch the following day. I showed about 2pm to present the bill for my work. That stove was in near the same condition as it was 24 hours before.

Bottomline their cooks were not taking care of that stove. I wasted my time for the extra energy I put into cleaning it. A couple month later, that restaurant had a fire. You guess it. The source of the fire was that grease laden stove.

Taking it on the road

I have never been one to sit still in a comfort zone. Even at the age of 16, I was hitchhiking through out north California. The first half of my Junior year in high school was at a school 60+ plus miles away.

Looking at some business networking possibilities, the idea of reaching out beyond the borders of Boise Idaho can be a reality. I remember a saying, "An expert is someone that lives more than 50 miles away".

I have the skills, the knowledge, and the passion. Why not? Why not help people with their computers, and small businesses? It would definitely increase my families income potential. When I mentioned it to my wife, she seemed to like the idea.

Now to put it out there to some national contacts and see what happens?

Have We Lost Wisdom?

It has been said that knowledge is power. Along with knowledge come responsibility. Some even believe that it is better to be ignorant. I disagree.

The world we live in is so big and complex it is impossible to know everything. So people have specialized their knowledge to their interests. Then they depend upon trusted sources to fill the gaps in area they know very little.

A level of knowledge is something we all need to have. That is known as wisdom. Wisdom is knowing how to use the knowledge we have. The old timers called it Horse Sense.

When I was young, everyone was expect to have a certain level of this wisdom. Today, people are taught it. These are classes given under the title, "In service training". Below is list of some of these classes.

1. Conflict Resolution (how to dealing with difficult people)
2. Sexual Harassment (how to act around the opposite sex)
3. Financial Management (how to save or spend money)
4. Safety Training (how not to get an physical injury)
5. Interpersonal Skills (how to interact around other people)

Have we spend so much time in from the our computers, televisions, and game consoles that we have lost the most basic of knowledge?

Not Just Overnight

No success happen overnight, or in a week, or in a month. It takes time, planning, and hard work. The distant observer may see an overnight success, that is only from their perspective.

A lot of life is learning what does not work, before what does work. Think about Thomas Edison, the inventor of the light bulb. Mr. Edison had more failures before he found what would work.

Moses, the most memorable individual in the Old Testament was in his 60's before leading the children of Israel over the Red Sea. He spent a lot of time in the desert, learning what works and what does not work.

In this age of information, learning can be done a lot faster. But it still does not happen overnight. The 20, or 30 something individual with a successful career, starts in their teens, if not younger.

Look, Listen, and Learn

Before any major change can be made in either marketing or structure of a business, there must be some level of research. The degree of changes must be exceeded by the degree/level of research done before those changes can take place.

Last night I was watching on a PBS television station about WWII. Some of the greatest blunder done by U.S. and British generals happen when they acted on what seem like the right thing to do. The result was the lost of hundreds of lives and thousand of wounded men.

Yes, starting, operating, and directing any business is a risk. The risk level can be greatly reduced by research and testing. Before any major action or direction is committed. That is why I have titled today's blog post; Look, Listen and Learn.

Anyone who looks and listens must learn from what is observed and heard. Then a course of action can be planned. Then that planned can be implemented with some surety of success.

Listen

I have read so many articles and books about marketing. I struggle with learning what marketing techniques will work in Boise Idaho. I have satisfied clients, but the volume is not where I need it.

It is not easy to find a nitch that fits the home office and small business market. Especially when the computer industry keeps changing. Hardware and software prices go up and down as bad as the stock market. This makes it difficult to give good service at a completive price.

Have you ever tried to hit a moving target? It is not easy! That is what it is like trying to find a nitch market in the computer/networking industry.

Then when I lease expect it, you hit a home run. A couple month back I launched a new website. Its name and title is "I Can Do Tech.com". The monthly unique visits for September blow me over. They rocketed beyond any of the other website I manage.

Maybe that kind of service is what people are looking?

Trim The Fat

Every business comes to a point that in order to stay flexible they must trim the fat. The past few months has been a changing, adapting, metamorphosis for my business. Now that I have a clearer picture to what the business is changing into, the next step is to trim the fat from the websites.

TENSolutions.biz and EFCussins.com are the two major websites that are going to get trimmed. What is not read, will be trimmed. Content that is read and used will be expanded. Navigation will be made easer to find certain content. Readability and usability will be improved. YouTube will have some embedded tutorial on I can do tech.com.

Business is not a game, or a toy. A business has been referred to a war over attracting, providing for a good client, customer base. Where there is more completion, there is must be a more muscular business. Trimming the fat is one of the many steps for a clear, efficient business that provides services and goods to its clients new and old alike.

Slave To The Business

I was talking to a couple that own a business. Their lives are so consumed with the business that their social life evolves around the business. I know owning a business can suck the owner into a form of slavery to that business. This is what I saw, as I spoke with this couple.

In our high pressured society a business owner has to be on top of every little detail. If not those details will get out of control. However, there must be a time for family.

Many years ago, I had my first business. I became a slave to it. I had lost my marriage. My wife, at the time, told me she was kicking me out, and wanted a divorce. She did it by writing me a note, then put it in my Day Timer. It was three days before I saw it. That is being a slave and consumed!

Whatever stage of growth a business is in, there must be time to spent outside of the business. It is a struggle, fight, a near impossible task, but it must be done.

Today - It is good

A cup of coffee and good music sets the tone for a new day. I have listen to a chapter from the Bible. I reflected on the yesterday. I plan today's activities, while my cat (Princess) sits on my lap. She likes to oversee my early morning.

Yesterday, was mostly behind my computer. Setting up email accounts, domain names, and other stuff on the server for my clients. I, even, got to spend some time to catch up on my continual education thru listing to podcasts and videos.

Today is going to be a day on the road. Teaching, coaching, and discussing project details. Oh yes, making visits to a couple friends and people I owe.

At the end of the day I will get home to my family. We will watch some of the new television shows. Then we will go to bed. I will turn my face to the wall and thank God His mercy. I will thank God for giving my health back to me. Then I will fall to sleep.

I Love To Teach/Coach

I love to teach. I love to teach adults new skills they thought they would never have or do. The eyes of a student when they open their first email is very fulfilling.

I love to coach. I love to see an individual go beyond perceived limitation. A client who takes basic computer knowledge, then along with my advice, direction and encouragement sets up their own music list, on a computer. Then uses that music for background while working.

My pain, frustration and struggle is and inward fight to get through this life. Helping another forces me to reach beyond myself. To see an individual grow, expand, reach beyond the perceived limitations makes my problems so small. It is as if in their growth pulls me up to a new level of confidence, and growth in my own life.

Passion For Internet Security

My passion, my work, and my life is not just to get through x number of years and die. I want to make a difference in people lives. For most of my life that difference has been on the negative side. Now I want those I come in contact leave in a better state.

Yesterday, as the result of a call for help, I sent out an email to over a hundred people about a old internet scam that was resurrected infecting computers. It was putting popups on the monitor telling people their computer was infected and they needed to buy their software to get the infection clean. After the money was paid the popup would go away with a more hidden piece of spyware would be installed on the computer.

Last night I got an email that I had sold some premium security software to someone I do not know. In a city that I have not been. Recommended by a company I know very little. I felt good that I have that level of influence.

It is not building my reputation, or fame. I want to see people safe when they open the web browser to reach out on the Internet. It is no different than a city's chamber of commerce group pointing out the good place to eat and shop when you visit a their city. I just want to be that tour guide, pointing out the good and bad of the Internet. Giving some safety tips along the way.

Monday

Monday is not is not a reboot. Monday is not a refresh. Mondays is like a race car and driver come off pit row with new tires and a fresh tank of gas.

Saturday and Sunday, especially, is the time to get away from the pressures of work. It is a time to get recharged for another week of fighting traffic, bill collectors, and those difficult situations.

Despite all of the pressure and difficulties last week was a really fantastic week. However, I can not rely on the successes of last week to ride through this week. If I want to continue to have weeks last week I must press forward to have more.

Sunday is the time I use to reflect and rest up for this week. Monday is when I start to build on the good of last week.

Prepared for Thieft

There is a time in every business that I have ever owned where a customer or client was in a last minute jam. Their life or business came to a complete stand still. They call me with a desperate, "HELP!" Most of the time I knew they could not afford a triple rate hourly rate, for working after hours.

I would respond with the best tools and resources at my disposal. Most of the time the problem was solved or patched until the next regular business day. I was see and hear from the customer a big, Thank You of appreciation.

The next regular business day, when the near disaster was still in their mind I would set down with them and talk about disaster preparedness. Not just for big earth shattering, but for those big earth shattering ones in our lives.

Yesterday was one of those days. The customer is going to get a little heart to heart talk. We are going to work into his budget preventive and reactive tools to reduce the affect of his computer from having massive failure.

Listen

• Listen to what a customer has to say.


• Listen to what your friends are saying.


• Listen to what your wife or husband is saying.


• Listen to what your children are saying.


• Listen to the voice of God.

The is a lot to be learned from just listening to those around you. These is a lot of wisdom. They may possibly be telling how to avoid a train wreck.

This week I was asked to do a bid for an upgrade of a server and 10 workstations. I spent over an hour listening and asking question of the contact person, employees, and owner. At the same time I was taking notes. Then I went home to do the bid.

It took me about 3 hours over a 12+ hour period to put the bid together. The first step was to put together a bid on what they asked. The second step was to review what each group was not saying. Compare it to the bid then make additions or adustments. The third step was to review how each person at the site made their comments to me.

You see it was more than listening to words, it was listening to how and when the words were said, along with the tone of voice. In my limited knowledge, I hoped to gained understanding of how each person networked with and without computers. This way I could tune my work to be the best fit for them.

Friday Revelation

Sometimes I am my own worst enemy. I forget to slow down and take what I think at the time is the easy road is actually the more difficult road.

There is a saying that he who doesn't stand for anything has no morals. Often times in my over willingness of helping and reduce conflict, suffer my own soul to corruption.

This I know is wrong, but I do it anyway. This I have got to change. I need to take my set up morals, and keep them as a basic guidelines.

It is Friday. Not a really good day to start an adjustment of my life. But it is better than not at all. Hopefully it is not to late.

Passion, Faith, and Success are three words that don't seem to want to mix. They are like oil and water. No matter how much you stir them afterwards they separate. Each to its own level in the jar.

My passion is helping people make the most of their computer. At the same time being safe. My faith is not yet seen. My success has gone in the reverse direction. There is none.

I get good feedback. I get pats on the back that I am on the right track. However, the creditors stand at my doorstep waiting to take everything that I have.

My prayer is not for me, but for my family. I am suppose to take care of them. Any volume of constant work is not their. Now I have to make more money in one day than I ever have. Now my faith has to pull success up.

Just In Time

At one time I worked for this company that had a buyer who believed in the moto, "Just in Time." It seemed that when parts or supplies can in it was within a hour of the time we needed them. Of course in winter, if a supply truck got held up because of snow, need supplies were late.

Life seems to have taken on that same philosophy. Work comes in, or money comes in just in time to pay a bill. Some call it living on the edge. Living pay check to pay check. But it is not a good thing, or is it?

In the Bible, when Moses and the Isrealites were crossing the wilderness they had to depend upon God daily for food and direction. My life has taken that turn. It is not easy, but my faith is increasing.

Just In Time forces me to put full trust in God supply the needs for my family.

Highs and Lows

If I have learn nothing else, business and life has its highs and lows. For every high point there is a low place.

Weekend sales usually out do that is sold during the week and especially on a Monday. Monday is like the recovery day for the rest of the week. Don't expect to make blockbuster sale numbers on Monday. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, is when most people are off work and spending their paycheck.

Whenever I go to an inspirational seminar or have a great time with family and friends, I have to expect a low period following. At first I thought that I might be bi-polar. It all turns out that to be part of the cycle of life.

I am writing on this subject as a reminder to myself. Monday was one of the low days. Money was spent, people were contacted, productive energy was expended, yet no dollars can into business. Watch later this week will hit a record breaking day!

Help In Time Of Struggle

We all struggle some more than others. What can help is talking with others that are going through struggles of their own. A support group for those who are struggling? If you want to call it that.

I remember a song from High School literature class. The choirs went something like, "No man is an island, no man stands alone." It is through that knowledge there is relief.

• Going to church on Sunday morning is not the complete answer.
• Praying to God for help and comfort is not the complete answer.
• Crying to a friend is not the complete answer.
• Going to a small support group is not the complete answer.
• The complete answer requires a combination of the above.
  

This past summer I went through some of the blackest times of my life. I was touched by Hades only to be allowed to live. My life will never be the same. I am slowly and surely walking away the gates of Hades. My faith grows. The struggle is still there, but I am making it through each struggle by the grace of God.

Struggling At 53

It has been said that life is man struggling against nature, against man, and staying alive. I have come to believe that more than ever.

Just when I think life is going to get easier, then a forgotten detail, or some social economic event brings about an increase in the struggling process.

A wasted, undisciplined youth has not made this year any easier. My heart still desires to reunite with distant family member. Even though those family member live within 10, 20, 300 miles away. I have fogotton when I saw them last not to mention what they look like.

Money, the business, present family, and God consume my thoughts. Not in that order. I still want to make things right with them all.

I still struggle. I crying out to God as I go to sleep asking for help. Help to be delivered me from myself. The biggest things that hinders me from struggling less is me.

A Lot Of People Are Struggling

There are times when you think that you are just getting ahead of the rat race, then a call from a creditor or debt collection. There is an old bill or debt that slip my mind. All I would like to do is get ahead of the fire fighting stage.

The current state of our economy is quite depressing. The only relief is seeing that I am not in the only one that is struggling. After watch the national new, last night, there is a lot of other people who are in the same boat.

My business is computers, I watch different eBay and Craigslist to keep up the prices of used desktop and laptop computers. Yesterday, if I didn't know better I was watching the start of a depression. The used computer market was falling like a rock.

Then only real encouragement I get is when my wife looks at me, with a smile and say, "Things are going to get better."

I am not a 9 to 5 person

There are times I enjoy having my own business and then there are times I wish I could just get a 9 to 5 job. But the truth be told I am built more for the independence of owning my own business.

There is about one day a week where I am in the shop just in front of the computer, learning, writing, and looking for news ways to bring business. There is another day where I am just running errands; not bringing in money that day. The rest of the week is doing service calls.

One day I will make my first stop will be 5:30 am. The next day it may start at 8:30 and end at midnight. Then sometimes the first service call will be 10:30 am. Of course my day starts at 3 am on the average.

Why 3 am, you ask? That is when I get my first cup of coffee, listen to a chapter of the Bible, and do some writing. By 5 am I am starting to have breakfast. So if my first service call is not until 10 am, I am back in front of the computer or on the phone.

So tell me how I can squeeze in a 9 to 5 work day into what I do?

Long Hours, Early Mornings

9 to 5, Monday thru Friday is for the faint hearted. The real strong person is the one who works long hours and early mornings. Why? They want more from life than wages.

The truck driver who works is FedEx has security of working for a large company. The independent long haul trucker trades that security for the self satisfaction accomplishment. The same goes for the painter, small shop owner, or anyone who has their own business.

As I woke up this morning I was thinking of a trucker movie of the 1970's. The name of the movie was Convoy. The name of the actors is not important. What is important was how they glamorized the spirit of the trucker. The unity, the loyalty the truckers felt for each of other, because they were struggling free spirit. They were earning a living by the sweat of their brow and their whits.

This is the true spirit that goes back through time. We should not let go. Yes, large corporations have their place. Some people are happy working their. But for me give me build a life with my own hands and mind. Something that my family and I can be proud that we built.

Struggle Without Expected Results

Why do some people are just work and don't seem to get anywhere?

I know several people who are good folks. They work hard, but seem to be locked into a level of struggle. Then there are others who find a comfortable lifestyle. Both are good hearted people. What makes the difference?

Maybe it is that we all struggle. Some have a better lifestyle than others. Maybe some are comfortable in a certain lifestyle?

I remember my dad would not take a promotion where he worked. When I asked him about it, he would simple say that he didn't want the headaches. He did not want rise above the level we lived.

I don't have the answer. In my life I have struggled. I have fell on my face quite a few times. I am still here. I am working. I am struggling to get life's answers. This will more than likely will be the way I am until I shed this earthly shell.

9/11 Plus 6

Six years ago today a large portion of the world was change. It has and will never be the same again. Not just for the families of the lives that were lost. Not for the survivors of wreckage the followed. The lives of individuals who saw the smoky towers crumble through television and internet pictures.

The obvious affect is seen when you go to check in to take a airplane flight. What about the airline worker that are grounded because of emotional trauma? What about all the businesses whose flying policy for their employee changed?

We are still affected by the events on that day. But I go on. I have not flown on an airplane since. My travel has been limited to a car, and that is within a days journey. My wife does not say much, now. She is just starting to mention it would be nice to travel, but she mentions nothing about flying.

Life goes on. We make the best of what we have regardless what is happening in the world around us. We pray then walk out our front door each morning.

Happy And Stretching My Mind

AA Mline the author of Winnie the Pooh rated the way people think. He considered a third-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the majority. The second-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking with the minority. The first-rate mind is only happy when it is thinking. In the character Pooh Bear, you can read the struggle to be fire-rate.

As often as I wanted to be part of the majority, I seem to be part of the minority. Then there were times I felt my thinking was part of an island in the middle of an ocean of conformity that likes to complains.

Finding a business model, a subject to write about or even, taking a stand on an up unpopular issue is not easy. I often wonder if a nice 8 to 5 job would be better. I have done it. It was very stressful.

Now I am in debt. Slowly climbing out. But I have never been happier in my life. My dependence on God, time with my family, and having to use my brain has stretched be beyond what I could of have imagined.

A Time To Work and A Time Rest

The biggest temptation for be is to work and not rest. I get afraid of the slow times, so I want to keep working, so when a slow period hits I have a health reserve built. This usually pushing my family and my body to second place.

The last week or so I have been working everyday. A couple of days, at about 7 pm, I hit the wall. I was so tired that all I could to was fall on my bed and go to sleep. This was with the protest of my mind.

Then yesterday, I decided to rest unless someone called. No one called. That was good. I spent time with my family. I watched Jimmie Johnson win the NASCAR race. At first I was feeling guilty. Those feeling faded when I saw my daughter and wife enjoying a walking through a group of art exhibits in a local park.

Don't tell me show me.

"Walk the walk and talk the talk."
"Don't tell me, show me"
"Money talks; bullshit walks."
"You shall know them by their fruits."

I could go on. All of the above chics tell us three things.

1. There are people who sell themselves as something their not.
2. There are other sell themselves by their actions.
3. The second group of people will get things done.

At times I feel sorry for the people from the first group, when they are start not to fulfill their sell. To keep from being embarrassed they work twice as hard not to reveal their inability to do what they said they could do.

Friday, I set behind the poor soul who could not write the correct computer code. I was starting to have to teach them. I was getting paid to teach. The lack up skill was beyond what I could help them with in a couple of hours.

Core Values

January 1st is when people are to make resolutions for change and growth. After a couple of months the resolutions for change are just wishes for change. I never hear of anyone making a resolution at the end of the summer.

This past summer I has been such an inter core changing time, in my life. I have seen the need to upgrade three core values. The following values are ones.

1. Being happy - I am not going to allow myself to be overcome by sadness and depression. It brings down not only myself, but my family at the end of the day.
   
2. Knowing what's important - This has to with keeping a proper perspective on life and what is happening around me. I can no longer walk around with rose colored glasses.
   
3. Maintaining discipline - Taking care of business in a timely manner. Doing what I have to do, and going the extra mile to make sure it is done right. Not just in my eyes, but in the eyes of those whom it affects, also.
   

Another Case Why To Backup

Listening is very important. Not just to the words a person is saying, but to the meaning behind those words.

I received a phone call from a client who was upset. A few days before I was asked to clean dead and unused files from his computer. His voice, over the phone, was very angry. I had deleted some files that was important to him. He said that I had deleted all his invoices and mailing list.

I rushed over there. He was a little more calmer when I walked through the door. Now he was telling me there was only a couple of files he could not find.

Then I turned to him and asked for his memory stick with his backups. He looked at me with a blank look. After a couple of minutes he came from his office with it. I plugged it in the USB drive and produced the files he thought he had lost.

Yes, I did listen to him completely, before I started deleting files. When we scheduled the appointment, I asked him to do a back up of all his important files. This is another case for how important it is to back up regularly. If he had not backup those files they would have been lost.

A Smile For A Smile

A smile for a smile, a frown for a frown. You can create your own work environment. You don't have to be overtake with the negativity of others.

In my travels, the most productive people are the most positive. Those who have a frown or walk around with a cloud over their head are the ones who accomplish little. I believe it is because they are so bound up with negative emotions, they can not do much. Certainly they are not flexible to adjust to change and adapt to what is happening around them.

This is especially true when it comes to a individual or small business. The virtue of a smile and a willingness to change makes the difference. I have lost track how many times I have to change, adapt with a smile. Looking back it was all for a good reason. I am better off today, because I did.

Music Video Says Its All

It is hard to express to non-technical savvy people. Business owner, and Geek devoted to help non-technical people with their computers can be difficult. At the end of the day my energy is low.

Once in a while something comes along that makes me feel like I am understood. I have share the video with a few friends. They are now convinced that I am off my rocker. Click on the link Hard Meets Soft and judge for yourself.

Labor Day the Day of Work??

I could never understand why on Labor Day so many don't do any labor (or work). When they were putting together a day to take off from work, they must of have run out of names. So the day to mark the end of summer was named Labor Day. It has been observed since September 5, 1882.

Well, this Labor Day, I am working. So many people took off this weekend. I was quite busy Saturday. I have to work on Labor Day to make up for the lack of workers. Thank God I was able to rest on Sunday.

Today, I am going to spend half of the day with my family. We are headed to the miniature golf course for some good old fashion fun. I am not going to let the rest of the nation take the today off while I slave behind a computer.

What Is The Perspective?

Perspective is everything when talking with anybody. Yesterday, I did five business transactions. Each one was a little different. The people, the surrounding, the service, the merchandise, and urgency all affected how the transactions was handled.

Did you know that every computer is a little different. The combination of hardware components, the combination of software programs, and the environmental conditions all affect how that particular computer reacts in any set of circumstances.

When it comes to any interaction, in my life, personal or mechanical, I must keep in the back of my mind what is affecting my perspective along with what is affecting those around me. Otherwise I will never really understand what is really going at that time.

Awake Yet Rested

It is 3:11 am. I am wide awake yet I am rested and excited for today.

I know this is a Labor Day Weekend. Most people are getting out of town for one last time to end the summer. Not me, I have a full day of service calls. I am currently booked from 9 am to 6 pm. I think it is great!

The summer was so dead when it came to work. I was sick, almost to the point of death. My wife was so upset she could hardly work. In fact she was fired from her job for being so stressed. She was worried that she would lose me. There was little money, we had started praying for food and gas, just to get from one day to the next.

I am so excited that I can not sleep! I will have a $250 to $400 day. I want to make sure all the invoices are printed. There is enough time between each service call so I don't have put anyone real late.

Well, I better get to work, maybe I can get another hour or two before I have to get on the road.