October 24, 2007

Pulling Money Out of Thin Air... How to Execute the Changes
You Desire... Free Flights Anywhere in the Country... Sell
Yourself for More Money... and More.

** Pulling Money Out of Thin Air
By Adrian Newman, Founder of e-Wealth Daily

On Sunday, I decided to venture up to Buffalo, New York, to go to a football game. And while the pro football industry is one of the most lucrative businesses in the country, what I saw from regular folks made me proud.

The stadium is surrounded by a residential area and, as you make your way into the stadium grounds, people are standing in their front yards holding signs offering motorists to park on their property for around $15.

But it didn’t end there.

Dozens of tents selling merchandise were set up all along the sidewalks. Even the local church was getting into the action.

Since traffic was very slow, I had a chance to speak to a homeowner who was renting out her front yard and selling bottled water.

She told me that she makes $150 for parking (10 cars) and pulls in another $200 or so profit selling water, pop and snacks.

Multiply that by eight games a year (if Buffalo makes it into the playoffs, you can add another game plus increase your prices) and she’s pulling in $2,800 extra income for the year.

That’s not big cash, but it’s like pulling money out of thin air. Sure, she’s buying a couple cases of water, and pop and snacks, but she’s marking them up high and the inventory keeps for a long time.

Plus, she realizes the demand and is capitalizing on it big-time.
 
I’ve seen this before for concerts, fairs and other big events. Some people don’t like it when these events come this close to their homes. Others turn it into a moneymaking opportunity.

Just a final note, I asked the woman what she does with the extra income:

“Buy cigarettes!” she yelled.

Oh well, nobody’s perfect.

What do you want from life? Though I would love to say that most people have everything that they want, the fact of the matter is that most of us would like to make a change here and there.

You might want a new career, a raise, a promotion, more responsibility, or your own business. It doesn't matter what you desire, just know that it is obtainable. And I am willing to bet that there is a thing or two you desire.

Ask yourself this: "If this is as good as it gets, am I happy?" If you answered “Yes,” then congratulations, but if you answered ”No,” then it's time to start making the necessary changes to make the move from being complacent to being completely happy and fulfilled.

Take a look at the following information for some tips on how to make some big-time changes in your life. Simple internal changes can make all the difference in the world. You have to realize your own worth before others can, so take some time and do an analysis of your current situation.

Do you want to change careers?

If you're not making enough money, if you don't feel fulfilled or appreciated by the individuals who you work with, or if you're not using your potential to its fullest, then it's time to move on with your life. Give yourself the time and resources you need to begin, and then review these following points:

Do you want to gain instant respect?

It doesn't matter who you are, where you've been, or even where you're standing right now. You are a human being, a unique individual, and you deserve all the respect you can command. And you will gain that respect, as long as you get these techniques down pat:

Want to make a good first impression, regardless of the situation you find yourself in?

How many times have you been in a position when you are meeting someone new? What will they think of you? What part of your personality will they take away? How will what they think of you impact your short- or long-term goals and achievements? Make every moment of an introduction count with these simple steps:

** Free Flights Anywhere in the Country
By John Hurd, Chief Wealth Researcher

I am always on the hunt for new and creative ways where people are attracting business and making more money. Keeping a business alive and continuing to attract new customers is always a challenge. But, when your market drops and you’re facing less than ideal selling situations, it is your creativity that could really help you continue to succeed.

So, when times get tough, it is time to really pull out the big guns. Take for example a real estate brokerage in Southern California. As you know, now is not particularly a great time to be selling houses. And when you’re catering to an upscale market like Southern California, it can be even more difficult considering the high prices of the homes along the coast.

In the hopes of attracting people to purchase newly constructed homes, this company is offering an incentive that can take you far away from your new home. Although, in the best possible way. You see, for mortgages over $500,000, this company will also give you enough airline miles to take 10 round-trip flights to any destination in the country. That’s enough miles to even make two round-trips to Asia!

So, what does buying a home and getting air travel miles have to do with each other? Well, this brokerage understands not only the housing needs of their potential customers, but they also understand the lifestyle of their customers. People buying a new house for more than half a million dollars have the income to travel. Whether they are traveling for business or for pleasure, this customer is on the move. This makes this offer attractive to the people they hope attract as customers.

Now, when it comes to your own business and you’re looking for new ways to attract customers, really consider what you know about the people you hope to attract. What are their outside interests? Is there a problem you can help them solve using your products or services that may not be immediately obvious?

Once you start asking yourself to what extent you can stretch your business to further reach your customers, you may begin to see something that is a unique and profitable opportunity. And if, after racking your brains, you can’t quite see something that you could offer, try asking your customers directly.

Do this by creating a survey, asking customers to share their opinions by filling out a short form or just simply starting to ask more questions when helping people with a sale. Now, most people may not come right out and say what they want, but by keeping an ear open at all times, you could find that winning extra factor that really sets your business apart from your competition.
 
Source: “California broker ties jumbo miles to jumbo mortgages,” Reuters, Oct. 17, 2007;
http://www.reuters.com/article/businessNews/idUSN1730731920071017?
feedType=RSS&feedName=businessNews

** Sell Yourself for More Money
By Michael Newman, the "Money Finder"

There may come a point in your career, and perhaps that point is right now, where you feel as though your contributions to your employer are undervalued. If this is the case, why not approach your boss about a raise?

Being paid accordingly for the job you do can work wonders for your happiness, production and feeling of self-worth. Collecting what you deserve makes your job worth doing — and nothing is better than waking up in the morning knowing that all the hard work you put in will be compensated accordingly.

Of course, with the end of the year right around the corner, it could be your best opportunity to make your request for a bump in pay. After all, management is going through all the finances so they’ve got money on the mind. However, before you go and ask for your raise, there are a few things you can do to make yourself appear a little bit more deserving.

First off, if you plan on going to your boss to request more money, you better be able to prove you deserve it — because you can be sure that the first thing out of their mouth after you ask will be some variation of the question, “Why?”  

Use this opportunity to list all the feats you have accomplished as an employee. Talk about any situations where you displayed keen leadership abilities, took on additional responsibilities and increased production around the office — and the bottom line. If applicable, use any numbers or hard facts you have to back up your claim to build a stronger case.

Let me suggest starting a “production log” as soon as possible. This way, you can keep track of all your accomplishments and have them nicely laid out for your reference before the meeting. You don’t want to be in talks and forget to mention something important that could help solidify your raise!

It’s also good to have a specific number in mind when you ask for a raise. Compare similar jobs in your field and geographic area to come up with a realistic amount. This shows your employer you’ve done your research and that your demands are not unsubstantiated.

Your timing is also an important factor in asking for a raise. Chances are your performance has not been recently reviewed, so approach you boss after you’ve just completed a particular assignment or task. This way, you can use it as a catalyst to exemplify why you deserve an increase in pay.

In the case where your employer refuses your claim, you still have options. For starters, your raise doesn’t strictly have to be of monetary value. Perhaps instead of a pay increase you can consider asking for increased vacation, increased flexibility in your hours, or other perks and benefits. Also, if your boss responds that they can’t give you a raise because the money isn’t there, then perhaps talk about upgrading your position in the company. A promotion makes it much easier for your employer to justify the increased expense.

By putting together a strong case, you could realize the satisfaction of making the salary deserve!