In Spite Of It All
January 28, 2010
It seems that there are still a lot of challenges for most Americans these days. The unemployment and underemployment numbers are high. Many small businesses are struggling. Many commission salespeople are struggling.
Sometimes we may feel like no matter how hard we try, we aren’t getting any results. If we aren’t careful, we can easily get frustrated or discouraged.
Recently I had a conversation with a friend of mine about this subject. One of the key points we discussed was the following.
In spite of it all – or in other words “in spite of everything that is going on around us” – we still need to keep at it. We can’t wait until things get better to get started.
We need to figure out, what we can do to be successful in spite of everything that is going on around us – in spite of it all.
Copyright Kevin Drum 2010
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
A Quick Break
January 25, 2010
Most days when I follow the news, it seems as though the headlines might as well read that “the sky is falling and that more disaster is coming.” We can generally find any of the following in the news:
- Bad economic news
- Bad political news
- Crime
- Disaster
- Bad news abroad
- Bad news at home
- Declining morality
- Divorce.
- Corruption.
- Scandal
- Bad news continued from yesterday
- Bad news expected tomorrow
- And on and on.
With technology, there is an overwhelming amount of news available to us now. Unfortunately most of the news we hear is negative.
I sometimes wonder why we don’t hear more good news. It seems to me that more good things should be newsworthy.
Do you remember to take time out every day and reflect upon your blessings? I often struggle to do this but it is important.
I find it helps when I take time to fill my mind with positive thoughts and to be thankful for all of my blessings. Even a brief vacation for our mind can be enough to help us lift ourselves up, refocus, and re-energize.
Consider the following:
Psalm 91:1
He that dwelleth in the secret place of the most High shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.
KJV
Copyright Kevin Drum 2010
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
DO What You Can Where You Are
January 21, 2010
Teddy Roosevelt, the 26th President of the United States, is credited with the following quote: “Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”
Teddy Roosevelt had a lot of great accomplishments. He was the 26th President of the United States. He is also known for his part in the National Park Service creation as well as many other things.
The quote above is a simple yet meaningful statement. We all have different life experiences. We all face difficult circumstances and have to overcome adversity. And we all have things that we want to accomplish.
Are there specific things that you want to accomplish now? Are ready for a new job? Are you ready to get your personal finances in order? Are you ready to make improvement in your family life or spiritual life?
In whatever way is most appropriate for each of us, in order to move forward, we have to start where we are now with what we have. The best time to start creating the changes that we want is now.
Are you doing what you can with what you have right now?
Copyright Kevin Drum 2010
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
Money For Everything
January 18, 2010
Recently the “Post and Courier” newspaper in Charleston, SC included the following quote:
“He that is of the opinion that money will do everything may well be suspected of doing everything for money” – Benjamin Franklin
We live in interesting times. We have so much technology and so many opportunities to make life better and more comfortable. There are ongoing improvements in technology and they come with incredible speed.
Unfortunately, many Americans feel stress from the current economic problems. The world can be very tough at times. I don’t believe that the unemployment numbers alone tell the story of how many people are struggling.
There are many commission based salespeople and small business owners that are dealing with much less income than in previous years. Additionally there are many other people that have jobs that took pay cuts as part of their continuing employment.
In addition to interesting times, we live in challenging times. On top of the economic challenges that we face, all of us have many more struggles in our daily lives.
Regardless of the difficulties that we may face today, we still have to move forward each day. We always have adversities to overcome. I believe that many Americans will feel a great relief when the economy improves.
For most of us, when we don’t have enough money, this becomes a priority until we get enough. How much we need is something that we all have to answer for ourselves.
Life is very much a matter of perspective. Consider taking a moment and thinking about the quote above. What is your perspective on money? Will more money solve all of your problems? How much more do you need?
Copyright Kevin Drum 2010
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
At The Airport
January 16, 2010
I used to travel a lot through airports. One night while waiting in Atlanta’s Hartsfield airport – and waiting and waiting and waiting – on a connecting flight, I noticed things that different airports tend to have in common. Think about how many airports have the following:
- Coffee Shops – with relatively expensive coffee and coffee flavored drinks – and lots and lots of people waiting in line to buy them.
- Shoe shine services – how many other place do you see these??
- People from all over the world
- People dressed in all different manners – from really tight and low cut clothes to modest and dressed up.
- Flight crews rushing from place to place
- Crowded smoking lounges.
- Fast food
- Fattening food
- Lots of tired people – standing in line and of waiting on delayed flights.
- Lots of dedicated military personnel returning home from serving our country abroad.
- And one more thing – the one that inspired me to write this blog. Credit card application booths.
I’m not saying anything negative about these booths. It is just another indication of how aggressively credit is marketed in our country. It is real easy to spend money with a credit card.
Have you tried spending cash for your purchases lately? To me it feels like money is just draining out of my pocket. It is tiring. And it can be a good way to cut some expenses.
Copyright Kevin Drum 2010
Permission is granted to reprint this article provided it is reprinted in its entirety including this copyright information and it is attributed to
Kevin Drum
Titan Solutions, LLC
Athletes and Celebrities
January 11, 2010
We often hear news stories reporting that athletes and celebrities are in financial trouble. Often this includes facing foreclosure on homes or properties that they own.
Normally these individuals had previously made very large sums of money. Often they made millions of dollars but they still end up in financial trouble.
There could be a lot of different reasons for this. Maybe it is because they had too much money come to them at one time. Perhaps they get caught up in their lifestyle.
Regardless of the reasons, when it comes to ending up in financial difficulty, it doesn’t matter if we are famous or not. All of us need to take care of the resources that we have.
We need to spend less than we make and we need to save some and do the right things with what we have left.
This may not be a get rich quick way to success. But it is a good strategy. If we do simple right things over and over can it lead to great success.
Hope
January 9, 2010
In Financial Peace Revisited, the author, Dave Ramsey makes the following statement. “No matter what you gain or lose in goods, you can never have talent and hope taken from you unless you surrender it.”
This is a great thought. How many people today have gone through job layoffs, plant closings, outsourcings, downsizings, or restructurings? How many have gone through these more than once. How many young people have already encountered discouragement and disappointment in life?
Sometimes life’s difficulties come because of choices that we make. Sometimes they just happen regardless of what we do.
Getting down on ourselves and questioning our self-worth are normal human reactions. It’s easy to forget that problems in one area don’t make us failures.
We need to observe our lives. We need to look at where we are at now and what things got us to this point. We also need to determine what our right next steps should be.
Even in life’s toughest times, we still have choices. When we have choices we still have hope.