Public "Education"

Driving home the other day, the thought started sitting heavily in my mind.
"What has happened to education, public education specifically. Why is it so bad? Why does it make us so unprepared for life? At the age of 22, I saw myself and many of my peers lacking the basic skills needed to simply survive. Basic technical skills, cooking, survival, money management, etc.

Immediately I became obsessed watching as many youtube videos, reading endless articles on how to build/repair things. While I admit I'm far from a master builder, I've come a long way in 2 years. It just amazes me that our school system taught us nothing. Growing up my parents would tell me how school would prepare them for certain skills, giving them a variety of classes that taught valuable skills needed to work everyday jobs. Nowadays school isn't like that. Instead they tell you what you need to become in the future and after cutting everything possible within the budget, supply the students with things they want them to learn. Not what the students want to learn.

Being a millennial myself, I fully admit I see our shortcomings at times. But I truly think a lot of it has to do with the public school system. It prepared us to do nothing but be a slave, working a 9-5 who needs material things we can't afford. They wont teach you how to manage your money but they'll damn sure tell a 16 year old to get a credit card as soon as possible and build their credit. As if they'll do so the right way without basic money managing skills..

In other words, they taught us to be debt ridden, 9-5 office job zombies. And I must admit, so far they're doing a pretty damn good job at it. Even though some can be entrepreneurs, I see a lot of my peers in debt, and if any of them have a job worth a damn it's an office job. Very few are good with their money, many of the guys can't do basic technical things and many of the women can't cook anything that doesn't go in a microwave. But hey, when we're grown up we'll just hire a cook and a repair man! Throw another charge on the monthly bill!

They truly have turned us into a dependant society. It's sad when a good amount of young people lack the basic skills to work because they weren't taught how to do so. Until we fix this issue, we'll continue falling behind as a country.

Broker Frustrations

Ah brokers...Gotta love em', right? (If they're good and don't nickel and dime you, you damn sure better)


I find myself in a position I'm sure many traders, investors have before. I feel as if I've been patient with my broker, but I'm about at my ticking point. When I find out brokers charge hidden fees, I'm about as surprised as I am seeing the sun rise. However when a broker can't give you an estimate on how those fees are structured, that's when I have a big problem.

See I made a mistake. Thinking I'd deal with my broker adding on "just a little bit" each time I was in a rude awakening to find out the more I made, the more they took. And whenever I lost, you better believe they were right there taking again. So after doing numbers I realized how much this stacked the odds against me. My wins are trimmed, losses are extra. Again I realize this is a common occurrence with brokers. However some "fluctuate" the fees while others are more straight forward.

Add to the fact their website is often laggy, charts delayed, and you realize you're not just fighting the market but the broker as well. For my readers out there, let this be another lesson in the long list of bad broker experiences.

I'm currently looking into new brokers, preferably one that caters more to day traders without robbing them blind. Wish me luck!

The Bipolar Bull

So have you heard? The sky is falling, stock market is crashing, oil is gone, Micheal Jackson came back from the dead, etc.

In other words, people are running for the exits because they think the party is over. While I'm sure the Bull is not running forever, I think he still has some steam left in him. If it wasn't for oil, stocks wouldn't be taking the hits they are. But that's been 2014 for you, external factors have constantly effected this market, almost making it bipolar in a sense.

This whole year the market has gone up, but truth be told it has gone up and although briefly, it has went down. A good bull market is a more consistent ride to the top, this year has been anything but. If your rich, you've survived. For the little guy, it's hard to see a 20,000 dollar investment go up and down constantly which is why a lot have pulled out.

If oil doesn't crash and stabilizes at this price range couple with a strong earnings in Q1, the market will pop once again. Now if oil slides more and companies report smaller profits with a smaller outlook going forward, this bull may indeed be running out of steam. But we'll see. 

Oil has been fighting to stabilize itself at this price, and this week its made a strong effort of doing so. As a result, stocks are going back up again. I would keep my eye on bullish plays folks. I'll do my research and see what I can pull up for suggestions.

Watching Commodity Prices Like a Hawk

No, this isn't another panic blog declaring we're in the middle of a market crash.

However I am a bit skeptical on the analysts saying the Bull Market is still running. The global economy is slowing, and if you think that doesn't matter and corporate America will make it up back home think again. Corporations make over 40% of their revenue overseas. Having that slow is going to effect growth.

By now everyone is aware of oil's decline. But people haven't paid as much attention to commodities as a whole. They're all falling, and that's not good. It hurts the stock market, but more importantly these huge industries will end up cutting jobs if it's serious enough. Add to the fact the fed conveniently decides to end QE (which effects people getting loans, credit cards, etc.) While people shouldn't depend on these things, a lot of people do. When these income sources get cut off rents don't get paid and business slow down.

 The market could be in a "reset" or the Bull could be running out of steam. More then stock prices, I'm watching commodities and paying attention to global headlines.

Market Updates

OK, update for the morning..

Going over my latest calls (MSFT, SBUX)
SBUX popped the day I called it but took a hit yesterday. As always, playing it at an all time high is for those looking to ride the wave real quick then get out before the wipe out. Risk taking 101. Personally, I got out yesterday simply due to the fact the stock was already at a high.

MSFT - I still like this company's outlook. They too took a hit on Tuesday but I'd keep my eye on it.

*Todays stock*
HCA -  This is a hospital stock, and most folks know hospital stocks are more of a defensive play. This market volatility is brutal for everyone involved, so going for these types of stocks are a smart choice. HCA has a solid performance, a strong history as well. They're profitable..and last time I checked people will always be using health care. Keep your eye on it'

Monday Morning Market

How was every one's weekend? Hopefully good.

Alright, so lets talks market moves

I'm gonna go aggressive here, so if you're not into taking risks this might not be the best way for you to go.

#1 Starbucks (SBUX)
This stock is at an all time high, and I think it has a little gain left in it. Swinging the stock for a couple of weeks could make you some nice profits. There is very few things this company is doing wrong. In fact the only concern I have is with rival Dunkin Donuts expanding more out west. But other than that, this stock is a bull that's ready to run.

#2 American Airlines (AAL)
Oil going lower is driving up profits. Add to the fact you have increased revenue from all the holiday travel and it makes perfect sense for airline stocks to continue to go up. AAL has been a straight bull and I think there's more pop left in this stock.

#3 Darden (DRI)
I'm watching this one closely, I'd suggest doing the same. Darden was having an stagnant year but now the stock is in breakout mode.

Again..Whenever stocks are in breakout mode big gains are possible as well as big losses. Make these moves at your own risk.
                                                                   Good Luck!

Friday Updates

Well how was today's trading for everyone?

I hope you guys liked those NFLX and AMZN short calls, I know I did.

Over the weekend I tend to do heavy research on more swing oriented plays. You can play these for a day or for a long swing, whatever you prefer..So anyways so far tonight here's what I'm thinking...

Microsoft could be a nice long play for the Bulls...
This company is approaching all time high stock prices people..In fact I think we not only see a return to 50 but possibly a bit above.
#1..You know MSFT is profitable, that goes without saying. But did you know they're starting to gain market share? Their latest surface model is really doing well sales wise and its given the company a mark in an area it desperately needed. Also, by forcing it users to ditch Windows XP, MSFT has made sure its latest version of Windows will do well in 2015. Add to the fact PC sales are picking up (the majority still using windows..and a large majority at that) and it makes perfect sense. MSFT could be a nice bullish trade for the next month (you can scalp it during the day as well). I would keep my eye on it..Just sayin'.

I'm still short on Oil stocks..XOM, CVS these could be nice shorts here to make a pretty penny. What to do with those profits? REINVEST WHEN OIL GOES UP!!

With cheap oil comes better profits for Airlines..keep your eyes on AAL, DAL, JBLU, HA

Morning Stocks Update

Hopefully you all got a piece of that Amazon and Netflix short..

Saudi Arabia lowered the price of crude over night so I'm hoping oil could be a nice short?

Airline stocks look promising...Keeping my eyes on Jet Blue (JBLU)

Black Gold Is On The Move and More...

So by now you've heard all about Oil, and you're probably loving the low fuel prices. If you're an investor you're also probably wondering what the hell is going on with the economy. Well, I'm obviously no expert but this is just my opinion based on charts, and I'll also tell you how I'd play the recent oil volatility...

#1...This chart is scary for obvious reasons. It shows just how much oil is sliding and how long its been since this kind of slide has occurred. However there is a diamond hidden in the rough. For the smart investor, this is a golden opportunity.

"Buy low and sell high"

Idea -If oil is in for a big slide, I would go for a short. Make some money while riding oil's down turn. Once things start looking up, take your profits and then invest in the oil bull market. This could be some time away if oil doesn't show some life soon.

So today I'm looking at the Nasdaq...I see some potential shorts here.

AMZN - all week it has been going down and I think this could hit another 2 point loss today. I'm hoping for an early dip from 316 to somewhere in the 314.80's

NFLX - I'm looking for a short going from 350 to 345

***BUY STOCKS AT YOUR OWN RISK! Always do your own homework before investing a penny, good luck!***

Nike or Under Armour?

 Although Nike is the bigger brand with a far bigger market share, the question is which stock is the better buy.

In terms of growth, Under Armour inches above Nike by a few dollars or so. Nike offers a dividend while Under Armour does not. However if UA continues to grow, will the dividends make up for the growth difference? Also, how much more will Nike grow compared to Under Armor? In my opinion Under Armour has the higher ceiling. With highest growth and revenue in the business recently, I still think there's some bullish life left in Under Armour.

I like Nike, but I'd personally go with Under Armour for more growth opportunities. 

Growth Stocks Over Dividends?

I know some people will look at the title and think I'm crazy. But when stock prices are as high as they are, I don't think it's wrong to say that sometimes going for growth rather then dividends is a better move to make. If you plan to truly hold a stock, then yes you go for dividends. That way the long time you need to make your big return from strictly dividends is there. But  when holding a stock for anything less then year I find growth stocks to be better.

 If played correctly you can protect yourself along the way to making a big profit. Say you buy stock X at 49.50. By the time it goes to 52.50 on the path to your target of 55.00, you sell some shares to protect your profits. You will probably get this sooner then you would get it from dividends. Lets face it, unless you're rich or you find a true bargain, you're waiting a long time to build up off just dividends. Not only that but a bad week in the market can annihilate a year of strong dividends. To me, it's almost not close in most cases.

I think growth stocks are risky but if played correctly they're a lot better for the smaller investor to build up. If you think day trading is risking your money, good luck putting $15,000 in a stock that barely moves up but takes a big move down. Unless you've collected dividends for years chances are you wont have built up enough protection. So please note, I'm not saying dividend stocks are bad. Growth dividend stocks are the best you can buy. But I think growth stocks can be a better play at the right time then dividend stocks for a lot of the smaller investors that don't have 6 or more digits to put aside.

Just something to consider if you're looking for growth without having to put down half of your life savings. Good luck in the Markets everyone!

Evaluation of Dividend Stocks

Any good investor should have their eyes on Dividend stocks at all times. These are a few I've been watching, for better or worse.

YUM! - Normally a powerhouse in the stock market, YUM! has had a tough year to say the least. Fast food is getting a touch reputation, and not just here but across the globe. Due to the difficulties in China and Russia the company has lowered growth expectations in 2015 to 10%. However, that's still not promised. If YUM! suffers more bad publicity, or things don't go well in Africa this company could be in for some issues.

AAPL - With the release of a new computer, Iphone, and wearables about to hit the scene Apple is a good stock to buy. Not only is this company ridiculously profitable, they're items sell, they will cotinue to sell and they have more things coming out. This stock will not only pay you dividends, but grow as well. These are the dividend stocks I like.

HIG - The only thing that derailed this company's climb was the crash of 2008. Since it has been steadily growing back. Dividends are good investments because you don't have to depends on the stock price to make a return on your investment. But dividend stocks that grow are the best, because you get better growth and protection along the way (assuming you play it right)

Happy Investing!

Bullish Stocks

Alibba BABA - Alibaba is a juggernaut in the making. They absolutely killed it on singles day this week. But Alibaba is not just a good retail stock this company supplies god knows how many business's with their goods. That means big numbers constantly. I could see it going above 120 by the end of this week, easily.

Keep your eye on JD as well. this stock could be in for a pop on earnings day. (the 17th)

Linkedin Networking

Reducing Costs

"Sometimes it's not the Money you make but the Money you Save"

 One of truest quotes I've ever come across. Often I used to find myself caught in the rush of always trying to figure out different ways to make money. Meanwhile I was doing little to reduce unnecessary costs.

One day after coming across this quote I sat down and went over multiple monthly expenses both personal and Business. I literally added up to thousands in yearly wasted expenses. This was money I would normally sit around spending hours figuring out how to make that I was pretty much throwing away!

 So take some time out of your hectic day and go over current expenses. I promise you will come across at least one thing that's wasting a couple hundred a year. That's enough for a weekend getaway that you could be wasting, think about it.

 If you work at home or not Energy is one of the easiest things to waste. Look into lighting, cooling, water and air temperature adjustments. It's the little things like this that add up to big things. 

I'll be posting more detailed ways that you can save yourself some money. For my Bulls and Entrepreneurs worry not, I'll be posting plenty of ways to make some money as well. 

The Green Movement is vital to America's future

 I know, I know. Another "Living Green" article.

But before you run away, hear me out. I'm not just talking Green Living here, I'm talking Economics. I'll elaborate...
 We hear every single day how the Economy is simply not coming back. Inflation is going up, wages staying the same or going down. No opportunity, etc. But I think we're not doing the right things, or looking in the right places. This is where the Green Movement comes into play. People need to embrace it because it will save us money and make us money. First, lets talk saving money.

  The cost of living in this country is absurd. It costs an 18 year old kid no less then $750 to live on their own just in rent, yet they're living on 1200 a month. So how do we change this? We reduce costs. The number one culprit is the living space. We need to downsize. If your young, go for a Studio apartment, or 1 bedroom. When I moved out I had an online Business, even thought I was still turning a profit paying for 2 bedrooms (using my office as the 2nd) I was wasting hundreds of dollars a month for space I could use in my room. I realize this setup I'm explaining doesn't exactly sound ideal but remember, beggars can't be choosers. When you're coming up or saving there's sacrifices that need to be made.

 Consider housing alternatives. Have you ever looked into shipping container homes? They're perfect for putting your own individual stamp on the home's style, and they're much cheaper then building the traditional home. As a bonus for mother earth you're using shipping containers that would otherwise sit there and do nothing. It's a win-win for everyone. Think they're ugly? Think again.

Utilities are also a major culprit for wasting money. There's a lot of different ways people save..Lets go over a few. Water can be collected by setting up a water barrel to collect rain water. Usually people setup a gutter system right from the roof into the barrel. I've seen some people use rain water to flush their toilets as well. Energy is probably the trickiest one due to figuring out how to avoid a costly system. You can produce energy via Solar, Biomass Fuels, and plenty but even more costlier ways. If one could figure out how to construct their own solar panels I'd imagine they'd save a significant chunk of change on their system. Solar could be a beautiful thing, if it's more cost effective.

•  Home Living tips have been around for awhile now but here they are in case you needed a few:
• Clean your air ducts. Cooling/Heating is probably the most expensive cost in your electricity. Dirty Ducts will cost you a fortune (believe me, I know)
• Energy efficient Curtains. These really do help with reducing cooling costs in warm places.
• Program your thermostat
• Unplug your unused appliances

Want more Eco Living ideas? Sign up for my newsletter and I'll be posting them along with my other topics regularly.

What does a Brand represent?

I came across this video and thought I'd share. I really liked the way they described what a brand is. Check it out.

                                  
                           




                               

How do you reward your customers?

 
With so much competition in almost every area of Business, you have to be willing to do the things that make your Business stand out. When Marketing it's not just about the clicks, or the number of people that have heard about you. It's about the number of interactions. How many people really checked you out? How many talked to you and came away with a good impression? It's these type of things that will not only get you business but loyal customers as well.

  Lets be honest, any Business owner knows customers can be a picky bunch. So to keep them happy you need to do the deals and customers service that your competition does not. There's plenty of ways to do this, you have to be sure you're not making yourself lose money by providing these deals (something that happens more often then you think) and it has to be the deals that customers want. Some of my customers like extra stock in their orders, others prefer the faster shipping for a better deal, etc. These are just a couple of examples.

 When starting a new Business, meeting new clients or getting out of a slow spell, often I've found offering customers deals to be the most effective way of getting things going. You can advertise the deals on your Social Media page, your Blog, or Email Marketing (a fat email list with the right deal will bring you some serious results)

 Customer Rewards are important for gaining customers loyalty. If you haven't done so yet, give these ideas a try.

Are you putting enough information in your Marketing?

 I came across this article the other day and I thought it made a great point.

Today's consumer and especially millennials are information based. This means no matter your style of Marketing you need to inform your customers with the important details. People want to know what they're spending their money on, how it works, etc. Being vague will get you nowhere.

Why do you think people have always watched the News more than anything else on TV? Because we all want and need information. This is important to know whenever you're selling or marketing something. I remember when one of my first ecommerce websites was going nowhere in terms of sales. Customer feedback eventually told me they could not see the product clearly in pictures and this simple detail cost me a good amount of lost sales.

I've seen this same problem with clients I've worked with as well. This and lack of proper information, an inefficient layout or setup will take a lot of sales away from your business. Nowadays with everyone trying to do their own thing Online you have to stand out in every way possible. You hear all the time about connecting with the consumer. This isn't done from some magical event, it's by telling or showing the consumer the things they want to see.
Information is a valuable thing. Knowing how to use it can be the difference in deciding if you're successful or not.

Is your Strategy Sound through a Volatile Market?

 Right now the Stock Market is just as Warren Buffet described it "like being friends with a bipolar person"
I realize we're seeing levels in the S&P/DOW that we've not seen before, but clearly not everything in the economy is doing well. So far I notice retail/industry lagging behind tech. health care and even transportation. It makes sense as technology takes the lead in our everyday life, as for transportation the airline industry is really the driving force behind its great run.

I've been pointing a lot of my investing lately towards technology and health care to a lesser degree (I tend to stick with the type of stocks I know) Technology is going nowhere and it is a need just as much as transportation is these days. Health care has and always will be a need, add to rising health care costs and it's no wonder the sector is doing so well this year.

 Everyone has their own strategy but have you thought about yours lately? No matter what you know or like the Market and what it wants/needs constantly changes. You need to stay on top of this and educate yourself  about events in the economy as much as possible.

Living your life the right way

 Have you ever stepped back and thought about how you feel on a daily basis?

 As Entrepreneurs we're always so occupied with a task, project or an idea. We rarely have time to focus on the important things  in life such as ourselves or others, and when this happens those things usually get worse. I'm guilty as anyone at doing these things, no matter how unintentional it just  happens. However you have to get  control over these things or they will catch up with you to say the least.

 I admit, this past year was nuts. If I haven't been on a computer I've been in a post office or I was starting  new Business ventures. This was hectic, and I found myself aggravated constantly without ever having time to breathe. So I sat down recently and put some thought to my life  instead of just Business for a few days. I realized how unorganized I was and a few other things that needed change.

 I have realized during this time what makes an entrepreneur's life easier. Even if you have a profitable business you need it to move efficiently. Feeling like you have to walk through mud everyday to make a buck would make anyone feel like shit so to avoid this you set up the right system for whatever it is you do. You also schedule your time so you're not constantly rushing against the clock. I also suggest healthy hobbies that keep you disciplined in some way. I like to do the gym and MMA Training. When I say healthy hobbies I usually mean active ones. Most Business people are inside for too long during the day this makes us lazy, out of shape and sometimes can leave us lacking discipline if things get too cozy. It's good to give yourself a kick in the ass every now and then to keep the engine running.

 One last thing, take it easy. If you're one of those people that rush out of bed every morning slow down. Enjoy your day and see your time as quality, not quantity. Getting things in order is how you keep things under control.

The American Dream isn't dead, it's just changed

 
Ever since we have all grown up one of the things we heard the most was how it "isn't easy out there" or "times are tough"
You hear these phrases more then ever today. You heard people saying that since the day America was built to present day. So why are so many on the outside looking in? Because to accomplish the American Dream you need to be ambitious, daring, and intelligent (in some form) or literally just lucky like being born rich. If you want to  move up the ladder from the bottom you'll eventually learn America is a system, a game, call it whatever you want, But how ever you play it will determine your success.


 Building wealth in this country  through any kind of business or income venture requires knowing how to buy low and sell high, managing money and playing the tax game. Even if you're providing a service you need to be able to provide better services than the competition without too much cost while still making a good profit. Doing this by finding the right source for the products you need to sell or do your job will take some time unless you know the right people. This is one half of what you need to do. So now we'll go over those Terrific Taxes.

 Tax deductions come in many forms, research is your friend here. Find out what you can deduct and what you cannot. Capital Gains are a great way and can be done through anything like real estate, stocks, etc. these investments must be held for at least one year. Right now if you don't know how to get the most from your tax return or deductions you're pretty much giving the Government free money and in Business giving  the competition the edge. Lets say your competition is paying  25% while you're paying 35% every April come Tax time. They will pull away before you know it. That extra amount can be used in so many ways and if done correctly year after year this is a great advantage for your Business or just keeping Uncle Sam from taking all you're Taxes period. I strongly suggest learning about Taxes..And hire a damn accountant. So many small Business Owners don't do this thinking it is worth the savings. Assuming you find a reasonable accountant, the right one can easily save you thousands every year and once you start making 6 digits or more managing your life and expenses is too much, as I said save yourself some stress and hire that Accountant.

  Education is a big factor that many people don't take seriously enough. Some Entrepreneurs are lucky enough to find the right setup that nets them more then enough to make a living without the need for an education. However this is truly rare because unless you think you're truly capable of making 20+ mill. there is no true financial security in this country. So if you want to provide that for yourself you need to be able to know the right people and right things. Unless you have the right group of friends this is done by going with the right education. I'm not talking about going to some well known over priced/hyped University. Find the right place with the right program for you. You will learn what you need to know and meet the people you need to know. This is big for the present and future and can be done without being dropped into debt.  These three things could almost be called the big 3 when it comes down to it.

  

 America has no jobs. You hear this all the time. Well that's bullshit and I know from experience. How many times when you went to look were there truly no jobs, or did you not have the qualifications? You don't always need a college education, some jobs that pay decent can be had with a simple high school diploma or GED. But if you think that's gonna be done on rail road tracks, mines and factories crafting toys you're living in the old times or simply misguided. When seriously searching for a career you need to find out what the thriving industry is at the time.  You need a career that has a future, working at a dead end job does not provide you that. Find something you enjoy doing, learn it, and make a living doing it.

 Times are changing due to technology more than ever and I think a lot of Americans are left in the dust not knowing how true this really is. If you think simple building  or crafting jobs are coming back you're dreaming. You need to learn the times and get with them. In my opinion, the American Dream is the same as it's always been and those who are uninformed with how to play it will be left in the dust just as they've always been.

  

Investing not spending is the key

 

Every american has asked themselves this at some point. Some found out by getting lucky, the rest either had investments not work out or maybe even lose money to a scam or crash. 

 Being a millennial I notice people my age that aren't educated enough about stocks (as I was and most public educated kids aren't as well) tend to fall asleep learning about them or see the risk and run away. Not just millennials but my parents and other baby boomers have this mentality. There's a reason the 1% controls the true wealth in this country and it's not by saving their paychecks. 

 I just recently got into stocks this past year. Trading, investing has become my main income source as well as one of my hobbies. I didn't learn a damn thing about stocks in school and most won't unless you go to a serious college which a lot of us weren't fortunate enough to afford. But it's like having a succesful business, taking the right steps learning the dos and donts will eventually lead you to the answer if this is for you or not.

 Stocks are looked at like gambling and that's because a lot of people don't know how to properly analyze a stock so most look at it like placing a bet. This isn't true and like any business affair if you're ignorant to it you are indeed gambling. If you don't know what you're doing with a business, job , real estate etc. You'll lose everything like a bad investor does on Wall Street. People have learned to embrace entrepeaneurship in America, they should embrace finance as well.

 I'm not telling you to be a broker or aim to be rich, but learning banks, finance, etc. and how it works is key to living life the way you see fit. People should always invest in some way, see what works for you. When it comes to banks I've had horror stories like the next guy but as long as you don't put all your money in one account it protects you if things go wrong. But believe me having a smooth, cooperative bank for the active business account is a blessing you just have to take the time to find the right one. 

 I recently read an article on cnnmoney saying millennials prefer having only cash. That's fine to keep enough on hand but you should always have some money big or small being built up for you. most investments require a healthy debit account. But too many people have learned to avoid banks and look at them as all that's wrong with the world. Whatever your opinion is you have to work with them to move money efficiently, get credit, etc. 

When someone asks if stocks are a good investment the data proves they are. All things lose value, but not all recover like stocks do. Real estate can to through the same up and downs as stocks and it's certainly easier to invest or trade compared to flipping homes all year long.

Whatever sparks your interest you owe it to yourself to pursue a secure lifestyle as well as manage and invest your money wisely. 

Herbalife is a pyramid scheme and Wall Street knows it

 If you trade stocks and watch any of the major channels for your news/updates (Bloomberg, CNBC, FoxNews) by now you've probably heard of Bill Ackman and his attack on Herbalife. Ackman claims Herbalife is nothing more than a scam, a pyramid scheme luring in financially ignorant investors as the Wall Street investors profits soar. If you were watching these same channels yesterday, surely you saw them jump to Herbalife's defense saying Ackman has proven nothing. Well, I disagree.

 In order to see how much of a set up Herablife is one needs to understand the supplement industry which admittedly many of the wall street men and women do not. They claim that the only reason retailers are struggling with the product is because they don't know how to run a Business or Market a product. To this I say bullshit. First off, anyone in the Supplement industry will tell you if your product is unknown, not endorsed by Athletes, then you have little to no chance of success. Think I'm wrong? Try to sell your products next to ON Nutrition, HPI, N.O, Dymatize, etc.  You will be buried on the shelf before you know it.

  Look, supplements aren't cheap and people want to buy what they either know works or what others will vouch for. I've had experience with some of the above brands and I was pleased at some of their products, others were a waste but that's what you're always going to get in the supplement industry. I've yet to hear anyone having success USING let alone retailing Herbalife. Does Wall Street care about this? Of course not, because the only thing that maters is that the stock price goes up, period. And believe me they will do whatever it takes to make sure this happens, even having the major networks bash Bill Ackman saying he's full of it in order to protect investors.

                                                             Lets compare two products..

1.6 LB of Protein
37.99

2 LB
$30.00

Besides the obvious price and size difference, there's one big thing here that ON has over Herbalife. A proven track record. If you don't believe me, simply do some research. You will see people rave about the ON Nutrition Brand.  I used ON and Dymatize for years ever since playing football in High School. The only time I ever stopped using those brands was when my budget got a little tight, when that happens I usually go to more natural and cheaper Protein sources, not only that but it's good to give your kidneys a break from supplements as well...But back to the topic at hand. From just what I know, I would laugh at any retailer trying to push the more expensive, less effective herbalife onto me. Guess what that means? That means you as a retailer lose. So how do people save face when it comes to Herbalife? Well, it's simple really. They try to convince others to sell the product for them ala a pyramid scheme. So now instead of one person losing, more and more people continue to lose. While this happens herbalife continues raking in the profits and folks over on Wall Street get richer while hard working retailer and the customer gets screwed. As I said before, you will continue to hear Wall Street and the major news networks defending this pyramid scheme because it makes them money.

  But how about we ask the consumers? they don't seem too thrilled They aren't alone either...More complaints But wait, where's the BBB on this? Dealing with more complaints  In this article, Forbes tells you the power that this company has and why they're still and will continue to stand read here

Look, I can sit here all day linking you to articles, or I can provide more then enough examples of how Herbalife is overpriced ($159 for a months use?! What? and I thought normal protein powders were expensive..) But I'll let you do the rest, just Google "herbalife" and let the shit show begin.

So to my fellow small Business Owners and Fitness enthusiast, Do you and your bank accounts a favor...Stay far away as possible as you can from these products. The Supplement industry is full of good and bad products besides scam such as Herbalife. Before buying any product I strongly urge you to do your research on anything you put in your body.

I've found bodybuilding.com to be an excellent source for not just pricing, but helpful information regarding these products.

Putting your name on the map

 I've been in a heavy thinking phase lately. You see, I've always more or less been the "black sheep" I've always went against the grain no matter the consequence. While I've learned to not be radical I still believe in not allowing people to tell you what to think because it's what they want to hear. So what am I talking about? It has something to do with marketing I promise. 

 I love business but I feel the enviorment needs to change and it is before our very eyes. I am sick to death of the politically correct go with the flow corporate mindset that even small businesses are trying to do. The most artistic, outspoken business will always stand out over all of these cliche sounding setups. It makes for a boring, almost suffocating enviorment sometimes.

 Don't get me wrong making money is good and all but I truly do believe in doing something other then profit. If you really want to market your business make people take notice and the best way is by action.

 I saw an ad for a food drive the other day and it got me thinking, what if instead of acquiring another billboard a business built a non profit shelter. People would know it's your business doing things and they would know that you'd ultimately put their money to good use.

Obviously this wouldn't be cheap but it's doable with the right planning.

  Also, due to gmos trying their best  to ruin our food supply the need for organic farming is around like never before. You can always build a custom green house to protect from outside chemicals. And Anyone can farm, you just need to teach them how. This builds a farmers market for you and gives the homeless/unemployed a job.

 I said months ago agriculture interested me and I love the fact I see it making a comeback in our society.  So this is now both a marketing and profitable opportunity of done correctly. It's something to truly consider because we need this across the nation. We need to do more as entrepeaneurs. Forget the material lifestyle, we have enough of that. We truly do need change and it's going to start with the most driven people. 

I can't think of a more opportunistic way to put your business name on the map.

Is your Business Useful?

  Nowadays there's a business for everything, I'm waiting for the App to flush the toilet for you to come out any day now. Technology to me is a fickle thing. When you put it into your life to help you it becomes a beautiful thing. When your every action depends on it, you're going to have a problem. America is in a Technology craze these days, and they're trying to sell you anything while giving you some lip service on how useful it is.  Or they just copy the same product...That's been copied a million times before. Anyone want to buy another brand of Marketing software? Didn't think so.

  So the question I'm asking you is simple. What's useful about your product and why do people need it? The Market is literally going through a Traffic Jam right now. Banks will tell you "be creative, come to use and get a loan!"
But if anything I think the consumer is getting annoyed. I think they're tired of hearing about Social Media start ups, and Marketing start ups. Now obviously, this is a delicate subject because I myself do Marketing so I don't want to sound hypocritical. So when I saw how overcrowded our field became I've looked for ways to stand out and offer my clients what the other 50 Marketers he just talked to don't.

 I've noticed a big drop off in demand for Social Media Marketing. I'm not surprised, Facebook tells everyone to advertise on their platform and they tell you how. A lot of folks get Facebook results and ignore or find no need the add anything else. I can't really blame them either. You really should be able to offer more then simple Social Media Marketing to your clients. If you're feeling stumped on how to do so, here's some advice. Be creative..and when I say that I mean don't follow the crowd, don't do what you always read online. Do something different, something people will see and remember. That's just Marketing..I think a lot of Business sectors are going through this.

 Look at Clothing. EVERYONE is selling clothing, and I've noticed the quality has dropped off lately. This is because the general crowd believes you can simply buy a cheap quality T, slap a design on it and bam. Obviously there's a lot more then this that goes into the field. Like I did with Marketing I can give you examples all day.

 So whatever you do, it goes without saying that you need to love it. Once you love it you will find a way to stand out from the rest that are in it just for the profit.    Be Different, Think Different. 

Blogging is good for Business

 Blogging is an essential piece for any Marketing content. A lot of people enjoy doing it, some can't stand it. For those who can't It I suggest hiring a content writer.  You can do so without breaking the bank. You can hire one for certain pieces on a freelance basis, no hefty salary to pay full time.

 A content writer is good for your Business because they help bring your message to customer. If they're good enough they can help the customer visualize what they're saying with enough detail in their message and maybe some catchy images.   ;)

 I wouldn't just stop at a Blog. A content creator can also write story lines for content videos or even write your Professional emails, press releases, etc.

 All of this can be very beneficial in being discovered and running your business as smooth as possible. 

Building a Bond

 So I've been pretty busy the past few days (note the lack of a Blog, yes I've missed you too) I recently started a pretty serious Marketing job for not just a client, but an old friend. My old Martial Arts instructor  had gotten in touch with me and the rest was history. Right off the bat we had great chemistry working together. There's always that "feeling out" period you have with a new client. Sometimes you end up getting along with the client, other times communication can be like nails to a chalk board (but you always finish the job regardless) .
affiliatemarketing
 This was obviously a case of getting along with the "client" or as I prefer to call him my Instructor. It has shown me the power of building a Bond with clients. While the relationship ultimately comes down to you as the Marketer completing the job, you can really get to know your client along the way. This is so big for us Marketers because we all need associates that help us get our message out.

  Take Dr. Dre Beats for instance...They started their Marketing by having athletes and anyone who was famous rocking a pair. The result? Success, to say the least. If your trying to get the word out for a Clothing Brand what's the best way to Market the product? Some kind of crazy viral Marketing Strategy right? No. The best possible thing you can do is have people wear the product and rave about it.

 As the saying goes, sometimes it's not what you know but who you know. I can't think of another Business other than Marketing where that applies more.

Taking the next step

 Have you ever felt hesitant with your Marketing? Maybe you weren't sure that advertising idea would work, or maybe you didn't feel comfortable opening up to your audience via Social Media or Blog posts. To some this may sound ridiculous to others it sounds pretty familiar.

 

In life we learn it's better to think before we leap. But in marketing I've found the exact opposite to be true. As long as you don't come out with too radical of a tone, it's ok if your first attempt fails. You can always go over whats not working and change things. This is the beauty of starting out.

  

 You don't have some big rep yet. To get one these are the type of things you need to do. The fun part of Marketing, atleast in my opinion, is that the most creative individuals are the ones who truly stand out and relate to the audience.

  So try a few things. It's normal for a few strategies to need editing along the way.  

Hope for the hometown

Could this be the next big thing for Port Saint Lucie? 

http://m.cbs12.com/article?id=5178696

A Chinese Investor named Lily Zhong has plans to pick up the ghost town known as "Downtown Port Saint Lucie"

 The Investor has proposed a $380 International Trade Center that includes Hotels, Residential Areas(living space), and office space. By going through with this plan, this would make an immediate and future impact to the Economy. It would create a lot of Construction jobs, it provides needed living space and office space. It also gives Businesses better opportunity to Network and also attracts larger Businesses due to the low cost of Port Saint Lucie Real Estate.

These are Must Reads For Any Marketer

I came upon these articles today and figured I'd share. Entrepreneur is a great source for all kinds of Business topics in case you were looking for some new reading material. Enjoy! 

"Marketing to everyone, appealing to no one"

 "I recently met with two founders who had launched a very cool vitamin company targeting millennial-minded consumers. Their well-designed website, content strategy and social channels had pictures, stories, posts of pregnant mothers, women in business suits and men bodybuilding. And did I mention the kids from Africa who were benefiting from company donations? Start ups are not Verizon. They don’t have the budgets or bandwidth to appeal to the Mall of America. If you try to appeal to everyone, you will resonate with no one."

Link To Fll Article

These 61  Marketing Tools Are Worth A Look

Followerwonk

Social Rank

ManageFlitter

Must Be Present

Tweriod

Tweepi

Tweet4Me...

Link To Social Media Tools

Finding your startup spot

  Being a young entrepreneur we're always looking to find that spot to start doing our own thing. Today more then ever we're flocking to cities all over the country. Why do you think cities like Oklahoma City are considered promising? That wasn't the case 40 years ago.  With the growing need for start up Business and technology on the rise it's almost possible to do just about anything from anywhere nowadays..So where do we go? Here's some sports I like.

Wynwood Miami

When you think about Miami you think Condos, Clubs, and some not so legit Businesses.
However times are changing. As more and more people move to the Cities, they want affordability, opportunity and life around them. For someone into Marketing or a Tech Business, Miami is great for B2B Marketing and Sales. Not to mention the economy is better in Miami. Living in Florida my whole life, I can tell you and as you probably know it's a very laid back, not good at getting things done for Business type of place (sorry my fellow Floridians but you know it's true so many time) However Miami is different. People have a motor that moves, they're willing to hustle their way up the ranks rather then complain. Where I'm from I could barely find a job at 16..In Miami I see a kid selling water bottles or some little nick nack all over the place. While this may have little to do with Marketing, it shows that the people here want to succeed. For a young Marketer it's a great way to Network with others in the field. It's a great way to find the right Tech guy your Business so desperately needs. Affordable, fun, cultural, great for Business, what's not to love?

 Las Vegas, Nevada

Vegas? Yes. As the Economy slowly recovers the Gambling industry continues to face tough times. Facing a pretty dire situation, Las Vegas has turned to other other forms of Business. Due to many of the hidden real estate deals in the City, Tech Companies have really grown in this area, along with Marketing companies. Being in Tech or Marketing you want a city where you can make some noise...Well this one sure helps. Art Museums, more and more crazy rides/stunt scenes, Shark Scuba Diving, etc. Are also growing stronger in the tourism industry. Las Vegas as we all know as been the Sin Capital of the USA. But because you can no longer base an economy on gambling, strip clubs. etc. they're starting to become a more diverse, but still fun filled environment.

Oklahoma City 

Oklahoma City is skyrocketing in popularity. It's one of the friendliest states to small start ups. It has one of, if not THE best housing recoveries,  a low unemployment rate and finally low housing costs. This means you probably have customers along with Business clients. I don't know if you've noticed, but it's getting harder and harder to find good paying customers in non elite areas. A good economic climate around you is huge. With low housing costs and a good economy, you'll have a strong local backing behind you here. While it may not be the flash of South Beach or The Strip, OKC is a cool up and coming City. Not only that, but a lot of people don't want the crazy Miami hustle and bustle lifestyle. For that person, a City like Oklahoma City is a great choice

Organic Group Marketing

   Lately I've been doing some marketing for some new ventures of my own. In this time I've found out quite a bit about retail marketing. I forgot what it was like to have an ecommerce site and what goes into making it profitable. If you think it's easy, no. Think your 7 hour scheduled work days were long? My friend, if you want to succeed bad enough then say goodbye to time as you know it. 

  I've really enjoyed most of the process besides the occasional bumps in the road. I've also worked with a lot of other brands in this time. By doing so this allowed me to work with them to market eachothers product. For instance, one guy started a clothing business. Besides a heavy duty marketing campaign via Pinterest/Instagram, we wore his clothes around. He paid younger people to wear the brand out to clubs, etc. 

  Organic Marketing like this can really push a brand. A very important thing to to note is ROI per customer. How much do you make off each one compared to what you spent to acquire each one? This is why Marketing is so important because overspending on it will ruin your Business quickly. 

 Product research is also key. Always look for the best deal, not necessarily the lowest price. What good is having low prices if your quality doesn't hold up? Also, you always hear not to fear change. This is true, what ever product or service you offer someone can and will provide competition to it. Keep your eyes and ears peeled when it comes to new trends.

 There's plenty more details but those are just a couple . They will take time when undergoing a new business venture but if you love what you do you'll realize it's a fun part of the lifestyle. Good luck and if you have any questions, feel free to contact me or post them here.

The Consumer Connection

 Connecting with customers is no easy task. Getting traffic is one thing, but getting customers to truly embrace your message is another. What are the best ways one can do this? I'll give you my own suggestions, and no, it's not by making top ten lists. 

  As most of us know customers today are different. Generation Y as we're called have of an emotional, informal need from a Business. Gone are the days of bad, cheap advertising that couldn't fool a five year old. We want or better yet demand more transparency. So open up with your customers show them your creative side. Inform them in unique, memorable ways.

  Emotion is a powerful factor in Advertising. Look at Disney for instance. That brand is timeless because of the way they get their message across. Regardless of your own opinion, there's a reason Disney World is more known then Universal Studios. Universal is pure entertainment, while good it's nothing you won't see on other movies. Disney is something only their own brand can deliver in the way that they do. Maybe it's not the perfect explanation but you get the point. Content is huge and Disney is King in this category.

 When it comes to informing customers I love the way Apple approached things. First off, they design their product with an easy setup. Second they know how to present it. They show what the good  features are with the product and they show how to use it. You see this in their product shows or in your own living room. It's a big reason why they can outsell any other hardware on the Market. 

 When I look at how not to do things I think of Microsoft. Here is a company that wouldn't know the word original if they saw it defined on the wall. Worse than that their ads are boring and product launches are bleh. I was watching Bloomberg this past week and while I thought the new Tablet looked good they just didn't make that "boom" impact that a new product needs. Personally I feel as if Microsoft has no ability to connect with consumers. That's what happens when your OS makes you billions year in and out despite not making a Hardware splash. Before you think in just saw Apple guy, I urge you to think again. I've always used Windows due to cost but I appreciate Apple's quality.

  So be it Nike, Disney, Apple or Lamborghini building a quality brand that customers develop a passion for is more effective then anything else you can do. Often times we want to create a Website or Blog, put Google Ads on there and away we go. I've preferred to focus on building a quality Blog with a consistent following before focusing on Traffic/Google Ads. Ofcourse it takes a lot of time and there's boom and busts along the way. But in the end it's what makes the difference. 

  Take your time and stand out rather then being the same noise that clogs our Twitter feeds all day. Needa ideas? Look up marketing articles from reputable companies. It's helped me and will hopefully so the same for you. Good luck everyone.

The Power of the Brand Mascot

Building a Brand

These guys look familiar? Probably. Now ask yourself how much you noticed these characters as they came into creation. As you can tell, Mascots are arguably the ultimate Marketing Tool. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, I think Brand Mascots are the perfect example. I can't tell you about the commercials, but I can remember the characters being in those commercials and I knew what Business those characters represented. Obviously  I didn't realize realize the core of their Business, but I knew that the Dough Boy had some really good Cinnamon Rolls and that funny Geico Lizard showed us that not all Insurance agencies are full of boring grey souls.

 When you think of the dominant brands, you can always relate a character or symbol to them. It makes your brand stick out in a world that has and always will be filled with too much noise and not enough quality content. This is a beautiful thing for the true Marketing Guru as it will only make your symbolism stand out more. Lets face it, we're not all great writers (I damn sure don't claim to be) but if we have something original and entertaining to show, our message will be heard.

The Brand

          These guys ring a Bell?

  The best thing about having a powerful Mascot is because so many Customers can have a memorable experience with your brand that way. Maybe your Mascot made them laugh, maybe it was a cool character in a good video game, etc. This is what drives Customer Loyalty, and those customers will make your brand explode. Your hear it all the time, no traffic is effective as Organic Traffic. You get Organic Traffic by giving the people what they want. So define your Brand and make it happen.

This  can be done with some good ol' Content Marketing. For showing off your Mascot, Visual and Digital Marketing is the way to go.