Where to invest?

That has been the question I have been asking myself lately. Where do I invest? The stock market doesn't look like it has fully recovered, and looks like it my dip again. As far as real estate goes, it might be still another year before prices reach rock bottom. I am considering another business, however the economy is looking anemic, and is the American consumer ready to get out and buy. Let me know what you think. I am interested in any opportunities that yield a good return.

I want to be a millionaire so freakin bad

I love this song by Travie McCoy. I would just make a minor adjustment, instead of billionaire, I am happy with being a millionaire. I am working on it, it takes time patience, and work. I was working on a multi-unit property, but I lost interest. Maybe I will get another business. Any ideas out there, what is making you reach your goals? I appreciate any comments or suggestions.

Happy 4th of July!

Enjoy your 4th of July everyone!  Do the quintiessential American tradition, have a barbeque, have some brewskis, go for a swim, and thank God to be American.  I love all countries, but I still think this is one of the greatest for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.  God bless the US, and the world.  Let's keep this a nation of immigrants.  This is what makes this country so proud, and diverse.  Help pass Comprehensive Immigration Reform.  This land is your land, this land is my land...

Schools Out for the Summer!

Hooray!!  No more teachers, no more books, no more dirty looks.  No more students either, until September.

I am getting closer to my goal, soon I will not need to teach anymore.  I am working on another investment property, which should be closing soon.  Financial Independence here I come!

Time to Remember

Today in the U.S. it is a day of celebration, and the "unofficial" beginning of Summer.  During this festive time, gathered with friends and family, let us not forget about the brave women, and men who have so valiently served this country.  We salute you all!  God bless America, and God bless the entire world.

How about this stock market?

I am just about fed up with this stock market.  It is getting out of control.  This is why I am leaning more towards real estate (rental income properties), bonds, businesses, and possibly commodities, such as gold.  I am also considering doing some trading in futures.  If anyone out there can offer any suggestions on trading soy, wheat, oil, etc. please let me know. 

P.S.  I appreciate all the comments, and support, however please keep them appropriate.

Thanks, and best regards

Thank you God for all of your blessings

I am truly blessed.  Each day that passes I realize it more and more.  I have a lovely family.  I have health, and I have prosperous fruitful investments.  I thank God for all the blessings that I receive, I pray to receive his favor each and every day.  God bless, and Amen!

Slight Burnout

I need some downtime.  I especially need some quality family time.  Juggling two investment properties, a new business, work, a blog, two network groups, and family has been a little difficult as of late. 

I need to recharge, so I am looking forward to a well deserved break this weekend with my family.  Time to refresh, reprioritize, and get back to reason for all of this, my family.

Best regards,
riodedinero

What's your plan "B"?

What's your plan "B"?  During these trying economic times, it is important to have savings, and other sources of income in the event of losing one's job.  In the past it was recommended by many finacial advisors to have 6 months of reserves ready in case of emergency.  I think the new rule for the "new economy" is perhaps 1-2 years income during times of crisis.  What are you doing America?  How are you preparing?  Some options are real estate, stock options, businesses.  Multiple streams of income, so that if one stream dries up you can still go fishing in another.  Keep building up your streams everyone, so that they can be mighty rivers!  God bless, and prepare for the worst, so the worst doesn't happen.

Negativity Kills

There is a lot of bad news out there, and I am not saying you should ignore it. However I think you should always find the positive.  Each day is a gift.  My spirit is renewed, my health is improving, each day is brand new and full of promise.  Cease the day, and make the best of it.  Yes there is terrible flooding, yes the economy is shaky, yes the government is getting to big.  But remeber the promise of a new day, today is the day to be your best, do your best, and help the rest.  God bless.

New Business venture

I am very excited.  I am entering into a new chapter in my life.  I will be acquiring a new business soon.  The transfer should take place in less than a month.  It is a Curves franchise.  I like the business model, it is quite a niche business.  The current owner has had it for 8 years, and so I have been studying her business for a few months now.  I think I can improve the cash flow.  Members are offering me their valuable opionions on how to improve their experience.  It's going to be great, and I will add yet another stream of income.  I am getting closer to reaching my goal every day, retiring by age 50, living off of a properous passive income.

How much is your "word" worth?

I have a problematic tenant.  She has been this way since I signed the lease with her last year.  I have taken her to court on two ocassions, and now she is finally leaving.  She was a trouble maker, late paying rent, but worst of all her "word" was worthless.  I would give her more than enough time to pay the rent, and I would always ask her, when will you have it?  Every time she would answer with an excuse, or flat out lie to me, by saying that it will be there tomorrow. 
I think I have learned several lessons from this tenant, one is to be fair but be firm with your tenants.  Say what you mean, and mean what you say.  Second lesson is to not give anyone the benefit of the doubt too many times, because they will abuse your good nature.  The third and final lesson is to diversify my real estate.  That is to say instead of buying and holding, I will use different strategies in the future such as flipping, lease option, and "wrap contracts," which is something John Burley does a lot of.
Remember, how good is your word?  If you can not keep up the little promises, how can you keep the big ones?

Enough of the snow already

 Whoever made the song, "Let it snow," didn't have to shovel the stuff.  Two days of snow, enough already! I shoveled twice yesterday, and twice today; luckily my neigbhor plowed for me towards the end of my last shift.  All of this shoveling has made me reflect, and revel in my accomplishment.  I was the only one on the block going it alone with my shovel.  I was the first one out there, and the last one to finish.  It made me proud to know that I fought the elements and won.  It makes me think, did the great Warren Buffett have such a work ethic?  I am reading his biography Snowball.  I highly recommend it, it demonstrates what the rich do that others don't do.  Another thing I thought about as I was going through my records is that I have had progress, that is in reference to my net worth.  I have grown a lot in ten years.  I am really looking forward to reaching, and accomplishing my goals for the next ten years.  Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow!

Perspective

Last week my lesson was on adjectives in Spanish.  The kids really did a nice job describing themselves.  I had them do a fun activity where they had to at least use three adjectives to describe a friend.  In one class there was an odd number, and for some reason one student got my name.  The second grader desribed me as, "El es alto, bueno, y simpatico." (He is tall, good, and nice.)  I know that I am good and nice, but no one in my life has ever called me tall.  At 5'8 and 3/4" I always considered myself of average height.  As I laughed about this surprising comment, the student said as a matter of a fact, "Well you are taller than all of us."  That is when it all came together for me, in the eyes of the children I am tall.  So in my mind I have to picture the same image, I am tall, healthy, wealthy, and unstoppable.  As Joel Osteen says I have to change the recording in my head to one that is more positive, and that is more conducive to helping me reach my goals.  Remember people it is perspective, and how others think about you, but more importantly what is your own self concept.  Keep thinking positive thoughts, constructive thoughts, and you will achieve all of your goals!

212 degree attitude

Enjoy this positive, free, inspirational video presentation by http://www.simpletruths.com/:

http://www.212movie.com/

All it takes is that little extra effort to reach your goals, as Brian Tracy says "there are no traffic jams on the extra mile."

Papa where are you going?

My three year old son asks me this every morning that I get ready for work.  I know that one day soon I will say to him, "I'm going to mind my business."  Meaning that I am not going to get up to work for someone else.  I will be working for myself, and for the benefit of my family.  Later on in life, when my son is a teenager, if he still asks me this question, I'll reply, "Where do you want to go son, there are many opportunities out there today."  Financial independence by age 50, here we come destiny!

Think and Grow Rich

I feel like another list coming on.  Hey, these are good things!  They are inspirational words from successful people.  This comes from the "grandfather" of all financial wealth books, Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill.  His study of the principles of the rich and prosperous is timeless.  Here are his 13 principles:

1.  Desire
2.  Faith
3.  Auto-suggestion
4.  Specialized Knowledge
5.  Imagination
6.  Decision
7.  Organized Planning
8.  Persistence
9.  Power of the Mastermind group
10.  Mystery of Transmutation
11.  The Brain
12.  Subconcious mind
13.  Sixth sense

Think and Grow Rich!  Believe first, and then you will achieve.

Brian Tracy's 21 Rules of Success

I love listening to audio cds in my car, especially those that are positive, spiritual, and motivational.  I came across, and author that I thought was a good speaker, and an inspirational speaker.  He was talking about success, and the rules of success.
Here they are, hope many blessings and successes on to you:

1.  Dream Big  2.  Do what you love to do!  3.  Commit to excellence  4.  Develop unique talents and abilities.  5.  Accept full responsibility.  6.  Develop a clear sense of direction.  7.  Refuse to consider possiblity of failure.  8.  Dedicate yourself to lifelong learning. 9.  Develop workaholic mentality.  10.  Get around the right people.  11.  Be prepared to climb from peak to peak.  12.  Develop resilence.  13.  Unlock inborn creativity.  14.  Become an unshakable optimist.  15.  Dedicate to serving others.  16.  Develop a reputation for speed and dependability.  17.  Be honest with yourself and others.  18.  Concentrate on 1 thing at a time.  19.  Be decisive.  20.  Practice courage and persistance.  21.  Learn from experts.

For more information, check out Mr. Tracy's website:  http://www.briantracy.com/

Are you ready for success?  Let's do it, follow all 21 rules.

God bless, and much abundance to you and your loved ones!

Riddle me this Bat Man

What do we all have an equal amount of during one day?  Time is the answer.   It is something that we all have 24 hours equally; rich, poor, fat, skinny, productive, and non-productive.  My question to my readers is, what are you doing with your 24 hours today?  Are you making money?  Are you wasting time?  or even worse killing time?  What is your passion?  What makes you get up in the morning each day with a smile?  That should be your motivation, to be your best, and most productive self that you can be each and every day.

New Year, new resolutions

This year I want to try something new.  Instead of the usual resolutions of losing weight, and becoming financially independent.  I want to learn a new skill.  I want to learn French.  I was inspired to learn French by the service of the Air France staff.  What service!  Good food, great quality service. 
I haven't flown internationally in a while.  Unfortunately I had to go to Spain due to the death of my grandmother.  She lived a long life, 100 years old.  I thought she would be with us forever.  I have many fond memories of her.  I think what I remember most about her, was her power to persuade.  She new what to say to people to get what she wanted, and she did it in such a subtle and classy way.  With that in mind, I want to work on my powers of persuasion, just like my abuela.  I also would like to work on improving my memory.  She had great great grandchildren, and she could tell you their birthdates, and who were their parents, etc.
In summary, in memory of my abuela I want to improve upon my memory, my power of persuasion, and I want to learn a new language.  Que viva la abuela Manolita!  Long live my grandmother Manolita, may she rest in peace, forever in our minds, and our hearts.