by personal coach David Bohl

With the economy in a slump and questions of whether or not we are in a recession, many Americans are worried about their personal financial situations. The good news is that you don’t just have to sit there and take it under the chin allowing the economy to control you. There are steps that you can take and things that you can do to benefit from a bad economy.

Invest in foreclosures

The housing market has also seen the ill effects of a bad economy. Property values are decreasing, homeowners can’t afford to pay their mortgages, and for sale signs are popping up all over America. Many homes are even being foreclosed upon, so there are banks and mortgage lenders all over the country that now own property and aren’t in the real estate business. They want to sell these properties fast and as cheap as they can. You can benefit from this part of the bad economy by buying and investing in one or several foreclosed properties. You can buy a home of your own at a reduced price or you can buy homes to fix and resell or rent.

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Save Time, Energy & Money!

by David Bohl

Whether economic times are abundant or tight, it’s always an advantage to be a savvy consumer. And whether or not your budget is abundant or tight, it’s always beneficial to know how to shop effectively.

I remember reading The Millionaire Next Door and was surprised to find that a common trait of most millionaires was thrift. I think that’s how a lot of them became millionaires. To me, thrift means spending only when you need to and spending only what you need to.

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Your marriage is on the rocks. You lost your job. Your best friend isn’t talking to you.

You hurt your back. You are one month away from foreclosure on your home. Your child is sick. Your father died.

Any one of these experiences is traumatic. More than one occurring at the same time could put you into a tailspin. It is really important that you can look deep into yourself and see that some of these things are beyond your control — while others are completely in your power to fix.

Grieving the Unavoidable

Some things, like the death of a friend or family member, are just completely out of your hands. In this instance, it is simply your job to grieve. Too many times I have seen people stoic at the funeral of a parent. They seem to go on with their lives and are praised for being “so strong,” yet they let it eat away at them and feel absolutely miserable on the inside, for years. Even the loss of a job, or the collapse of a relationship, may require a period of grieving in order to understand, and grow from, the emotions that come from such a parting. Any time you experience suffering and loss, you should give your soul the time it needs to mourn, purge, cleanse, and heal.

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by David Bohl

Do you find yourself longing for closeness in your relationships?

Are you one of the many people today who maybe spends a little too much time on the computer, and not enough time connecting in-person with like minds and kindred souls?

Maybe it’s been so long since you’ve had someone to confide in that you wouldn’t know a good friend if you fell over one?

Or, maybe you’ve been burned in relationships - and you find it hard to trust.

One thing that we need to remember is that all people are different. In terms of friendship, past experience cannot necessarily predict current situations. Sure, if you were hurt by someone who you were close to or trusted, absolutely it’s going to be difficult to open yourself up to new relationships…it’s only human nature. But closing yourself off is not the answer. There are too many wonderful people in the world who can influence your life for the better. Here’s how to find them.

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from Personal Coach David Bohl

When I was thinking about writing on this subject, I thought about how subjective this actually is. Anyone who is on the quest for a better life most likely has their bookshelves overflowing with “self-help” or “personal growth” books. And if you’re just beginning the journey on your quest for a better life, then you may be looking for someone to help you find the best books out of the thousands that shout down at you from the bookshelves in the personal growth section of your local bookstore.

You may also have gotten recommendations from friends and associates claiming, “You’ve got to read this book. It’s changed my life!” So either you said, “I’m so happy for you,” and ignored their request, or you ran to the bookstore or Amazon.com, bought the book, only to leave it languishing on your already full bookshelf. Or you read it and said, “What’s the big deal? I don’t get it.”

Therefore, choosing a reading list for you is a difficult task. The books we read are a very personal choice. We listen to recommendations, yet, what affects others may not affect us in the same way. Additionally, your quest might be to improve your physical well-being, your wealth, your relationships, your business, or your mental or emotional health. Whatever your focus is on, will ultimately determine the books that will have the greatest impact on you.

That said, the ones I have chosen are classics, so millions of people have endorsed them. Still that doesn’t mean they will change your life, but they may have some impact on you, at least to get you thinking and reading, and maybe lead you to other books that will support your quest for a better life.

So here is my list. With these 5 books, you can’t go wrong. They may become some of your top favorites as well.

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How would Americans react to a presidential candidate who has a life coach?

Are you surprised to learn that political leaders hire personal coaches to help them deal with the pressures of being a public figurehead?

If you Google the terms “political leadership coach” or “political coach” in quotation marks, you’ll see a decent 500-800 page list of results that come up. Most of it is from organizations that offer leadership grooming and personal coaching for politicians and those who are on the path to a political career.

Even though coaching is for the most part an emerging field, there are enough types of coaches to say that the trend is continuing to grow. Coaching has been big in the corporate world for some time. Companies bring in motivational consultants to groom their future leaders, work on emotional intelligence and team dynamics, and empower both individuals and groups. When done right, this works to improve sales performance by fueling the organization to achieve more in less time and using less resources.

(I recently launched a group coaching program that is currently being delivered to professionals, in both online and in-person workshop formats. Check out The Intensive Empowerment System and tell me what you think!)

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Since most of us spend a good deal of time with other people, we should consider the quality of people we spend the most time with.Who you spend your time with is as significant as what you spend your time doing.

Read the rest of my article Choose Your Inner Circle With Care at the Milwaukee Biz Blog.

Technology can seem like your best friend or your worst enemy. The truth is that technology is always your friend–you just have to know how to manage it. By taking control of the technological tools available to you, you can streamline your life, effectively manage your time, and essentially get your life back. This article provides some of the technology tools you can use and the ways you can manage the technology in your life better.

All-in-one systems

There are several all-in-one technology systems to help to streamline and organize your life. For example, many cell phones now have multiple features such as calendars, contact systems, email, notes and more. Imagine all this functionality, packed into a little device that fits in your purse or pocket. The drawback of an all-in-one system is that if something happens to the device then all of your information goes with it, right? Not exactly. Sync this device with your computer and create an automatic backup file that will protect your precious data.

Taking it one step further, you can also sync this with your email system (Outlook, Yahoo!, Gmail, etc.). Most email systems have a calendar, notes section, and contact system, which creates an additional backup of all your information. This prevents you from having to double-enter information like email addresses and appointments, and provides anytime, anywhere access from any computer or mobile device.

Let’s use Mary as an all-in-one device user example…..

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Sometimes the rut that you are in, or the mood you want to change, or the bad feelings that manifest themselves in you are easier to shake than you might think.

Simply take a look around. Is your “best friend” someone who calls you a million times a day wanting you to get them out of their dilemmas or talk them off a roof? Is your mother-in-law trying to make you understand that there is only one way of doing things… her way? Does your pal from work spend more time complaining about the daily grind than actually grinding? Maybe the sour taste in your mouth is not coming from you at all but from those that surround you.

Seek Out Happy and Successful People

You will find that more times than not the ones who like their jobs, have a smile on their face, who never complain about things being unfair or that life has dealt them a hand of lemons are the same people that are content in their own lives… winners. They don’t have to put on an act; it’s how they feel.

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Parenting in the 21st century is a complex task. You must find a balance between work, kids, and your own happiness. While it can be difficult to please everyone, there are a few priceless parenting practices that will help you achieve order in your life and maintain a sense of personal fulfillment.

Remember Your Roots
As a parent, it’s sometimes easy to forget what it was like to be a kid. In a world filled with violence, drugs, and teenage pregnancies, it can be tempting to shelter your child and protect them from danger. However, it is important to look at this same world through the rosy glasses of a young person, if not to change your point of view then to at least understand that of your child. Communication is always improved when both parties can see the reasoning behind one another’s arguments, so empathizing with your child’s feelings while staying true to your adult wisdom can greatly strengthen your relationship.

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