Laughing in the Face of an Economic Recession?

laughing.jpgOur nation is going through some troubling economic times right now… but you do not need to follow suit. The economy today is a horror story of financial bailouts and golden parachutes. Is the government going to bail you out if you make some not so good decisions? This is why you need to control your own financial destiny!

Don’t panic.

Easier said than done, right? Well, the truth is that the stock markets go through cycles every ten years or so. Which is why if you are close to retirement, you should be involved in low risk stocks and why if you are far from retirement, higher risks are acceptable. You should be waiting it out… not jumping ship! If you join the sell, sell, SELL bandwagon, you will be sorry when those that buy your “undervalued” stocks at a song and make a killing. An economic downturn is the best opportunity to purchase stocks (and even “designer” stocks like Google or McDonalds) at a much discounted rate.

(Note: Before you do anything, talk to your financial advisor who can help you figure out the best financial planning strategy that makes the most sense for YOU.)

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6 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Busting Out of the Rat Race

butterfly.jpgby David Bohl, Lifestyle Designer

The nine to five grind… you’ve been a participant since your late teens, early twenties. Is it time to take a hike? Here are six questions to ask yourself BEFORE you ditch those bennies.

Take an extended vacation… how does it feel?

Do you have some extra vacation stored up for a rainy day? Most of us do! This is the perfect time to see how you can really handle not going through the daily grind. Spend some leisurely time with your family and your hobbies. Find a hobby if you don’t already have one…reading, writing, biking, hiking, cooking. See how you handle your extended break, and make the determination of whether you want to leave the structure of your job to pursue other things.

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6 Signs It’s Time to Move On

freedom.jpgThinking about breaking up with your girlfriend, your job, or even your lifestyle? These 6 indicators can give you insight on whether to stick it out or throw in the towel.

You’re unhappy.

Seems to be a no-brainer, right? And yet, sometimes we’re so used to being unhappy in a job or a relationship that we never even realize there is any other way to feel.

Do you dread Monday morning by the time Sunday rolls around? Do you find that you have nothing positive to say or even think at your meetings during the week? In your personal life, do you choose to go out with friends because you don’t want to be alone with your wife or girlfriend? These are all signs that you need to either figure out how to improve your situation, or work on getting out of whatever you’re stuck in, and creating something new.

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Opportunity Magnified: The Value in Seeing What Others Miss

jump.jpgby David Bohl, Life Coach and Lifestyle Designer

I know it sounds cliche… but the power of positive thinking really does bring an avalanche of wonderful things pouring into your life.

From your job to your marriage to your social life to your personal interests… it pays to start listening to what your Inner Opportunist has to say.
Think for a moment about a company who lays off thousands of its employees–some that have worked at the company for 20 years. Debbie, one of these employees was the marketing manager of the company. She is laid off after giving 10 years of her professional life to the company–increasing its sales, hiring and mentoring an entire marketing area, and being at the company’s beck and call.

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5 Books to Read on the Quest for a Better Life

reading.jpgfrom 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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Hang Out With Winners If You Want To Win

joyous.jpgSometimes 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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eBook review: Your Life in Balance at EffTD

Mike Vardy at EffTD has posted a review of my eBook Your Life in Balance. Thanks Mike!

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Are You Living From Purpose & Passion?

istock_000005487211xsmall.jpgDo you know what your purpose is? Many people believe they are put on the earth to live out a purpose. Whether that purpose is pre-ordained or chosen by you is up for debate. Either way, there may be something that drives you, that sets you apart from others, that motivates you, that gives you a reason to wake up each morning. That could be your purpose.

For some, their purpose is to serve others. They may gravitate toward becoming ministers, doctors, nurses, teachers, or coaches. For others, they may feel their purpose is to create, and so they choose to follow their gifts and become authors, artists, actors, builders, or composers.

When you are living from purpose, you feel complete, you feel fulfilled, you feel at peace with yourself and the world. You also live with passion. Many of my life coaching clients come to me with this goal of living with passion in mind.

Are you aware of your passions? Do you know what turns you on, lights you up, brings an instant smile to your face? (more…)

FREE Personal Development Workshop TONIGHT in Milwaukee Area

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Click HERE for details.

A Great Review – Thanks Alex Shalman


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Thanks to Alex Shalman at AlexShalman.com for the great review!