“I believe in luck. The harder I work, the more I have of it! (Thomas Jefferson)

This is so true.

Or, life is what you make of it!

When you see wealthy people, in most cases, they have come up the the hard way..

Just a small percentage of rich people inherit their wealth.

Although everyone would like to be “lucky,” most aren’t willing to do the hard work required.

Remember that “Hard Work” requires perseverance.

Be prepared for setbacks and disappointments on the road to LUCKY.

Have you had a new business idea in your mind for a few years now?

Is it something you just think about, but would never do?

Or, are you ready to take the plunge?

Many potential entrepreneurs just can’t put themselves in such a risky proposition.

So, they spend the rest of their lives asking the question, “What if ?”

I have started many businesses.

Some worked out. Some didn’t.

I would do it all again.

Think of the Florida Keys and the tried-and-true destinations of Key West, Key Largo and Islamorada, quickly come to mind.

But in between all that, in an area known as the “Middle Keys,” a destination known as Marathon is emerging as the new place to be.

Marathon used to be this sleepy little town with not a whole lot to do.

But it’s a really great destination now, and there’s no shortage of things to do here anymore.

Once a local fishing community, Marathon, which is spread across more than a dozen small islands, has seen its stock rise rapidly in recent years.

This is due to a flurry of openings and investments that include fresh full-service resorts, revived recreational opportunities and revamped historical sites. (CNN)

I Thought you might be interested.

It’s not easy.

But we all have them, sometimes more than we can count.

Of course, the important question is “what made it a bad day?”

Can you avoid those same circumstances in the future?

If you may have to face the same situation again, don’t assume that today is the day!

In other words, don’t allow that bad day to haunt each of your tomorrows.

As the old saying goes, “We are a drop of intellect in a sea of emotion!”

So, try to deal with bad days more with your intellect than your emotions.

If, on the other hand, you know you won’t have to face the same situation again, rejoice and be glad!

Like every thing we do, there are always pros and cons.

PROS OF WORKING AT HOME:

Less commuting-This can be a huge benefit depending upon the distance traveled.

Better work-life balance- More flexibility to address work and personal needs.

Less stress- Avoid problematic relationships with certain co-workers/meet deadlines on your schedule.

Can build international relationships- Can adjust to time differences with international clients.

CONS OF WORKING AT HOME:

The possibility of overworking- Without rigid office hours, you can lose track of time.

Isolation- It might be a big adjustment w/o the socialization of the office.

Less likely to be promoted- Out of sight, out of mind.

Need to purchase work-at-home supplies- furniture and equipment.

CONCLUSION:

The ideal solution may be to split your work between office and home

It’s time to add to your list of reasons to work out:

Getting active could help prevent risk of death from the flu and pneumonia by 48%, according to new research.

Adults should get at least 150 minutes of moderate aerobic physical activity and two or more days of moderate muscle strengthening activities a week, according to the US Department of Health and Human Services. (CNN)

In addition to the life saving benefits listed above, a strong body yields a “CAN DO” attitude.

You know it’s the right thing to do.

If not today, when?

The cost of living always seems to go up.

As you look around at your monthly expenses, you realize that everything is costing more.

These increased costs make it difficult to save money.

And if you have some money to invest for your future, where do you put it?

The only investment that has always paid off long term is HOME OWNERSHIP.

Home prices continue to rise year after year.

And there are many tax benefits available to homeowners.

The interest on a mortgage and property taxes are both deductible.

If you need money for educational or medical expenses, you can borrow some of your equity without the need to sell your house.

When you go to sell your house, your profit is a capital gain and not taxed like regular income.

So, homeownership PAYS OFF!

We’re losing our manners when driving.

I don’t know why this is happening but it is more frequent.

Maybe it’s because people are in a greater hurry.

Or, could it be that our civil society is not as civil as it once was?

Or, do we try to sneak in a text or phone call on the road?

Regardless of the cause of aggressive driving by others, we must drive defensively.

This means we must not follow the car ahead of us too closely.

We must always look both ways before proceeding through any crossing, be it a light, stop sign, etc.

We must be sure when we change lanes that the next one is clear.

We must always stop for pedestrians.

We cannot assume that other drivers are going to do what they are “supposed to do.”

There are many demands when driving and you must have your mind alert at all times.

This will allow time to react to sudden, unexpected decisions by other drivers.

Stay safe out there.

No one carries the burdens of this world like a MOM.

Her journey often begins with morning sickness.

In fact, many dramatic physical changes take place.

Actually, the newly conceived child’s needs take precedence.

As MOM’S body moves through various stages, MOM’ emotions change also.

Finally, the day of birthing is here with its physical pain.

Now that the new baby is here, MOM has new responsibilities.

From this moment on, MOM will try try to provide her baby with nourishment, safety, an education, medical care and most of all, LOVE.

It’s not easy and never was for all the wonderful MOMS of our world.

THANK YOU MOM.

Although you have passed on, I will always love YOU!

Do you have a dream?

I had one.

I wanted to race aboard a large racing yacht in the annual Chicago to Mackinac island race.

It was something I had thought about for many years.

Finally, in 2007, I was invited to become a crewman aboard a 70 foot yacht named “Pied Piper.”

It was everything I had hoped for.

If you have a dream, go for it!

If you don’t have a dream, consider pursuing one.

It makes life so much more worthwhile.