Unlimited Expectations

What would happen if your mind wasn’t hindered by the things you have been taught directly and indirectly?

Remember when you were younger you thought you could conquer the world and you could do it all?  What happened to that mentality? For many of us life and people have taught us to stay inside our cage of comfort with the treat of danger if we venture out just a little bit outside the grasp of our cage.

What would happen if I mind were to shift back to those days when we were unstoppable?  When we had unlimited expectations - conquering the world, being rich, accomplishing our dreams.

Ladies and gentlemen I submit to you that you are unstoppable.  You can accomplish your dreams. You can be successful, and not moderately successful, really successful.  Don’t play down to your surroundings.  Dare to dream big, execute well and enjoy great results.

If you don’t at least make an effort to fulfill your mission in this life, you might come across someone who is doing it and you will be jealous of them.  Don’t live with any more regrets, you probably already have a bag of “I could haves” and “I should haves”. Turn up the pace, intensify the journey, go passionately after your goals, fulfill your purpose.

Romans 8:31 alerts me that if God be for us then who can be against us?  With the Lord on our side and leading the way there is no way we can lose.



Grow Your Money Tree

It is a fact that most of us will have several hundred thousand dollars pass through our hands in our life time.  You don't believe me do you?  Well lets say you work for the minimum wage ($7.25 per hour), full time (40 hours per week) for the next fifteen years.  If you did that you would have earned $226,200.00.

With that knowledge you and I both most figure out a way to grow our money tree. There are several obstacles that are trying to kill the growth of our tree: bad money choices caused by hereditary and environment, debt, clear understanding, etc.


We can clear up bad money choices with continued exposure to information that will increase your financial literacy. In this post I want to challenge your understanding and debt.

Some people, professional and otherwise, will tell you that you should pay off all of your debt first before you can grow your money.  I believe that this is poor advice for most people.  You should develop a strategy where you are reducing debt, saving and investing for growth simultaneously. Work with someone who can help you develop this strategy

This way your money tree has the best chance of growth.

Also please keep in mind these three principles:

1. The fastest way to increase wealth is to invest.

2. There is a significance in making more money and increasing wealth.

3. When you start to invest don't get discouraged if you are not able to be a part of the "big deal".  A few "small deals" can put you in a position to be part of the "big deals".








Image courtesy of ddpavumba at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

That Little Extra

It always amazes me when I read Luke 4:16-21 when the Bible speaks of Jesus entering the temple and being given Isaiah 61 to read.  Needless to say in the 30 plus generations, between the establishment of the temple and this occurrence, Isaiah 61 had to have been read several times in the temple.

What was so different about this reading and this person that was reading? Was it simply his ability to orate in a unique way? Was it the setting of the temple? Had it to do with anything relating to the times?  I would say probably not.

The difference between the reading of Isaiah 61 this time is the anointing of Jesus.  It had more to do with the time He spent in prayer and less with the times He lived in.  This is key for you and I today.

It is just that little extra that separates what we do and how we operate from that of others.  The time we spend in God’s presence being changed by Him will reflect to others in the same fashion.

Lord help us to find ourselves on your altar and allow the flames of the Holy Spirit to change us in such a way that the world will notice what you have done in us.  Give us that little extra!

Holiday Gift →

This is a great devotional.  It is a great way to start your day.  Order it from the site today….

Here is what one of the readers said about the book:

“This book is a must have in every household. A Walk Through Proverbs breaks down the wisdom of Solomon and others who added their own. Filled with lessons for young men, and every family member, this book is easy to follow with its day by day selections , and the thought provoking questions that follow at the end of each chapter provide an excellent teaching tool. No question, I rate this book 5 stars.”

Christmas: Fishing Time



The Christmas season is upon us and you know what that means.

It means that retailers have already figured out where the fish (you) are and they are ready to release the bait (“the deal”) that the fish want.

On Black Friday - the day after Thanksgiving - mall parking lots and department stores will be crowded with people who will be seeking a deal.  On Cyber Monday, the Internet will have quite a bit of traffic to popular retail site by deal seekers.  A deal is a great thing, but this Christmas season, let’s not seek a deal.  Let’s seek what we are in need of.  The retailers want customer to exceed their budgets and they make it very convenient to do so.

Here is a short list of five things that you can consider before you go out seeking a deal during the Christmas season:

1.      Don’t rely on the fact that you will be receiving an income tax return check in January which you will use to pay off your Christmas spending bill.  Yes you may be receiving a check during the tax season but that check could go to invest in your future or assist you in getting out of debt.  Why not consider taking one of those actions with your anticipated income tax refund?

2.      Make a list of items that you need and only seek deals for those items.  (Need here simply means that the item is a necessity for survival.)  Don’t allow the retailers to reel you in.  You have to make wise decisions for your future and that of your family.  Buy what you absolutely need.  You will get a good price on something you need. 


3.      Consider donating some or all of the money set aside for Christmas shopping to those less fortunate than you.  There are many who are less fortunate than we are.  Let’s remember them during the Christmas holiday.  There will also still be people who are displaced from the storms in the northeastern part of the US.  Help someone out, the nature of Christmas is birthed in giving to those who are less fortunate and in need of assistance.  Lend a helping hand; let’s not forget about those who are in need.

4.      Consider giving your children, nieces, nephews or godchildren gifts that will assist them in the future.  One thing that you might want to do is by a share or a few shares of stock and offer this as a gift to your children or relatives who are in the earlier stages of life.  They may look at you funny but over time if the money is invested properly these young people will thank you greatly when they get older. Think investment. 


5.      Create a budget for your Christmas spending and stick to it. This should have been the first, second and third option.  Above everything on the list, establish a budget – parameters on what you are able to spend on Christmas shopping while still maintaining your monthly, weekly and/or daily expenses.  If you do not have a plan with regard to a budget, you are most certain to spend money that you cannot afford to spend.   

Don't Forget About The Kids!

I recently read an article that stated only three out of ten US parents talk to there kids about money and money related matters.  This is a major issue as we need to produce more financially responsible people.

Financial literacy is a must for our children in today's society. A few decades ago financial literacy for children meant opening a bank account, showing them how to write a check, balance a checkbook and saving. Today true financial literacy for children must be more robust as the financial health of our nation depends on it.  Remember our children will be the next leaders of our nation, which has been in financial turmoil for the past sixty years. If we dont do something soon there might not be a land of opportunity to lead.

The talk about finances with our children is just as important as the "sex talk" although many parents do not see it like that.  How do I suggest to handle talking to your children about money? I am glad you asked.

Well we need to start with the basics - teach them how to save, how to give back to help others, how to write a check and balance the checkbook.  But let's add topics to our discussions - there can't just be one discussion because the topic of money or finance is just too broad - like retirement (including the benefits and drawbacks of 401Ks and IRAs), credit, creating a budget, insurance, investing, entrepreneurship, taxes and home ownership.

If you need some help to understand how these discussions should go, don't hesitate to contact us.

A Picture of Beauty

There is an awesome picture described in Revelation chapter four, John gives a peak at a scene taking place in heaven.

In verses nine through eleven John describes a worship session like none other. Each time the the living creatures give glory and honor to God the Bible says that the twenty four elders fall down before the Lord and they place their crowns before the throne and give glory to God as well.

Why is this so remarkable? Many times we as leaders come into the presence of God and we rend our hearts, but we don’t place our crowns before the Lord. What constitutes our crowns? Good question.

Our crowns, in this life, could represent our authority, our accomplishments, the accomplishments of those we led that we like to take credit for. For the parents reading this your crown could be the accomplishment of your son or daughter which dep down inside you believe you deserve credit for. When was the last time you came into the prescence of the Lord and simply placed your crown before the throne?

This scene, this preview of Heaven which the Lord reveals through John is something we should be practicing here on Earth. We should take time and bring Od our entIre bent, He deserves it!

Our culture has led us to believe that we are specially and something is owed to us. But remember before you and I are anything He was and is? Therefore every title, every accomplishment. Or every merit we receive is because of Him and never due to us.

Let us remember to cast our crowns before the throne. It is then when the Lord will have our full hearts!

The Two Greatest Issues In Youth Ministry

I have been involved in youth ministry for over fifteen years.  During that time I have seen a great deal of success and great deal of failed efforts.  But there are two things that I believe are greatest assets and liabilities in youth ministry - that’s right they are both great and at the same time bad as well.  These two things are consistency and predictability.

Consistency is some thing that every youth pastor wants.  he or she wants the staff to be consistent, the youth services to be consistent, the youth to come consistently and most importantly they want to consistently teach the Word of God.  A youth ministry that is not founded on the Word of God is no more than a glorified church day care for teenagers - no matter how you slice it.  Of course this is not to say you don’t do other events - concerts, trips, etc - but the foundation must be the Word.  Unfortunately sometimes the parents, youth and the staff fight this.  So although you want consistency across the board there is sometimes a fight against consistency. 

Despite the things that might be said or thrown at us, it is our responsibility as men and women of God, parents and youth ministers to teach the Word of God consistently to the generation coming up.  If we fail to do so, we will allow a strain of Christianity to develop that is weak, entertaining and cunning - kind of like the Church of Laodieca (Rev 3:14-22).

We know that the devil is fighting against the consistent teaching of the Word, but we must consistently teach the Word to the next generation.  With the things that are coming down the pipeline these days, they will need it.

Predictability is another issue I have noticed in youth ministry.  No one wants to be able to predict what is coming next.  This I find strange, when you watch a movie and you begin to hear ominous music you know that someone’s life is in danger - predictable.  When you watch reality shows on television there are certain times where next move of the person on the screen is predictable.  In youth ministry youth will not stay around or engaged if things are predictable.  

To some degree we are predictable.  We are the church so we will be engaged in things that pertain to living life in the light of God’s glory.  When you go to the doctor isn’t he or she predictable - check your weight, blood pressure, maybe take some blood, ask you how you are feeling….that seems pretty predictable doesn’t it?

How do we fight being predictable?  One word remix….

Begin to remix some of the things that have worked in youth ministry before.  Let’s think about it, most youth ministries begin in junior high and continue through high school.  That means from grades 6 through 12 - 7 years.  Depending on where the bulk of your kids are you can begin to remix some of those youth ministry ideas every 5 years or so.  You will be like the latest hip hop or R&B star..  Did I say that?

Think about it, almost everything our young people listen to musically is a remake of something from ten years ago or more.  Why not remix some of your ideas? Also think about sprinkling in some ideas of other youth ministries that have had some success.  Remember not everything that works across town will fit exactly into your flow or have the same result.  You may have to take an element from across town and add a little flavor of your own to it.  Remember boring an idea is legal.

Obviously there are probably some other issues you may face in youth ministry, if so what are they? I never claim to have all the answer or lived through all of the experiences of youth ministry, I am just sharing what I believe are the two root issues in youth ministry.

Stand Up For God And He Will Stand Up For You


There have been countless people the above statement applied to but lets focus on these five men for one second:

Shadreck, Meshack and Abindigo – Daniel 3:1, 4-6, 13-30

Daniel – Daniel 6:7, 10-24

Stephen – Acts 7:54-60

In each case each of these men were in a position to take a serious stand for the Lord or back down and allow a mediocre brand of Christianity (or Judaism) to continue to dominate their culture.

These men had the audacity to take a stand for the Lord in a culture that was simply anti-Christ, kind of like today’s culture.  The thing that caught my attention about each of these cases is that these men took a stand despite the consequences that were coming due to their decision.  

The three Hebrew men had to face a chamber of fire, in that chamber the Lord showed up for them and spared their lives. Daniel was thrown into a den of lions because of his stand, but the lions weren’t hungry that night and all they wanted to do was keep Daniel company - the Lord showed up for Him. Stephen’s stand seems to be a little different.  He was stoned to death, but before he closed his eyes on this life, he peered into the Heavens and Stephen sees Jesus in a very awkward position - standing at the right hand of the Father.  Stephen’s act of taking a stand got the Lord attention, so much so that He stood up to watch the audacious act of His servant.

Are we living out a mediocre brand of Christianity today or do we have the audacious ability to take a stand for the Lord in this day which is anti-Christ? The fact remains that the God who is the same yesterday, today and forever is still looking for audacious people like Daniel, like Stephen, like the three Hebrew men.  

I pray that the Church - the real Church - would take a stand for the Lord.  If we do this He will take a stand for each of us.

The Vow

My wife and I have been sitting here today enjoying one another and she told me about a song she heard today.  The song is entitled One Day At A Time by Brian Courtney Wilson (get this song ASAP if you don’t have it).  She played the song and began to inspire thought about marriage.

When we a male and female get married they exchange vows with one another.  They promise to be loving and faithful to one another despite good times or bad, richer or poorer, sickness or health until death separates the two.  But this is the secondary vow.

Wedding rings

The primary vow is to God.  What do I mean?  The primary vow in marriage is to God to be faithful to Him and then to be faithful to your spouse as well.  It is God who calls a man and woman to be together in marriage to carry out a particular purpose for His glory on the Earth.

So if the marriage vow is to God as well as our spouse, divorce should never been a option - unless the act of adultery or some type of abuse is present in the relationship.  If we get divorce or even separated we are inferring one of more things:

1. That God made a mistake.  If it is God who calls us to marry our spouse to accomplish something for His glory then we should be faithful to that task.  If we abort the marriage then we are basically saying that God made a mostake in brining the two of us together.

2. We didn’t hear correctly. Because God can’t make a mistake, we must have heard something wrong.  Maybe we heard wrong at the beginning and we should have never committed to marriage.  Maybe we heard wrong recently - are we really supposed to separate.

3. Let’s get an abortion! Because a man and woman are called by God to enter into marriage for His glory, when we consider divorce, we are considering aborting the plan of God for our lives.

4. We don’t care who gets hurt. There are so many people and relationships attached to our marriages.  Some of these connections we know about but there are countless others who we don;t.  Many are looking on our marriages and drawing the strength to continue on with theirs.

If your marriage is coming to a point where it seems to be coming apart at the threads please try this:

1. Pray and ask God to assist you and show you the right thing to do.

2. Limit the outside voices.  Many times family and close friends who “mean the best for us” will attempt to guide us and give advice, but many times the are in a place where it might not be wise to take advice from them. 

3. Start writing.  Take a sheet of paper, fold it in half. In the left column right down all the good things that you like and admire about your spouse since you’ve been married. On the right side list the things you don’t like about your spouse. Be honest with both sides of the paper. More than likely you will see - if you are honest - that the left column will be much longer than the right.

4. Write some more.  Take another sheet of paper, fold it half as well. Ask yourself the following question - and be very honest - what are some of the critiques I have heard from friends, family and co-workers?  Write these critiques in the left column of the page.  Review the list, crossing out everything that is totally not true.  you can’t cross off ore then half the list - because whether you want to admit it or not, a lot of the critiques are true.  In the right column list some things you can do to improve on the critiques.

In conclusion, marriage like anything in life will not be perfect, Marriage will face challenges, but the vow made to God and to your spouse is stronger then those challenges.  Trust God to work things out, don’t make any rash decisions that will be damaging long term and I pray that all the voices pushing for seperation and divorce would cease in the name of the Lord Jesus.

It is our responsibility to be an example of God’s love through our marriages.

Remember the Vow………………

The Close of The Age

Don’t you find it interesting as we crack open the last chapter of the Scriptures - the book of Revelation - that there is a specific attention to detail as the end of the age as we know it approaches.  Why do you think that is the case?  Could it be that this is Christ’s final loving attempt to reconcile mankind to Himself before the end of the age as we know it?  

Let take a look, starting at Revelation 2. There are seven churches that are admonished to get some things together before they are cut off.  

Ephesus

They were admonished for their hard work, perserverance, no tolerance for wicked men, astitue enough in the Word to detect false teaching, suffered for the name of Christ.  The one issue they had is that they have forsaken your first love.

Smyrna

Told to prepare for the coming hardships

Pergamum

They were diligent and faithful but they have some people that are holding on to, believing and governing their lives by, maybe even trying to pass along to others, teachings that are contrary to the Word of God.

Thyatira

They are admonished for their faith, love, service and perseverance but they have allowed people to teach things that are misleading the people of God, causing them to commit sexual immortality and disregard the things of God.

Sardis

Something seems to be inconsistent.  They are accussed of being alive but actually they are dead - hypocritical.  They are warned to strengthen what remains and to remember what they received and heard.  With that they are told to do two things: remember what they received and repent.

Philadelphia

They seem to have faced a lot of adversity and there seems to be more to come.  They have little strength but were persistent to keep the Lord’s word and to honor His name.  

Laodicea

They are accused of being lukewarm - neither hot nor cold - because of this they will be dealt with severely.  They had becoeme proud that they were rich, wealthy and not in need of anything.  In fact they are are wretched, pitiful, poor, blind and naked. Although this is the case, the Lord has provided a solution for their poverty, nakedness and blindness.  If they follow the counsel of the Lord and repent they will be fine, if not they will suffer the consequences. 

Although we are in the age of grace we must be careful to pay attention to the word of God.  We must live our lives in a way that is careful and pleasing to the Lord.

2012 Money Play

As a new year approaches, it is a great time to starting talking and thinking about your finances for 2012.  There are some things that you and I want to consider now for 2012:

Develop a budget

It is going to be important to develop a budget for 2012 and to stick to that budget as best as you possibly can.  Here are some things you can do right now to construct your budget. 

1.      Log onto your bank account.

2.      List all of the things you have spent money on from January 1, 2011 until now (include all the transactions in your accounts – checks, withdrawals, debit card usage, bank fees, etc.)

3.      Categorize all of your expenses into the following categories for each month: Housing (mortgage, insurance, real estate taxes, rent, utilities, repairs to home, etc). Transportation (automobile expenses including insurance, taxi/cabs, bus or train fare, etc). Meals (meals purchases at work, groceries, etc.). Entertainment (meals outside of work and home, movies, subscriptions – magazines, NetFlix, etc). Travel (vacations). Personal care – haircut, salon, spa, etc. Investments – any amount you spend on investments outside of job sponsored retirement plans, this includes savings and life insurance. Miscellaneous – anything else which does not fit in any of the above categories.

4.      List your monthly take home income.

5.      Subtract your total expenses from your total income.

6.      Are there any negative months?  What happened in those months? Was there some level of emergency? Were there any months that were profitable? Did you break even in some months? What happened in those months?

7.      Take another sheet of paper and a calculator and figure out how much of your annual take home salary is being spent in each of the eight expense categories. 

8.      Compare your results to what I call a typical budget: Housing should consume no more than 30% - 37% of your take home or net pay. Transportation – about 20%. Meals – between 15% and 20%. Entertainment – 3% to 5%. Travel – 5% to 10%. Personal care – 3% to 7%. Investment – 5% to 10%. Miscellaneous – 3% to 5%.

9.      If your percentages don’t match up with those in item 8, you should consider adjusting your expenses accordingly.

10.  Stick to the budget you created in 2012. Don’t go astray from the path.

Get out of debt

Debt grows faster than your income so it is a mandate to get out of debt as soon as you can.  With the rate that the world’s economy is going make it a priority to retire your debt as soon as you possibly can.  This includes student loans as well.  I would suggest opening a separate bank account where you pay your debt from and call it your DSA - Debt Shrinking Account.  Make extra payment if you can to shrink your debt faster.  Email me for more advice on this.

Develop a plan to save and invest

Now that you have your budget and DSA in place you will need to develop a plan to save and invest.  The 5% to 10% that is being set aside for investments should be split in half between investments and savings.  Your savings here would be your “rainy day” fund.  The way the world’s economy looks we are in for quite a few rainy days in 2012.  It is always best to be prepared.

Speak with a financial advisor on what you should use the other half of your funds to actually invest in.

Watch the markets

This doesn’t mean only the stock market.  But watch all the markets.  What are you looking for?  You are looking for opportunity, an opportunity that can catapult you and your family to the next level.  With the other three items, mentioned above, in place you now have the ability to not only watch the markets but also take advantage of some of the opportunities that are presented to. 

Tax cleaning

I am sure you have heard of spring cleaning, but tax cleaning?  Since it is the end of the year, it is time to do some tax cleaning.  You ready? Ok great, let’s start:

Portfolio investments

Begin cycling through your investment portfolio; if you have sustained losses on some of your investments sell them now. Don’t worry if you like the investment buy it back immediately with just a few clicks of the mouse. We want the loss for your tax return.

Donations

Go through your closets, basements, garages and other “storage” areas.  There are hidden deductions, I meant donations there I am sure. Search for useful things that you haven’t used in the last few months or forgot that you had. Donate those items to a tax exempt organization before the end of the year. Be sure to retrieve a receipt from the organization signifying your name, the date the item(s) were donated and a description of the item.  Be sure the organization is a charitable organization with its tax exemption currently in place.

Maybe you have some extra cash lying around, if so make a yearend contribution to your favorite charity.

Withholdings

If you owed money to the IRS or state you reside in over the past year or two, it maybe a good idea to increase your withholdings at work.  Do this by completing Form W-4 and submitting it to your employer immediately.  Be sure to claim one or two less exemptions that you originally did. Note: you want to do this soon as some employers don’t process W4 changes right away. You can change your W4 back to its original number of exemptions at the start of 2012.

Distributions

If you are over 70 ½ years of age you are required to take a distribution from your IRA or employer sponsored plans.  Be sure to do this before December 31st. If you don’t take the distribution timely you will certainly pay a penalty for it.

Tax payments

If you pay estimated taxes during the year, make your January 2012 payment before Dec 31, 2011.  This will assist you in lower any potential tax burden in 2011.

You have some information to start with, now start cleaning! Speak with your tax advisor about how this information will impact you specifically. Tax planning is unique to the individual, his/her income and their overall financial health. If you don’t have a tax advisor then visit us at www.thetowlesgroup.com. 

The Intrusion of Black Friday

It appears that retailers are dead set on impacting the family structure this year.  Black Friday is actually starting about six hours earlier this year.  Well I guess that is another story for another time in another setting.  Nonetheless, here are three tips on how to protect yourself and your family financially on Black Friday:

Stay home enjoy family and look forward to Cyber Monday.

Enjoy your family on Thanksgiving Day, don’t eat and run so you can get in line at your favorite retail store.  Part of the dynamic of the “savings” the retailers offer on Black Friday is simply a ploy for you to buy something else that you don’t need.  Safe yourself the headache and shop around on the Internet for the item you are looking for on the Monday after Thanksgiving. Here is a tip: with the state of the economy, the later you wait to more you will probably save. No need to rush.

If you must go into the stores on Black Friday, have a spending plan.

Before you get on line outside of the store have a plan. Ask yourself what am I going to buy and what price am I going to pay for it?  When you have a plan and stick to that plan then the retailers can’t offer you their credit card in order to get an additional percentage off the sale.


Walk in with a plan, stick to the plan and walk out of the retailer with what you planned to walk out with at the right price and nothing more.  No need to layaway what you have planned for. There is no need to finance the purchase you have planned for.  There is no need to spend more than you planned.

Remember you’re on a budget

What is your budget for the Christmas shopping season which starts in a little over 24 hours?  If you don’t have a budget then you don’t have a plan and the only thing that can happen is an unwise move.  Most people can’t afford another unwise financial move this year.  Create your budget today before tomorrow comes and you aren’t prepared.

Let me know how this information has impacted you, whether positively or negatively. I’d like to hear from you. Send your responses to info@frederickotowles.com.

A Turning Point In Business: An Effective Online Presence

According to the U.S. Census Bureau report released in May 2011, the total US e-commerce sales in 2009 were over $145 billion dollars.  This equated to just about 4% of the entire retail industry but it is a key indicator that having an online presence is the way to go.  Being that this is the case I communicated with the CEOs of two cutting edge companies that deal with businesses obtaining an online presence JC Brillant of EyeBottonLine.com Business Development Group Inc and Richard Bonilla of Feedcast Media Group Inc.

EyeBottomLine.com is a company which producing cutting edge websites for business and Feedcast Media is a company which has developed a unique and cutting edge system which enables companies of any size to engage in an effective social media advertising campaign.  These two gentlemen were asked five questions that I felt were important to an up and coming business or a business that has been around some time.

Why is it important for a business to have a presence online?

JC: “All businesses in this day and age need to have an online presence in order to compete and reach their customer base. That business can be anything from a street cart to a barbershop to an auto repair establishment, ALL businesses need to be online to give their potential clients information regarding what they are doing, what product or service is being offered and how the business can be contacted.”

Richard: “Why should a business have a telephone number? Because it is important, it provides a point of communication with the client. And in business communication with the client is everything.  This is the same reason that every business needs a web presence. The world is online and if you aren’t online you are at least twenty years behind your competitor.”

What are some things you would suggest to a company seeking to get exposure?

JC: “All forms of advertising are a must, however it depends on your budget as to what you can afford.  The most reasonable routes of exposure are business cards, flyers and social networking.  These can all be done at a minimal cost and each minimal time constraints.”

Richard: “Social media is probably one of the most efficient and cost effective ways to get exposure online. With persistency and consistency you can beat your competition and be able to touch your customer base.  You can interact with them (the client) and learn about them in real time.  Social media also amplifies your business.  You need a few connectors – people with influence – to speak highly about your business and then momentum starts.”

What are some things a business owner should avoid when seeking exposure online?

JC: “Like any advertising tool….stay away from marketing to the wrong people.  Don’t over exhaust yourself with flooding the social networking sites if you’re not fine tuning who your clientele is and only marketing to them.  It’s easy to say everybody is my client but best practices suggest you market to your clients and your clients only, the rest will follow upon good reviews and references.”

Richard: “Don’t go cheap. Invest in a web design company and social media company that will best represent your company. Find a company that has experience in working with your industry and a track record. That is the best use of your time. I have seen numerous times owners destroying their image because they went cheap or did it themselves. Allow a professional to help your company.”

In your experience, what are two of the most common things that you hear business owners saying about getting exposure online, whether bad or good?

JC: “The first I usually hear being a web developer is I don’t know anything about computers or the web, I never use it.  The other is ‘how do I make money on the web?’  ‘I always hear on television people getting rich from the internet I want to do that.’ 

The quickest answer to those questions starting with the second is those people make money from either selling a product or if you’re talking about the people with click troughs they have something on their site people are attracted to. In addition they have a lot of traffic and have advertisers or affiliate banners on their site.  As far as my answer to the first issue - not knowing anything about computers - my answer is simply ‘technology is the way of the future… jump on board and catch up!’

Richard: “I hear that they can do it themselves or they can hire an intern to do it. Both are bad mistakes. Just because anyone can create a Facebook, Twitter, Foursquare or LinkedIn account doesn’t mean that they can effectively market a company that way.  There are many people out here that can use a knife to cut but does that make them a surgeon? Go with a professional and you won’t go wrong!”

One final question on what your company can bring to a newly established business or a company looking to turn the corner to go to another level?

JC: “My company is a business development group which means we will assist you and your business from planning to inception.  We mainly focus on online solutions however we’re experienced in assisting business with developing their locations as well. “

Richard: “We specialize on bringing awareness to a brand through social media, engaging with their community to enhance awareness and monitor the brand's reputation. Simply put we worry about social media so the business owner doesn't have to.”

I would like to personally thank Mr. JC Brillant and Mr. Richard Bonilla for taking time out of their busy schedules in order to participate in this interview.  There contact information is below if you need their services:

JC Brillant                                                                
EyeBottomLine.com Development Group Inc       
Web: Eyebottomline.com                                        
Twitter (Bus): @EyeBottomLine                           
Twitter (personal): @jcbrillant                               
Email: jcb@eyebottomline.com                              



Richard Bonilla
Feedcast Media Group Inc
Web: Feedcastmedia.com
Twitter (biz): @Feedcastmedia
Twitter (pers): @richardbonilla
Richard@feedcastmedia.com 

Why Do I Need That?

Some times people view financial literacy as something they don’t need or think that they already have.  This article is not to debate either of those facts or deceptions.  It is simply meant to get each of us to think about the need for true financial literacy.  Below I have compiled a small list of life issues that require some level of financial literacy.  Remember what you don’t know can really hurt you, so let’s get educated and use that education wisely.  Here is that short list of life events:

Marriage                                 College education

Obtaining a loan                      Purchasing a car

Sickness                                 Retirement

Parenting                                Improving and evaluating your credit

Obtaining insurance                 Purchasing a home

Divorce                                  Death of a loved one

Investing

Each of these situations requires financial literacy.  Depending on how financially literate you are will determine the type of decision you make. Get educated; educated people are in position to make educated choices.  Others are simply rolling the dice and hoping something good happens! 

You can also seek the assistance of a professional in these areas as well.


A Year Plus

{EAV_BLOG_VER:06c2a11a11366b62}

I was recently asked a question that made me dig in the Scriptures.  The question was how many days did Noah and his family stay in the ark?  On the outset of the question I was shocked because I didn’t know the answer.

After reviewing Genesis 7 and 8 it was determined that Noah and his family were on the ark for a year and ten days.  Don’t you think that was a very long time to be that close to animals and the people in your family?  Yes I think so.  But it also says something else.

God will go through great lengths to protect us from the elements outside the ark of safety.  That is something to think about.  We will explore the ark from another angle in the next blog post.

For today know that God might have you in that tight and uncomfortable place in order to protect you from the elements outside.