Business

Find a great career as a print broker

Good print brokers are more important than ever in the printing industry. Although it may seem like businesses have completely focused on their web presence, email, and online marketing, print materials are still critical to the success of any business. Whether ordering business cards, flyers, brochures or pamphlets, successful marketers know that professional print materials can add a unique touch to their information and brand. That’s where a reliable and knowledgeable print broker comes into the picture.

An organization may choose to deal directly with a printing company for these jobs; however, a print broker effectively uses their knowledge base, sales and marketing skills to produce the printed material in a profitable manner. The broker makes a profit by increasing the costs of the printers. Many brokers open their own businesses after years in the printing business, as knowledge of the industry is crucial to the individual’s experience. If you have decided to work in the field of wholesale printing, there are several steps you need to take.

find your niche

The wholesale printing industry is huge, so you may want to find an area of ​​expertise for your brokerage. You may choose to print business cards, labels, envelopes, letterhead, and other office supplies used by almost any business. You may even want to expand into brokering printed packaging for the company’s products to complete your business offerings.

Create your list of printers

A broker soon realizes that relying on just one company for printing can be a poor business choice. Find companies in your area with good reputations for service, quality, and price. Ask to see working samples of the products you’ll need, plus paper and print samples. Request lists of their equipment and find out how their services differ from those of their competitors. Deadlines are also important for any job. Once you’ve contacted several printers, compare their prices and estimated delivery times to find several printers you’ll work with. Working with the best and most trusted companies will help your client list continue to grow, and that is something no broker can do without.

Find your customers

Do you have some potential clients in mind? It’s always a good idea to start a brokerage if you have a few people you can trust to help you get started. Even if you are a family member, your work can be added to your portfolio. There are several steps you need to take for any client. When visiting a potential client, you need to know their business needs and what they will expect from your company. Find out the pros and cons of your current print providers. The best way to find a new customer is to find a company that is not satisfied with their current print providers. Let’s say Perky Printers, Inc. is charging too much for a company’s corporate brochures, but you know your source can provide you with an equal or better product for a lower price. This gives you the information and ability to solve the customer’s problem, and that’s what a print broker’s job is all about. People who work in this profession are not just looking to make money; they really want to help people get the best products their money can buy!

Keep track of your production

Another important trait for a print broker is the willingness to trace your product. If you just want to drop off an order and forget about it until the day it’s due, this may not be the field for you. Once you receive an order from a company, choose your wholesale printing company to fulfill the order. Be sure to monitor the progress of the job using the printer’s projected deadline. By periodically reviewing your work, you can alert the client if any problems or delays occur. Attention to detail is the hallmark of a great broker.

Deliver quality and timely products

Printing brokers do each job with the knowledge that they were probably awarded the contract because the company was not happy with their old printing company. You don’t want to be seen as “that company”, so make sure your products live up to your expectations and are delivered on time. To be successful in the print broker business, you need to be trustworthy, above all else.

Explore new providers

You must be willing to go out and find new providers on a regular basis. Printing technologies, capabilities and requirements are constantly changing, which means you must constantly explore new print providers. Keep up with a few industry trade magazines and take the time to visit a few trade shows. If you’re looking for new vendors or specialty producers, do some research online to find companies that fit all of your printing needs. New business is always coming up, and a print broker should take advantage of the best of the best.

explore new business

A broker in the printing industry must excel at attracting new clients, which means they must be prepared for sales plans and cold calls. Practice your sales technique on friends and family, and take their constructive criticism to perfect your pitch.

Once your sales have improved, you can delegate some of the hard work. Hopefully, you’ll be able to hire an assistant who can answer phones, monitor your jobs, prepare quotes, and cover customer service. Your long-term success depends on continually finding new customers and networking to help your business grow and prosper.

When you decide to start your own printing brokerage business, you are dedicating yourself to finding great deals on quality products for your clients. If you are reliable, love sales, and have excellent communication skills, you can be a success story in the wholesale printing industry.

Home Kitchen

Tips for kitchen remodeling options

When preparing for a kitchen remodeling project, homeowners should consider all of the elements that they would like to change. This includes colors, lighting, countertops, sinks, floors, walls, appliances, cabinets, and backsplashes. Since there is a lot to digest, it is a project that should not be decided quickly. Some homeowners prefer to enlist the help of a home remodeling company to help with interior design; others prefer to make most decisions on their own and then hire a professional to do the job. Here are some of the choices homeowners can make to transform their kitchens into a place they love and a place they love to spend time in every day.

colors
While many people prefer a bright and cheery kitchen environment, the calm attitude of earth tones or soft pastels are also popular. White is making a comeback in many modern kitchen remodeling projects. Colors and materials should be chosen for the walls, floor, ceiling, backsplashes, countertops, appliances, window treatments, cabinetry, and additional accents and decorations. The type of materials used will often dictate the color scheme, and how well the various pieces work together should be considered when making selections.

countertops
The countertop is typically used for meal prep, but it sets a backdrop for the overall tone of the kitchen. Popular choices for today’s modern kitchens tend to be natural stone, ceramic, stainless steel, and natural or faux wood finishes. How easy it is to clean and maintain, how it will be used, and its height are all important considerations for practical use. Countertops should be coordinated with the sink and backsplashes in fit, material, and color.

Turning on
It is easier for cooks to see what they are doing and to do it well when there is sufficient lighting. Certain areas of the kitchen should have additional or focused lighting, such as cooking surfaces, shopping and meal prep centers, and the sink. Separate lighting for various activities is useful for a larger kitchen, and dimmer switches are appropriate for the eat-in kitchen.

accessories
The size and capacity of the oven, dishwasher, refrigerator, microwave, freezer, and other kitchen appliances are important to the operation of a kitchen. The color must coordinate with the other decoration and allow for maximum speed and quality in firing. This is a great time for homeowners to choose between electric and gas appliances and update outdated plumbing and electrical wiring, regardless of the type of appliances they choose.

window treatment
The use of natural light has a great effect on the room throughout the day. Window treatments can be sheer or heavy, drawn or open, depending on how the rest of the room looks. Window treatments should tie the room together and provide privacy as needed.

flat
The type of flooring installed in a home remodeling project largely depends on the amount of traffic the room sees. Wooden floors, natural stone, laminate and tiles are all possibilities. The amount of time and effort spent maintaining shine is an important feature for many homeowners, especially those who do their own cleaning.

Once the main elements of the project have been chosen, the home remodeling contractor can help the homeowner carefully choose the detailed pieces. Staying within budget and completing the project on time are important to the success of your home renovation.

Auto

Ford Mustang Electrical Systems

Electrical problems are one of the most common problems in older cars that can affect radios, windshield wipers, and other parts of the car to bigger problems like ignition coils not firing or pumps not being able to do their job.

Electrical fires in cars can be caused by a faulty or rotten wire that can get very hot and possibly ignite material in the car that can instantly burst into flames. A known item is a loose wire connection that is in a terminal, causing overheating or sparks.

As a 1964 Mustang owner, keep in mind that older cars like Mustangs are around 40 years old and even if your Mustang has never been left outside in extreme temperatures, the wiring naturally ages due to dry rot, leaving the exposed and dangerous bare wires and corroded connectors. Especially replace your headlight and turn signal switches, as these are high amperage components and can aggravate your electrical problems if they are not in good condition. There are many aftermarket Mustang parts and accessories and wiring harnesses on the market. The good ones are correctly color-coded and built to exact Ford specifications. There are many resources for classic mustang wiring and some have been making the wiring harnesses for classic mustangs and f-100 pickups for a number of years and are widely distributed by many of the larger mustang companies. You can get wiring directly from auto parts resellers, including those popular online stores like Mac’s Antique Auto Parts, CJ Pony Parts, Mustangs Unlimited, or Scott Drake, to name a few.

If you still have the original harness in the car, leave it there, it may help when installing the new wiring. Begin by unplugging one connector at a time on the old harness and plugging one connector at a time onto the new harness in the exact same location the old one was removed from until the new harness is fully installed. It never hurts to have a wiring schematic, especially if the old harness is missing. These are produced specifically for the year of the Mustang, so if you have a 1966 Mustang, you’ll want a 1966 wiring diagram book. These are available from most Mustang websites for a very cheap price.

Take the time to look into this and check all your existing wiring to prevent a future problem, after all, all your old Mustangs are worth looking after.

Digital Marketing

The Agile Entrepreneur

Individual entrepreneurs with agile professional skills bring urgently needed expertise to the organizations they work with, often limited to a specific task and for a predetermined period of time. Agile Solopreneurs bring great perspective, increased productivity, and relevant experience to countless mission-critical projects.

Agile innovation first spread across the information technology industry and dramatically increased success rates in software development, improving product quality and speed to market. Agile management techniques are spreading to other industries and Solopreneur consultants need to be aware of what is involved, both in terms of ways your current and potential clients can purchase agile practices and how you can incorporate certain agile methods in your consultancy.

More than in the past, business enterprises now exist in very dynamic conditions. Customer priorities and technological advances are known to change rapidly. Keeping abreast of new developments and innovating or adapting, as necessary, the company’s products and services in response is essential. Marketing strategies, advertising buzzwords, and sales strategies operate in short-term cycles that fit within the parameters of social media platforms. This fast-moving environment demands the management of leaders who master agile skills. But what does agile mean in practice?

Agile does not mean doing the usual, but faster. Darrell Rigby, partner at consulting firm Bain & Company, and Hirotaka Takeuchi, professor of strategy at Harvard Business School and CEO of Scrum, Inc., a training and consulting firm, describe agile business practices as containing the following elements:

  • Scrum: Creative and adaptive teamwork that solves complex problems.
  • Lean development: Which focuses on continuous waste removal.
  • kan-ban: That focuses on reducing lead times and the amount of time it takes to complete a process.

Agile management practices are particularly well suited to strategic planning activities, marketing campaigns, resource allocation decisions, and supply chain challenges. Agile works best when complex problems can be broken down into modules and assigned to specific teams. Examples of ideal conditions in which to apply innovation or agile methods include:

  • When solutions to an obstacle or challenge are unknown
  • When the specifications of a product under development may be subject to change
  • When the scope of work to be done on a project is not precisely known
  • When cross-functional collaboration is supposed to be vital and time to market is sensitive

To expand (or at least maintain) billable hours, Solopreneurs should acquire agile skills (books, blogs, and certifications are available) and promote their competency by selling intangible B2B services to prospects. Decision makers in organizations facing a mission-critical project, challenge, or opportunity can feel more confident hiring a Solopreneur who can bring agile methods and problem-solving approaches to the table.

Solopreneur external consultants must always present ourselves as reliable, trustworthy, capable and able to meet or exceed client expectations through the cutting edge skills we possess. In this way, we make hiring managers and project sponsors feel that they will appear trustworthy and capable to their peers and superiors when they bring us on board. In this way we can build and sustain a viable consultancy.

Thank you for reading,

kim

Relationship

Am I a mother? Tips for Managing Mother’s Day After a Miscarriage

Are you spending this Mother’s Day wondering if you are, in fact, a mother? Between 900,000 and 1 million women in the US alone face this question each year after experiencing pregnancy loss. “For women who experience a miscarriage during their first pregnancy, the question of motherhood is even bigger,” says Lisa Church of HopeXchange, a company dedicated to supporting women and their families coping with pregnancy loss.

Mother’s Day is the most difficult holiday that a woman must face after the loss of pregnancy. A time that was supposed to be a celebration of new life and new motherhood turns into a time of sadness and pain. Church’s book, Hope is Like the Sun: Finding Hope and Healing After Spontaneous, Stillbirth, or Infant Death, encourages women to use the holiday to remember their babies, rather than making it a dreaded event to endure each year. . “Nothing will ease the pain of Mother’s Day, but with a little planning you can make sure the day makes sense to you,” says Church. Here are some tips from the book that may help:

– You are mother.

The best gift you can give yourself on Mother’s Day is the recognition that you are a mother. You may not have a baby to hold in your arms, but you do have one in your heart.

– Let your family know what you need.

If you feel uncomfortable being recognized as a mother at a banquet or other function, substitute an activity you feel good about. If you prefer not to receive or wear a flower, wear an item that helps you connect with your baby, such as a piece of jewelry that includes the baby’s birthstone.

– Remember your baby.

Mother’s Day can be a great time for a husband and wife to talk about their baby and what it meant to them. Go for a walk, have a quiet dinner, or just set aside some time to remember your baby together.

– Decide ahead of time.

How you plan to spend Mother’s Day should be your decision, and one you make in advance. Setting aside time to reminisce and talk about her baby will make her “feel” more like a mom on the very day designed to do so. Church also reminds women that her spouse may experience similar feelings on Father’s Day, “so be sure to ask him how he would like to spend the day.”

Hope is Like the Sun: Finding Hope and Healing After Spontaneous, Stillbirth, or Infant Death is available online at http://www.HopeXchange.com, Amazon.com, and Barnes&Noble.com or by calling HopeXchange Publishing at 757-826- 2162 .

Legal Law

Employee Beware: Four Areas to Monitor

The unemployment rate is the lowest in two decades, and there are now more job openings nationwide than there are unemployed people actively looking for work. Nevada’s unemployment rate is about a percentage point higher than the national rate, but we’ve come a long way since the Great Recession devastated Nevada’s economy from Hawthorne to Henderson. Observers don’t know why wages don’t rise quickly during such a strong period of employment, and workers should know that this is the best opportunity they’ve had in years to ask for a pay raise. As you work up the courage to have that conversation with your boss, keep an eye on these four aspects of your work life to make sure you’re being treated fairly.

count your hours

With the availability of smartphones these days, you can have a cloud-based spreadsheet of your work hours right in your pocket. This is a very strong practice for hourly employees and it doesn’t hurt salaried employees either. Administrative errors or, in some workplaces, shady practices can lead to a shave of small hours that can cost you a lot in the long run. Counting your hours on a separate document helps protect you from this potential abuse and makes it easier for you to project your income and family budget. If you think you have been a victim of wage theft, the Las Vegas Workers Center can provide you with advice and referrals.

Employed or not?

If your employer has extolled the benefits of being an “independent contractor,” beware. Employers often emphasize the ability to deduct job expenses and “choose your hours” when you work for them as an independent contractor. But those same employers often place strict requirements on the nature of your job, making you an employee by a different name. This has several benefits for employers: wage and hour regulations may be waived, they may avoid paying the employer’s share of federal taxes, and may reduce the costs of workers’ compensation benefits and insurance. The so-called worker’s compensation is financed in several ways; In Nevada, employers pay insurance premiums to private companies based on the number of workers, the industry, and other factors. If your employer mischaracterizes you as an independent contractor, he or she may not be paying the proper amount for workers’ compensation insurance. If you have concerns about a workers’ compensation issue at your Las Vegas workplace, contact Benson & Bingham or another reputable Southern Nevada workers’ compensation law firm for advice.

Paid license: take it, don’t leave it

When you’re hired, make sure you understand how PTO accrues, if it ever expires, and what you do with those hours when you leave the company. You want to know this information when relations with your employer are positive so that if things go wrong, you know what rights you have to stand up for. After many years of service, some employees feel a sense of loyalty that can prevent them from “taking advantage” of earned paid vacations. Don’t forget: paid vacations have increased as an alternative to higher pay. If your sense of duty doesn’t make you want to give up annual raises, don’t let that fool you into giving up your hard-earned PTO! Also, make sure you understand the Federal Medical Leave Act, which generally applies to employers with 50 or more employees. This law can protect your job if you take unpaid time off for certain family care needs. For more information on Nevada paid leave worker protections, contact the Nevada Labor Commissioner or visit workplacefairness.org.

Discrimination

The final area to watch out for is unique to historically subordinate and marginalized groups, including women and people of color: discrimination. (While federal law is constantly changing on this topic, Nevada law regulates discrimination based on gender identity and sexual orientation.) Discrimination can arise at any time during the employment relationship: hiring decisions, pay disparities, harassment and hostile work environment, enforcement of workplace policies, assignment of promotions and other benefits, and termination. Several Las Vegas law firms specialize in employment discrimination cases and can advise you on fair employment issues from their offices in Henderson, North Las Vegas, and throughout Clark County.

Lifestyle Fashion

Can a marriage be saved by moving? My opinion based on experience

I recently received a question from a wife who wanted to know if she or her husband should move in a last ditch effort to save the marriage. Apparently, they had gotten to the point where the relationship was only going backwards instead of forwards and things between them were rapidly taking a turn for the worse. The wife wondered if perhaps some time apart would be beneficial. Perhaps this would give both of them time to calm down and see things more objectively.

The danger of one of them moving out, of course, was that the person who left would never return and that the move would only be the first step towards divorce. This was something that needed to be fully considered and weighed against the fact that, as it stood now, nothing was really changing or improving. In the next article, I’ll discuss ways to strike a balance between taking a relaxing break and allowing the move to be the first step in breaking up the marriage. I will also share my experience and opinion on the subject.

Why moving can work to save your marriage, but often doesn’t: In fact, my husband moved away for a while. But a short time later, when it became clear that nothing was changing or getting better, he filed for divorce. So, we got off to a really bad start and fell into the trap that a lot of couples who try the move-in strategy fall into.

The most important thing in getting one of you to move is to allow the pause to clear things up a bit. The hope is that the disruption of fighting, disagreeing or going round and round in circles is broken so that the same negative cycles are not repeated and no real or positive change is ever made. The hope is that since you’re not putting all of your focus just on engaging, you can be more objective and proactive so you can work on problems instead of working on matchups with each other.

This is the idea anyway, but many couples don’t even come close to this. Why? Because they don’t clearly define their goals and wishes before one of them moves in. Perhaps the departure was made out of anger or haste and there was really no time to do this. Maybe no one really wanted to have this awkward conversation. However, if you don’t at least try to set clear goals, then you run the risk of just wandering off and leaving the other to fend for himself.

And often what happens here is that you’ll be wandering around aimlessly waiting to see what happens. Then, when nothing really works, one or both spouses will assume that this “just doesn’t work” and one of them will pull the trigger to formalize the separation or file for divorce. This is so typical but so avoidable.

Walking the line between making progress and trying too hard: As if I haven’t given you much to think about, here’s something else. One of your goals should be to create an environment in which your spouse begins to perceive that you are desirable and worth fighting for or returning to. Many people know this deep down, but they will go about it the wrong way. They will “control” or hold on too much. Your actions will make it very clear that your main focus right now is simply getting your spouse home as soon as possible rather than putting in the effort to actually change something or make improvements. Most spouses will pick up on this and resist even more. This is exactly what happened to me. My clinging and following only made me seem more unstable and therefore unattractive.

The best tactic to take is to really and truly try to improve both your marriage and YOURSELF during this break. Don’t just tell them you’re out and handle things they actually do. I know it can be very difficult and I know that most days you won’t feel that way. But, you want your spouse to see that you are capable, that you are strong, and that you think of yourself enough to make yourself a priority. And this will often show your spouse little pictures of you as they used to know you: active, engaged, and exciting. I got lucky with this method and really needed an instruction manual to remind me to stay the course. But once I got the hang of it, it worked wonderfully.

Achieve the same as moving without anyone having to leave: I admit that sometimes it gets to the point where one of you moving is the only reasonable alternative. But, other times, you can take a crack at one of you leaving for a few days, or visiting family or friends. Or, you can both promise to put all conflict on hold and focus on yourselves for a while. It really is advisable to pause to calm down in this situation. And it can also help to allow them the time and distance to miss you.

But I always advise you to try the alternatives first, giving space while no one leaves, before a person leaves the house. There is certainly risk involved with this. But, sometimes it’s worth the risk when done right and it actually saves the marriage instead of ending it.

Pets

Forced exercise of your puppy or dog can cause serious injury and permanent damage.

How many times have you heard, “We have the puppy or the dog, to go for a run with me or my…” Many exercise enthusiasts would love to exercise with their pet. They imagine keeping fit not to mention sharing adventures and exploring new horizons together. Little do they realize that forced exercise would be causing serious lifelong damage and pain to their pet.
Before you inadvertently cause serious injury and likely permanent damage to your puppy’s or young dog’s joints and bones, there are a few things to keep in mind. First of all, never allow forced exercise to any puppy younger than 6 months. Forced exercise is any repetitive movement, over an extended period of time, that puts stress on developing joints and bones. That includes jogging, biking, rollerblading, skateboarding, or even pulling sleds or go carts.

Not all dogs or breeds are capable of extreme endurance and forced exercise. Particular attention should be paid to the types and amount of exercise that brachycephalic (i.e., short-headed) breeds can get, for example Boxers, English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Boston Terriers, and Pugs. Large and giant breeds, such as Great Danes, Irish and Russian wolfhounds, and Mastiffs, also require unique considerations when putting together an exercise program for dogs and owners.

Just like human babies, puppies have growth plates that need to form and seal. It’s called an epiphyseal scar. If hardening of the soft area where bone growth originates is not allowed to occur, your puppy’s or young dog’s bones will bow because they do not meet end to end with the connecting bone. The epiphyseal plate is a palatal cartilage at the end of long bones. It can also be the location of endocrine bone disorders, fractures, metastases, and even infections.

Dogs have 14 sets of growth plates. With small to medium sized dogs, the process usually takes between 12 and 16 months. With those who will weigh more than 100 pounds, the process typically takes at least 18 months to complete. Most reputable breeders and veterinarians believe that large and giant breeds may not complete the process until they are about 2 years old. Be patient. Starting your dog too young will most likely cause concussion damage such as fractures or joint damage that can lead to arthritis, elbow and hip problems.

It is suggested that your puppy or young dog be X-rayed so that there is a baseline to work from. With that, your vet will be able to estimate how long you should wait for the plates to close and you can start exercising your dog.

While you wait for your pet to mature, you can work on his stamina. Focus on your cardiovascular and muscular development with non-stressful exercises like swimming. Swimming is a fantastic way to get and keep your dog fit, without straining bones and joints. It’s also a wonderful way to continue exercising your dog well into his old age, when you can no longer join him on those runs.

Once you get the go-ahead from your vet, start slowly. Don’t expect your puppy or dog to maintain his usual distance and speed immediately. They have to work gradually to achieve it.

Watch for heavy panting, limping, and whimpering. Your dog may be distressed or in pain.

Take lots of water. Find a shady spot. Give only a little water at a time. Dogs don’t cool off by sweating like we do. They need water to prevent overheating, dehydration, and heat exhaustion.

Run only during the coolest hours of the day.

Do not feed your pet immediately before or after your run. You are at risk for cramping and gastric dilatation volvulus (GDV), commonly known as “bloat.” GDV is the second natural cause of death in dogs.

Check his paws and pads periodically. It is much easier and more comfortable for them to be able to return home from a shorter distance.

If your dog shows signs of limping, isn’t comfortable in certain positions, keeps shifting noticeably, whimpers, seems in pain, isn’t interested in joining you, or doesn’t want to be touched in certain areas, ask him to help you. make. your vet

If you’re lucky, too much damage hasn’t been done and your dog hasn’t been sentenced to a lifetime of chronic pain.

Real Estate

Invest in stocks: turn $5,000 into $1,000,000

First of all, I want to point out that the historical long-term return of the stock market is a little over 10% per year. Very few long-term investments can make this claim. Some would argue that real estate is a better investment, and it may be in some cases, but I’d rather put my money into investments that don’t require maintenance, renters, property taxes, or other “inconveniences” as I would refer to them. Of course, your own house, the one you live in, is another story.

Now you’re probably thinking, “That’s great and all, but how does this help me make a million dollars in the stock market?” I’m glad you asked. One of the most important lessons about investing in stocks that anyone can give you is patience. If you think you are going to make a fortune in the stock market overnight or even in a couple of years, then I wish you good luck, but unfortunately you are more likely to lose money than make money trying to beat the market. However, if you are willing to find some good companies to invest in and are patient, there is a good chance that you will do well in the stock market. In fact, even stocks that have performed very poorly can earn you good money on your investment, as the Stock Performance Guide on the 1stock1 website demonstrates.

Another very important investment lesson is time on the market. Over time, most established companies continue to grow, and as a result, their share price also grows. In the short term, stocks can be very volatile and their prices can go up and down daily. However, as you extend your time frame, a solid stock behaves in a much more predictable way. This doesn’t mean your investment will always make money, but time puts the odds in your favor.

The third lesson I will give you about investing in stocks is discipline. Determine why you are investing and what you want to achieve through the investment. Once you decide on your reasons for investing, make a plan and stick with it. Don’t be lured by the next “sure thing” in the stock market. For every one that works, several more will fail. If it were a sure thing, investors would know about it and increase the stock price accordingly. If you know information that the rest of the stock market doesn’t, then you’re looking at insider trading charges. It is very easy to be tempted to make “quick money” and much more difficult to be disciplined with an investment plan. Unsurprisingly, the path that requires the most work produces the best results.

Finally, I would like to highlight the importance of diversification. Probably the biggest mistake you can make when investing is putting all your money into one stock. Not only is this strategy risky, it is also less likely to return as high a return as a diversified portfolio. Having your money invested in various stocks helps minimize risk while increasing overall return.

Sports

How to stop the “silent killer” of your dreams

In Game 4 of the 1987 Finals, Magic Johnson was in a bind. His team was down and he only had seven seconds to act. He got the ball and the clock fell off in five seconds. Kevin McHale moved toward him as Magic went for the basket. He found himself double-teamed when Robert Parish joined McHale. The magic didn’t miss a beat. He ran in and stunned the Celtics with a “junior aerial hook.” He sank into the back of the net with two seconds left. The Lakers won the NBA Finals 4-2.

He had done this before. When asked how he was able to do this, his answer surprised me at the time.

“I’m able to do it, because the night before a big game I picture myself making a big play.”

I’m paraphrasing here, but I’m not too far off.

His statement got me thinking. How can you train your mind to achieve anything? It doesn’t matter who you are, where you come from, or if you’ve failed in the past.

Every day we allow a “silent killer” to stop us from achieving our goals and dreams. These are God-given dreams, sitting in the deepest parts of our hearts. But something stops us. This Silent Killer is made up of four smaller counterparts. They each do a great job of keeping us from becoming all that God made us to be.

Four triggers that feed the “silent killer”

Trigger #1: Personal defeat

Nothing gets us down like personal defeat. Inside our hearts and minds is a movie projector. Reproduce our biggest mistakes and failures. Every time I was trying to start reaching a goal or a dream, this projector would start replaying my past. Little by little I lost ground. After a while he would gather enough courage and faith to try again. But the vicious circle repeats itself. This can make it take longer than necessary to achieve your dreams.

Trigger #2: Inadequate Approach

One of the worst things you can do is have a false view of yourself. In his book Changes That Heal, Dr. Henry Cloud says that people need to have a proper and healthy view of themselves. Believing that you are not good enough, smart enough, or rich enough to achieve your dreams burdens you with a false view of who you really are. God says in his word that we are wonderfully and terribly made.

Trigger #3: Reasons to fail

I can’t tell you how many times I’ve used this one! When evaluating a goal or a dream, it was easy for me to think of all kinds of reasons to fail. In the end I achieved much less when I was younger. Making up these reasons cripples your ability to move on. You never give yourself the opportunity to achieve what God has put before you.

Trigger #4: Inadequate Entertainment

Hey, I’m not trying to spoil anyone’s “fun.” I am a big fan of movies and documentaries. I enjoy watching the latest and greatest information and blockbuster movies. But the other night I was watching a documentary about gangs. It’s a show called “Gangland.”

If you watch the show enough times, you start to be afraid of living in certain places. A quiet little voice asked me a question. “Do you really want to feed on fear?”

As a Christian, my answer was obvious. And you? Is there something you are watching, reading or listening to that is feeding you a strong dose of fear? If so, he or they are keeping this “Silent Killer” alive.

Guilty

Negative thinking is a cold-blooded killer. Every day it silently kills our dreams. Have you ever noticed how easy it is to think that you can’t achieve your goals or dreams? From a young age we are programmed to believe that bad things will happen. For some reason we think we can’t do something when we really can.

The great Henry Ford once said, “Whether you think you can or you can’t, you’re right.” And in Proverbs 23, David tells us that as a man thinks, so is he.” In the Bible, God goes into great depth about the importance of thinking right. Engaging in negative thinking slows your progress.

For many years I tried to find a way to overcome this type of thinking. Through God’s Word, inspirational books, and CDs, I’ve discovered three easy ways to squash negative thinking one day at a time.

How to crush negative thinking

When I first learned these three steps, it seemed too simple. He had spent a lifetime thinking negatively on most levels. The faith thought spurts were great, but I hadn’t fully understood how negativity works. But now three simple steps were going to solve the problem?

The first day I tried it I was amazed at the results! This is what happened. I quickly took care of and got over any issues. The things that would normally stay on my mind and bother me were extinguished. Three days later my breathing changed. He went from quick breaths to long, steady ones. And believe it or not, the answers to prayers came much faster!

Try these steps and let me know how they work for you.

Step #1: Replace negative thoughts

It says in the Bible to take every thought captive to the obedience of Christ. Every time a negative thought enters your mind, replace it with a positive one. I warn the devil every day that negative thoughts of him are not allowed in my mind. I resist him and the thoughts of him and they both run away. You have a choice about what stays on your mind. You can’t control what comes in, but don’t let negative thoughts live in there. Keep replacing them with positive ones. Example: A negative thought came into my head about me and another person not getting along. I replaced it with a thought of him and me talking and shaking hands. The feelings of bitterness and anger were gone.

Step #2: Imagine your dreams

When I’m having lunch or have a few minutes to myself, I imagine achieving my dreams. My goal is to be a full-time, effective writer. Sometimes I’m sitting on the beach writing a book. In others I am speaking to a large crowd about how God inspired me to write a certain book. And I imagine building something for others, with the profits from my books. The conclusion is the following. Whatever you need to achieve, imagine it every day!

Find a quiet place and dream. Do this for yourself. God uses it to reign in your passion to achieve what He wants for you.

Step #3: Read God’s Word

Every day I read the bible. I don’t, because that’s what I’m supposed to do. I certainly don’t read it, because it’s politically correct in the church. It is my spiritual food. Without it I starve spiritually. The Word of God reminds us of who we really are in Christ. And it tells us how much God has in store for our lives. It gives strength, encouragement and truth. Something that is rare in today’s world. Without the Bible, I couldn’t write a word of my mystery books.

The devil knows how powerful the Word of God is. It’s one of the reasons he works so hard for us to ignore him. But don’t take the bait! Take 5-10 minutes each morning and night to read the Word. Before you know it, you will have a lot of spiritual strength to accomplish anything.

Here are some scriptures to get you going. Feel free to memorize them.

Philippians 4:8 Colossians 3:2 Isaiah 26:3 Romans 12:2

Try these three steps for a week or two. Send me an email and let me know how it went. You no longer have to be a prisoner of negative thinking. Use these steps to achieve your goals and achieve your dreams!