Sunday, September 29, 2013

The Economy is DRIVING People to our Business–as a NECESSITY!

Here's an article that stresses the LOGIC of working our business.  People are being squeezed out of the job market and they are having fewer and fewer options.  So naturally they are beginning to understand that in order to control their futures, they're going to have to start their own business. ...Dennis

Unemployment Makes Self-Employed a Necessity, Not a Dream



With over 26 million people either unemployed or under-employed, and many not having any real prospects of landing a job, a self-owned business may no longer be an option but a necessity! There seems to be little doubt that unemployment is going to remain high -- quite possibly for years to come. A good part of unemployment is said to be structural in nature with the skills and capabilities of many workers no longer demanded by the market. But lets face it, when the cash register quits ringing, the first jobs to go are those that business owners can't justify.


Threat of extended unemployment may very well force an explosion of self-employed and independent small businesses by disillusioned unemployed who will seek to go out on their own, not as a dream but a necessity. Factory workers are replaced by robots, middle managers forced by executives to do more with fewer people and business owners not willing to hire because of increased taxes, insurance cost and a lack of capital, the outlook for a job growth is dismal.

It is said that necessity is the mother of invention, and while the self-employment is not for everyone, neither is unemployment. I know because I faced the same situation many years ago, and rather than take unemployment benefits or a job I didn't want, I elected to start my own business.

When you are out of work you look at your options:
1) Take unemployment until jobs return
2) Take a lesser job than you are qualified for or a job you don't want
3) Start your own business

But how do you start your own business when money is already an issue and you have bills to pay? (you call a Nu Skin Distributor of course!) The same way you look for a new job. It's the same problem -- rather than spending money on gas to go on an interview, now you are spending money to sell yourself and your company.

Even economists who think unemployment will be high for five or more years believe those numbers will eventually return to normal levels. But ask yourself, what if this time, something's really different? You don't need an economist to explain the simplicity of the situation -- jobs are the primary way that purchasing power gets delivered into the hands of consumers -- consumers without incomes can't drive the economy. That equals no job growth.

Jobs will continue to go overseas until it is no longer cheaper to do so. Technology and automation will speed up replacing traditional jobs. I assure you this will be the longest period of unemployment we have seen in decades and self-employment will become a viable solution not just a dream. Will you work harder than ever before? I guarantee you will. Will you be scared? Absolutely. Will there be money problems? You have them now.

While necessity is the mother of invention, extended unemployment may prove to be the mother of entrepreneurship. If you elect this path you will become the boss, the secretary, the bookkeeper the sales person, the reason it works, and if it fails, the reason it fails. Those that don't want to wait for jobs will start their own businesses and learn everything about selling, as a necessity and a solution, not just as a dream.


Friday, September 27, 2013

Leadership Lessons From Some Crazy Guy...

You may have seen this already, but it is certainly worth watching more than once. There's some REAL truth here!  Enjoy...Dennis



Thursday, September 26, 2013

BREAKING NEWS! Galvanic Spa Cleared by FDA

It's about time!  Nu Skin today announced that it has received FDA clearance to market the Galvanic Spa for "over the counter" cosmetic use.  It should become available for sale during the first half of 2014.  Great news for us!

Nu Skin Obtains FDA Clearance of Facial Spa Device

PROVO, Utah, Sept. 26, 2013 /PRNewswire via COMTEX/ -- Nu Skin Enterprises, Inc. NUS +0.26%today announced that it has received FDA clearance to market a facial spa device for over-the-counter cosmetic use. The company's 510(k) application was filed approximately one year ago. The company estimates that the facial spa will become available for sale some time during the first half of 2014.

"We have seen great demand for our innovative spa products throughout the world which has helped us to become a global leader in the home-use skin care device market," said Joseph Chang, Ph.D., chief scientific officer. "We are pleased that our U.S. sales leaders and consumers will be able to enjoy the benefits of this skin care device."

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Housing Market–Not a True Rebound

I agree with this article which states that the so-called housing recovery is "just a facade fueled by Wall Street."  Most people do not realize that houses are being bought today PREDOMINATELY by investment firms which purchase hundreds of homes at a time, and convert them into rental properties.  This article spells it out as well as explaining WHY first-time buyers are being squeezed out of the market.  ....Dennis

As More People Rent, Housing Rebound Questioned

Real estate market experts are questioning the sustainability of the rebound in the U.S. housing market. They reason that investment firms and individual investors, and not those who would use the houses as a residence, have bought a significant number of homes. Therefore, it can’t be considered a true rebound of the housing market. 
The quantity of home purchases by investors “raises the question of whether rising home prices really indicate a sustained market recovery, or if the growth is just a facade fueled by Wall Street,” a Daily Finance article states. 
The article ends with a cautionary note: “The most important takeaway is that the underlying housing environment may not be as rosy as Wall Street has made it out to be.” 
Investors buy many homes and convert them to rental properties, and first-time buyers are priced out of the market. First-time buyers can’t compete with investment funds that are flush with cash. 
Historically, first-time home buyers are an important factor in a rebound. However, the National Association of Realtors (NAR) states that the number of first-time buyers dropped from approximately 40 percent over the past three decades to 30 percent in the last year, which doesn’t bode well for the real estate market, according to a report by the Consumerist. 
It isn’t only that first-time buyers have been squeezed out of the market because of investors, but rigid underwriting standards, larger down payment requirements, and high student loan debts are also part of the equation.
Additionally, a recent increase in mortgage rates is another driver of the real estate market slowdown. This makes it more difficult to borrow in the long term. 
For example, a 30-year fixed-rate mortgage was at 3.80 percent in September 2012 and has risen to 4.75 percent by September 2013. The 15-year fixed rate mortgage changed from 3.09 percent to 3.82 percent during the same period. 

Renter Nation 

The large housing inventory has decreased significantly since the height of the recession. However, a significant number of homes were not bought by individuals, but by investment firms.
For example, the Blackstone Group L.P., a multinational investment firm, “has been busy buying up scores of single-family homes at dirt-cheap prices, fixing them up, and then turning around and renting them out,” according to a recent Street Authority Daily report. 
The renter’s market has hit a 16-year high, according to a Census Bureau and Bank of America Merrill Lynch Global Research report. 

Tuesday, September 24, 2013

Want to Fly Like an Eagle?

What does it feel like to be a Team Elite Executive and KNOW that your financial future is secure? Well...how would you like to have a REAL bird's-eye view?  A Trainer strapped a GoPro Camera on an Eagle's back, and the results are very cool indeed.  Check it out...Dennis


Monday, September 23, 2013

Guess What Outnumbers ALL Households in Northeast U.S.?

How many more months can we as a nation continue at this pace? Hard times are here for a LOT of people these days and this last JUNE was no exception as a NEW record was set for American households on food stamps.  As you think about this tragedy, consider the following question: Is it possible to create your own business on a shoestring budget?  ABSOLUTELY! ...Dennis


23,116,928 to 20,618,000: Households on Food Stamps Now Outnumber All Households in Northeast U.S. 


(CNSNews.com) - A record 23,116,928 American households were enrolled in the federal government’s Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)—AKA food stamps—during the month of June, according to data released this month by the Department of Agriculture.

That outnumbers the 20,618,000 households that the Census Bureau estimated were in the entire Northeastern United States as of the second quarter of 2013.

The 23,116,928 million households on food stamps in June also outnumbered the 15,030,000 home-owning households in the entire Western United States in the second quarter of the year and the 18,018,000 home-owning households in the entire Midwest.

(According to the Census Bureau, in the second quarter of 2013, there were 20,618,000 households in the Northeast United States, including 13,021 households that owned their residence and 7,597 that rented. In the Midwest, there were 25,944,000 households, including 18,108 that owned and 7,926,000 that rented. In the West, there 25,322,000 households, including 15,030,000 that owned and 10,293 that rented. And, in the South, there 42,794,000 households, including 28,475,000 that owned and 14,318,000 that rented.)

The record 23,116,928 households on food stamps in June also equaled 20.16 percent—or more than one-fifth--of all 114,663,000 households nationwide in the United States as of June, according to the Census Bureau.

The 23,116,928 household on food stamps in June was an increase of 45,908 from the 23,071,020 household on food stamps in May.

In fiscal 2009, the year President Barack Obama was inaugurated, there was a monthly average of 15,161,469 American households on food stamps, according to the Department of Agriculture. The 23,116,928 households on food stamps in June exceeded that 2009 monthly average by 7,955,459 households—or 52 percent.

Thus, in America in June, there were 52 percent more households on Food Stamps than there were in the average month of the first year President Obama took office.

Sunday, September 22, 2013

OK...This ought to be EASY...

Just as an item of interest I thought I would share this Eighth Grade Exam from 1912. Have you ever seen the movie “Idiocracy”?  It is a movie about an “average American” that wakes up 500 years in the future only to discover that he is the most intelligent person by far in the “dumbed down” society that is surrounding him.  

Unfortunately, that film is a very accurate metaphor for what has happened to American society today.  We have become so “dumbed down” that we don’t even realize what has happened to us.  

But once in a while something comes along that reminds us of how far we have fallen.  In Kentucky, an eighth grade exam from 1912 was recently donated to the Bullitt County History Museum.  When I read this exam over, I was shocked at how difficult it was.  Could most eighth grade students pass such an exam today?  Of course not.  In fact, I don’t even think that I could pass it.  



How about you? ...Dennis


CLICK ON IMAGE BELOW TO ENLARGE



Saturday, September 21, 2013

Expensive GAS is Here to Stay

Have YOU found yourself making lifestyle changes just to offset the cost of gasoline?  MOST Americans have, in some form or another.  What if you had a part-time business that paid your gas bills every month?...would that be worth talking with a few people every day? ...Dennis


AAA: Gas Has Been Over $3 a Gallon for 1,000 Days and Counting


U.S. gas prices have set a record — spending 1,000 consecutive days above $3 a gallon. This level, AAA warns, may be the new norm.

Gas prices have fluctuated but AAA points out that, on average, Americans have not paid less than $3 per gallon since Dec. 23, 2010.

Monday, the national average was $3.52 per gallon and prices have been above $3.50 for over half of this 1,000-day streak.

U.S. gas prices climbed above $3 per gallon for the first time after Hurricane Katrina struck in September 2005. In 2008, gas crossed over that mark again and remained above it for most of the year. Then, a weaker economy drove gas prices back down from October 2008 through December 2010, according to AAA.

"Paying less than $3.00 per gallon for gasoline may be automotive history for most Americans, like using 8-track tapes or going to a drive-in movie," says Bob Darbelnet, CEO of AAA. 

"The reality is that expensive gas is here to stay," he adds.

Despite this long-running price trend, many Americans still find the current prices painful. According to a consumer index from AAA, nearly half of adults consider $3 per gallon expensive, and well over half deemed $3.50 per gallon to be too high.

Americans do not idly complain about gas prices. Data show that as motorists spend more for fuel, they either alter their driving habits or make other lifestyle changes to offset the cost.

A $3 per gallon price floor is likely to be the new reality unless there's another recession, the organization projects.

Friday, September 20, 2013

Too Old to Exercise...?

Remember, you can't prepare for the future if you're sick, tired and obese.  So just in case you're tempted to sit on the couch all afternoon this weekend, because you think you're just too old or too tired to get out and exercise, think about the "Turbaned Tornado." Here's a guy that started running when he was 89 years old.  ...Dennis 


THE 101-YEAR-OLD MARATHON RUNNER

Fauja Singh is giving up marathons later this month. We spoke to him about what it's like to run at his age and why he's still doing it.


Fauja Singh is British, wears a bright yellow turban, and has a long beard and some crooked teeth—it would be odd if a man born in 1911 had a perfect mouth. He ran the 2012 London Marathon in seven hours and 49 minutes, which is faster than the majority of humanity would be able to do it. However,the Turbaned Tornado (yes) is giving up marathons—he still plans to run every day, just not competitively—after he runs in the Hong Kong Marathon this February. We caught up with Singh a few weeks ago over email to talk about his running. The dude runs marathons and can be contacted through email, despite being 101. I’m not sure what’s more impressive. 
When did you start running?
I assume you mean running marathons. My first was the London Marathon in 2000 at the age of 89.
What's changed the most about running—whether it's the gear, the organization, the popularity, etc.—since you started?
To be honest, I just run and let my coach sort out everything for me. He advises me on the best running gear and even suitable races and locations. For me, I have noticed more women and Asians are now participating. I hope I have helped inspire some of them to start running.
What's the most difficult run you've ever been on?Making a comeback after a few years lay-off was harder than I thought. My run in Canada (Scotiabank Toronto Waterfront Marathon) at the age of 100 was very tough as I did not get enough rest after the eight world records in a day just three days earlier. Although there was a lot of support from the public and others who ran with me, it was only God and my coach who got me through it.
What achievement are you most proud of?I enjoy the running. The achievements, like the records, were just a bonus. I guess the achievements put together helped me be chosen to run with the Olympic Torch not once but twice, which is something I feel good about.
Has there ever been a point when you've wondered if it was time to give this up?Yes, when I have not trained enough for a race because of being on holiday, but I told myself I am not going to give up, I will finish the race. After all, it has to end sometime and I just need to keep going. I can never fool my coach. He spots this easily and reminds me to remain focused.
What's been the most difficult part of running as you've gotten older?I actually think it has been getting easier because I have learned from my mistakes and as my coach says, “Listen to your body.”
Has your diet changed?No.
What about your equipment?Just the worn out shoes.
Do you still run every day? How many miles?
I cover the same distance as always as I have a set routine. In the past it was more running, some jogging, and a little walking. Now, it is a little running, some jogging, and more walking. The total is still 10 miles.
How much do you need to warm up and stretch before each race?
My coach has a set routine. He has put it on the Internet.
How sore are you after you run a 5K or any other race now?
Not at all after 5 or 10k. Anything longer can be a little tiring, and it depends on where in the world I run. Running in the heat is much harder. 
How long does it take you to recover now?I am usually fine by the next day. 
So, you're 101. Why keep running and, well, why not just relax?Running keeps me alive. It is like asking, “Why not stop breathing?”

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Who Controls Your HEALTHCARE?...Get ready for BIG Changes!

Here's a rapidly-growing TREND...More and more Employers are now moving their "human resources" off of their Healthcare plans and offering them "cash" to purchase their own plans.  Hmmm...It may sound OK on the surface, but no matter how you spin it, this puts people in a helpless position if costs go up (which they WILL).  Trust the Company? ...Dennis

Walgreens Boots 120,000 Employees Off Healthcare, Tells Them to Buy Their Own Plans

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Walgreen Co is moving 120,000 employees to a private health insurance exchange from coverage provided directly from carriers, the company will announce Friday.
The pharmacy chain will join 17 other large employers on the Aon Hewitt Corporate Health Exchange as part of a growing movement to offer employees cash to purchase their own plans on such exchanges.
The end-cost to employees depends on the plan chosen, but they typically get more options than under traditional arrangements. Private exchanges mimic the coverage mandated as part of the Affordable Care Act. Enrollment in the public exchanges starts October 1.
"What happens to employer contributions over time? Will they put in as much as they put in the past? These are unanswered questions but potential negatives," says Paul Fronstin, a senior research associate with the Employee Benefit Research Institute. The benefit to Walgreen and other employers is unknown at this point, as their cost-savings are not clear.
Of the 180,000 Walgreen employees eligible for healthcare insurance, 120,000 opted for coverage for themselves and 40,000 family members. Another 60,000 employees, many of them working part-time, were not eligible for health insurance.
Aon Hewitt says other participants in its program include retailer Sears Holding Corp and Darden Restaurants Inc. These new additions raise enrollment to 330,000 from 100,000 last year, and Aon Hewitt estimates enrollment will jump to 600,000 next year, a fivefold increase from 2012.
By 2017, nearly 20 percent of employees nationwide could get their health insurance through a private exchange, according to Accenture Research. A recent report by the National Business Group on Health said that 30 percent of large employers are considering moving active employees to exchanges by 2015.
FULL STORY:

Also see report in Bloomberg: "There's no guarantee that contributions will rise if premiums do."

Wednesday, September 18, 2013

Employers Cutting Their Losses...

One of my favorite stores here in Reno is Trader Joe's.  Every time we go shopping there, the place is packed with people.  But they are evidently struggling to make profits because of their health care costs, especially the demands of the coming ObamaCare requirements.  So...their solution is...guess what? ...Dennis


TRADER JOE'S STRIPS PART-TIME EMPLOYEES OF HEALTH BENEFITS



After extending health care coverage to many of its part-time employees for years, Trader Joe's has told workers who log fewer than 30 hours a week that they will need to find insurance on the Obamacare exchanges next year, according to a confidential memo from the grocer's chief executive.
In the memo to staff dated Aug. 30, Trader Joe's CEO Dan Bane said the company will cut part-timers a check for $500 in January and help guide them toward finding a new plan under the Affordable Care Act. The company will continue to offer health coverage to workers who carry 30 hours or more on average. …
A current Trader Joe's worker described the coverage she'll likely lose as "one of the best parts about the job." (The employee requested anonymity since she isn't authorized to speak to the media.) She said she pays only $35 per paycheck, or $70 per month, for a plan that generally covers 80 percent of her medical costs, carries a reasonable $500 deductible and includes prescription drug coverage.
"There are several folks I work with who are there for the insurance as much as anything, mostly folks with young families," she said. "I can say that when I opened and read the letter yesterday my reaction was pure panic, followed quickly by anger."

Monday, September 16, 2013

Get Ready to be REPLACED by Cheaper Labor...

Never forget that in the eyes of Corporate America you are viewed as a "HUMAN RESOURCE"...period.  If this article doesn't make you mad, nothing will.   ...Dennis


Companies lay off thousands, then demand immigration reform for new labor


On Tuesday, the chief human resources officers of more than 100 large corporations sent a letter to House Speaker John Boehner and Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi urging quick passage of a comprehensive immigration reform bill.
The officials represent companies with a vast array of business interests: General Electric, The Walt Disney Company, Marriott International, Hilton Worldwide, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, McDonald's Corporation, The Wendy's Company, Coca-Cola, The Cheesecake Factory, Johnson & Johnson, Verizon Communications, Hewlett-Packard, General Mills, and many more. All want to see increases in immigration levels for low-skill as well as high-skill workers, in addition to a path to citizenship for the millions of immigrants currently in the U.S. illegally.
A new immigration law, the corporate officers say, "would be a long overdue step toward aligning our nation's immigration policies with its workforce needs at all skill levels to ensure U.S. global competitiveness." The officials cite a publication of their trade group, the HR Policy Association, which calls for immigration reform to "address the reality that there is a global war for talent." The way for the United States to win that war for talent, they say, is more immigration.
Of course, the U.S. unemployment rate is at 7.3 percent, with millions of American workers at all skill levels out of work, and millions more so discouraged that they have left the work force altogether.  In addition, at the same time the corporate officers seek higher numbers of immigrants, both low-skill and high-skill, many of their companies are laying off thousands of workers.
Read the rest of the article...you won't believe it!

Sunday, September 15, 2013

Jobs Related to the Mortgage Industry in Trouble

There are so many things that are out of our control...the interest rate for example.  What will happen if it continues to climb and these "signs" continue to grow?  It pays to be prepared. ...Dennis

Prepare For Tough Times If Your Job Has Anything To Do With Real Estate Or Mortgages

By Michael Snyder

If you have a job that involves building homes, buying homes, selling homes or that is in any way related to the mortgage industry, you might want to start searching for alternate employment.  

Seriously.  

Interest rates are starting to rise dramatically, and mortgage lenders such as Bank of America, Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are all cutting thousands of mortgage-related jobs.  Last week, mortgage refinance activity plunged to the lowest level that we have seen since June 2009 and total mortgage activity dropped to the lowest level since October 2008.  Unfortunately, this is only the beginning.  Mortgage rates closely mirror the yield on 10 year U.S. Treasuries, the the yield on 10 year U.S. Treasuries has nearly doubled since early May.  But it is still only sitting at about 3 percent right now.  

As I have written about previously, it has a ton of room to go up before it hits “normal” historical levels, and so do mortgage rates.  As I noted the other day, some analysts believe that the yield on 10 year U.S. Treasuries is going to hit 7 percent eventually.  If that happens, mortgage rates will be more than double what they are today.  And we have already seen the average rate on a 30 year fixed rate mortgage go from 3.35 percent in May to 4.57 percent last week.  If interest rates continue to rise we could be heading for a “housing Armageddon” that will make the last housing crash look like a Sunday picnic.

The mini-housing bubble that we have been enjoying for the last couple of years is coming to an abrupt end.  It doesn’t matter what the mainstream media is telling you about a “sustainable” housing recovery.  Just look at how the big mortgage lenders are behaving.  They know the gig is up.  According to Bloomberg, Bank of America has just announced that they will be eliminating 2,100 mortgage-related jobs.

Would they be doing that if we were really heading into a “sustainable housing recovery”?

And Wells Fargo and JPMorgan Chase are also both eliminating thousands of mortgage-related jobs.

Would they be doing this if they thought that brighter days were ahead?  Of course not.

In fact, Well Fargo just announced that it expects to make 30 percent fewer home loans this quarter because of rapidly rising interest rates.  It’s over folks.
The mini-housing bubble that the mainstream media has been hyping so much is over.  If your job has anything to do with real estate or mortgages, it is time to start thinking about a career change.