Monthly Archives: April 2016

Money Matters

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broke 3

Fighting due to financial challenges is all too common in many marriages! Fighting or disagreements about money is normal in most marriages or relationships.  However, excessive fighting about money can lead to tremendous strain, tension, abuse and/or divorce. It’s not just about a lack of finances, but the lack of compatibility in the money arena.

We all know the old adage that “opposites attract”, but when two people have opposite and opposing views about money, divorce can occur.  Imagine for a moment a couple where one spends money all the time, and the other wants to save for the future. Or one person is very generous, and the other is a miser. One has no problem using credit cards, and the other believes in saving up for an item.  These differing ideas can cause tremendous problems in a relationship if there is no amicable solution.

Credit-Cards

Unfortunately, many couples do not discuss financial matters thoroughly before getting married, or they get married and think they can change the other person, or that LOVE will take care of it. Phooey! Love is the main and sustaining reason, and I believe people should be in-love, devoted and committed to each upon entering into a covenant agreement. However, money matters should be discussed prior to the marriage with complete transparency, so each person knows exactly each other’s spending habits and beliefs about financial management. Here are a few tips to discuss before marriage:

  • Discuss if both partners are going to work. If debt is involved decide how you are going to pay off debts.  Ideally, live on one income (mortgage/rent, utilities, food, gas, clothing) and use the other income for savings, investments, vacations, education, etc.
  • Make sure you have emergency cash funds. Dave Ramsey suggest $1,000.00 cash for emergencies. I think this is a good start, but ideally you should have 3 – 6 months living expenses available for emergencies, and quickly replace any used funds. There should be no limit to emergency funds.
  • Decide on how you are going to give, save and invest your money as a couple. Seek counsel from a reputable financial company, pastor, rabbi or counselor to help you make decisions and plan for short and long range financial goals.
  • Create a reasonable monthly budget which includes spending money for each partner and leisure.
  • Decide who is going to pay the bills each month or will paying the bills be a joint effort? I suggest reviewing your budget/finances each month together and celebrate financial victories, like paying off a bill, or saving enough money for a vacation. If a financial goal is not met, calmly discuss what went wrong and how to make improvements. Be accountable to each other and your goals.
  • Attack the money issue and not each other. Remember, if an argument should develop, tackle the problem of excessive spending, high debt, etc., and try not to belittle and curse each other.
  • Seek counseling if you are unable to settle your money woes together. Often times the extremely generous or conversely, the miser has issues related to childhood in regards to money. A trained professional might help you discover any root issues that are hindering successful financial goals.  Discovery is vital in order to live a balanced life.

broke

I believe if two people truly love each other, any money woes can be handled through commitment, understanding, communication, hard work and sacrifice.  After all, it is just money, and though a major part of one’s commitment, it is just a part!  Imagine yourself without your spouse. Is that the choice you would prefer, because you cannot resolve your financial issues?  Marital issues over finances can be resolved and you can live a happy life together, if you are willing to work together as ONE to resolve financial woes. The choice is always ours. 

Just Musing,

Dr. Dee

Failure Is Not An Option

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Success…

Everything that happens to us happens for a purpose.  We can choose to lock ourselves in a cage of fears, weep over past heartaches, breakups, embarrassments and failures, or we can treat these various ills as our tools for both self-development and success. In my last post, I encouraged you to forget about the evils or dramas of yester-years and to focus on the joys of then and NOW. It’s a clique we have all heard…but it really is the truth. All we have is now…the past is gone and tomorrow is not yet here!

Success concept.Today, I want us to answer the following questions: When does self-  development become synonymous with success and where do we start? Let’s consider the following points:

*Refuse to continue to think about your failures and internalize yourself as a failure.  We all make mistakes, but instead of allowing the mistakes to fester in our souls, we must forgive ourselves and keep it moving.    Love yourself.

*Walk in gratitude at all times and focus on seeing and/or finding the silver lining in every situation.                                                                      Love yourself.

*Recognize that each day is new for new and exciting opportunities. Wasting time on regrets is a WASTE OF TIME! Focus on moving forward and purpose to put forth more effort on your goals.                               Love yourself.

*Set realistic and achievable goals and work on them. Set personal goals based on your unique identity and desires.  Your purposes and hopes are for an improved and better YOU.                                                                                        Love yourself.

*Get up and put feet (actions) to accomplish your goals in order to reach the success you desire.                               Love yourself.

*Choose to smile each day and greet/treat others with kindness. Remember in order to be successful you need to build relationships. Building relationships begins with a smile.                                                                                                                       Love yourself and others.

*Self-development is just that…SELF-development. Others may or may not appreciate your efforts to improve in all areas or your life. However, in order to succeed, sometimes we have to stand alone in our beliefs and continue to move forward to accomplish our goals.

Self-development which can be synonymous with success is a process.  The decision and the efforts to improve can be an enjoyable decision, if we choose to embrace the journey even when detours threaten or take us off on side excursions.  When we choose to open the doors of self-development through forgiveness, grit, and consistent actions, we exponentially increase our chances for success in all areas of our lives.                                                                                             Choose to love yourself, others and embrace the journey!

Decide today and begin.

To your success,

Dr. Dee

Healthiest 96-year-old Man Ever

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I found this clip and thought it was very interesting.  So many of us younger folks fail to take care of our bodies.  Dr. Eugster is an inspiration.  Check him out on YouTube and get motivated to eat right and exercise.  Find an eating plan that is right for you. I believe we can age gracefully and stay healthy until our number is up. If you agree, then join me in living a healthy life.

Just Musing,

Dr. Dee

5 Tips to Financial Success

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success-secret.jpgSuccess is defined in many ways and applies to various aspects of our lives.  I believe there are some tips that are universal when it comes to financial success. Here are just 5 tips for your consideration.  However, even if your goals involve financial success as defined by your aspirations, let me caution you to enjoy the process. Striving for money without love, family, friends and living life might prove an extremely lonely and empty path.  

To Your Success!

Dr. Dee

 

5 tips to Financial Freedom

Biztoons – Interested in getting a customized tune? Email me at drdeejackson@drdeejackso.com

Ways to Recognize Fraudulent Online Businesses

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Looking to join an online business? Confused about what to look for? If you read my blog on Net…WORK, I laid out a few points to consider when looking to join any business.  Here are some additional key points for your consideration.  As you know, not all clear stones that glisten are diamonds. Below are a few ways to recognize suspect businesses.

Some Ways to recognize Fraudulent Online Businesses

  1. No product. You just drive traffic to their site, which signs up more people to drive traffic to their site. Make sure the company has real products, services, events, programs, etc.
  2. Who is in charge and can they be contacted? Make sure there is a “real” person involved. Only do business with someone willing to risk their reputation. Do your research to find out the success or failures of others involved with that particular business.
  3. Listen to the testimonials and ensure there are last names. Look at the videos to see if they are real human beings.
  4. Does the company provide a money back guarantee for satisfaction? Look for “performance based promises” that ensures results.
  5. Support? Does the company provide online and personal coaching? Only a business with a real program, a real product and a real comp plan will offer human to human coaching.
  6. Note: Take your time when considering a new company. Fast talkers, high pressuring techniques may signal duplicity. (www.mybailoutoption.com)

There are no guarantees with anything in life.  However, if we do our best to research a company before joining and listen to our gut impulses, I believe we have a greater opportunity in avoiding fraudulent or shady companies.

Our company is one of those companies that attempts to fill all of the above positive principles and then some.  As one of the leaders in the company, I strive to be the kind of leader people can trust.  Challenge:  Examine my site and then give me a call if you have further questions. www.mybailoutoption.com 

pic of me for powtoon

To Your Success!

Dr. Dee

To Your Health

 

 

Holiday Discovery

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Recently, I watched one of my favorite movies, The Holiday. This movie is about two women from different parts of the world whose relationships have gone awry. In an effort to get over their lovers, they switched houses and their new journeys began.  Iris, one of the main characters was in love and involved with her co-worker for over three years.  Though their relationship had endured many twists and turns, she never expected the surprised announcement at the company Christmas Party.  Her beau got engaged to another woman on staff!  Talk about a shocker!  Needless to say, Iris was devastated. Her heartbreak led her to accept the offer of Amanda (the other main character) whose live-in male friend had an affair with his co-worker. Both women, victims of cheating male counter-parts embarked on a healing journey.

Iris finally realized during her new adventure that her addictive love towards her co-worker was pathetic, tragic and unproductive.  Her beau (Jasper) refused to love her and he used Iris for his sexual self-interest and his career advancements.  Iris blinded by her love for Jasper failed to see the role she played in her own heartbreak, until after her holiday quest. In the end, she realized through her new friendships and self-discovery that she had been the best friend with benefits, instead of the leading lady.

This movie reminded me of myself and the mistakes I have made in relationships.  Often times I believe we (many of us) see what we want to see, and fail to see or accept the reality of toxic relationships.  Like Iris, I have been in-love with a man who failed or would not love me back. And, rather than move on, somehow like Iris, I justified hanging in there to my own detriment.  My experiences have taught me valuable lessons I can now pass on to anyone with an ear to hear.

The most powerful line in the movie suggested that she was playing the role of a best friend when really she was or should have been the leading lady.  This rang so true, because I believe sometimes, we as women think we are the leading lady in the romance of our life, when in fact the opposite is true.  In your beau’s mind you may just be a friend, at the most, a best friend, but simply a friend.  If a man only wants sex in private, but fails to recognize you in public, awake O’sleeper and flee! (Read: Steve Harvey’s book – Think like a Man and Act like a Lady).  Wow, so how can we move from a pathetic relationship?

First and foremost, it is always about loving self, if you do not believe in the Creator.  Otherwise, after your committed love for Him, then we are to love ourselves.  How can we love ourselves and then another, if we do not love G-d and understand respect and honor?  Knowing one’s desires based on spiritual principles, hopes, desires, and goals are the beginning steps to knowing your worth and then conducting yourself accordingly.  To compromise yourself or settle for something that is contrary to your basic core is a disaster waiting to happen.  Love yourself enough to be willing to let go of a toxic relationship. Love yourself enough to know you are worthy to have a relationship with someone who will love, honor and respect you back.

love quoteSo often, I hear women say there are no good men out there, or no one will love them, or all the good men are gone, or I’m not pretty, smart, skinny, whatever enough. Stop it! You are all you believe you are, and if you are thinking negatively about yourself you will draw a negative no-good man in your life.  Many men treat women exactly the way they allow them to be treated. Many people in general treat people in ways that we allow.  If we want respect, we have to give and demand respect back.  If we want to be the leading lady in our beau’s life, we have to be the leading lady and not accept anything less.

We need and desire friends – at least I do! I enjoy the company of both men and women friends.  Life without people I can enjoy and confide in outside of my family would be miserable.  However, being the first and leading lady in a relationship which could lead to a commitment/marriage is a different matter, and should not be confused by a best friend with benefits affair.

Proverbs 31:10-31 spells out the ideal leading lady. The woman in this biblical verse is far beyond that of pearls and is extremely capable, intelligent and industrious.  She understands her self-worth, and she is honored and adored by her husband and children.  She manages her business affairs, her household and enjoys her days.  She demands respect, because she exemplifies a woman of character, love and spirituality.  She is a super woman!

So what is my point? We ought not to underestimate ourselves and give away our dignity and love to a man who is unworthy of our love, because he refuses to love us back.  We should be mindful of being a wife to a man who only wants to gratify his selfish needs.  Instead, expect the man of your dreams to honor you as the leading lady and treat you as such.  Expect love and commitment and do not settle for someone who has baggage from his previous relationship(s) or other life challenges.  Do what is required to free yourself from a toxic relationship or toxic thinking.

What is toxic thinking? Toxic thinking is steeped in negative affirmations about yourself, your situation, life in general, and the belief that nothing good will EVER happen to you.  Therefore, you feel compelled to take whatever you can get.  Toxic thinking and behavior allows us to blindly go along with the flow of a bad relationship until something shocking wakes us from our slumber.  Toxic thinking like so many others things is a choice.  Choose to believe the best for yourself and have faith that good things and/or a great relationship is for you.  Great relationships happen in real life too, not just the movies.

Great relationships begin with being what your desire. Work on loving and respecting yourself as the awesome woman G-d has designed, and then expect the highest form of good in your life. Holiday Discovery is letting go of the negative and embracing the positive experiences of the present. So, what will you choose and what actions will you take? 

 

Just Musing!

Dr. Dee

Interested in learning more about ridding yourself of toxic thinking? Let me recommend, Dr. Caroline’s Leaf book: Switch On Your Brain. I would love to hear your thoughts on this book.

 

Net…WORK

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Net…WORK

How many of you are trying to grow a business working from home using the Internet? How many of us are frustrated with living paycheck to paycheck?  How many of us are actually very successful making the thousands of dollars we read about from guru marketers?  If you are not having the kind of success you would like, and you ready to quit , continue reading.

Online marketing, network marketing, big or small business enterprises, getting a degree, raising a family, and marriage are all marathons and not designed for the faint of heart.  Anyone who thinks they are going to jump into a new business and become an overnight success is delusional. Network marketing is just that – net…WORK! Growing a customer base and business partners requires building relationships, providing value, time and a simple and effective plan to success. Network marketing like any worthy endeavor requires commitment, training, fortitude and effort.  Ultimately, if our business fails, we have to look at the “man” in the mirror, but we also have to put forth every effort to select the right business which suits our personality and work ethic.   www.mybailoutoption.com

I have been in several home based businesses over the past 10 years, and just within the past year after joining another MLM (Multi-level Marketing), I am seeing team building and financial success. The success I am experiencing is directly related to my efforts and selecting the right company.  The right company, I believe must have the right leadership, products, compensation plan, team support, and a business model which is easy to understand and easy to duplicate.

There are many businesses with excellent products, compensation plans and fantastic leadership where success is realized.  Yet, before joining any company you might consider the following points:

Leadership – I believe leaders should be:

  1. Visionaries with a firm plan and the tenacity to see the plan through
  2. Honest, transparent, and have a heart for the success of all
  3. Understands and sees the end goal without mishandling the details
  4. Surrounds themselves with other like-minded leaders
  5. Invests in personal development, teachable and consistently revisits the plan, tweaks as needed for the good of the entire company
  6. Worthy of honor
  7. Role Model
  8. Stays abreast and in touch with the field
  9. A proven positive track record

Company Product:

  1. Quality ingredients
  2. Quality facilities for production
  3. Fills a need within the community, (ex. energy, weight loss,etc.)
  4. Health benefits
  5. Affordability
  6. Convenience
  7. Positive usage, no side effects
  8. Testimonials

Compensation Plan:

  1. Simple instead of Complex
  2. Multiple ways to earn income
  3. Commission Model

Business Model:

  1. Tools for Success
  2. Projections for growth
  3. Training, support
  4. Start- up costs
  5. Monthly Financial Investment
  6. Financial stability

These points helped me in my business selection, and in my decisions to continue with a particular company or part ways.  However, in addition to the considerations above, discuss your plans with a trusted friend or mentor, especially someone who has successful experience in the industry. If for some reason, you do not know anyone who has experienced success in a network marketing company, please email me and I will send you the names and/or links of some trusted marketers.  Indicate in the subject: Trusted Names. Email me at: drdeejackson@drdeejackson.com

We all have various financial needs. Some of us really need more income to support our families, pay off debt, send children to college and/or plan for our retirement. Others would like to have additional income to support some of their favorite charities or just have extra money to travel. Others possess an entrepreneurial mindset and  would rather work for themselves.

Regardless, if your day job does not meet your financial needs and/or goals, consider creating more income doing some sort of home based business which also provides tax benefits.  There are many choices, a plethora of businesses available to consider, so choose wisely. www.mybailoutoption.com

To Your Success,

Dr. Dee

 

 

Mission Possible

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The mission is possible with the right team, the right comp plan and the right work ethic! Interested in getting a free sample or learning more about the program…Email today – drdeejackson@drdeejackson.com

Today is Now!

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Today is the first day of the rest of your life! If I heard this saying once, I have heard it a bunch of times!  This saying, though true, requires fierce mental transformation. The saying is lovely and encouraging, but requires a ferocious determination to believe and execute starting anew without carrying yester-years, yesterday’s negativity into the newness of each new day!

Hmmm, so what can I say? This is a tall order, but a necessary requirement to living each day fully alive and fully present.  The spiritual principle, if embraced frees us from the shame and guilt of past mistakes. This principle assists us in appreciating joyous and happy memories and purposing to create new ones.

Many of us allow our past to dictate our future. We often times drag our regrets, mistakes, shame and failure into our very present or get stuck in a drama and/or loss. We allow the negative things to strangle our souls, and we frequently forget the great things of the past as well as the present.  What we often spew, yet fail to practice is that the past is gone! We must remember: We can’t do ANYTHING about the past! So, we must forgive others, self and keep it moving!  Each day, we literally grow brand new brain cells, according to Dr. Caroline Leaf.  Therefore, with these new brain cells we are truly given the practical opportunity to implement the mercies of our Creator each and every day!

Today, is the first day of the rest of your life, my life! Today, literally right now is all we have. How will you choose to move forward in your daily/life activities? Will you forge ahead in gratitude, determination, kindness, productivity, love, forgiveness and the like? Or will you drag grudges, regret, shame, hatred, bitterness, dread, loss and more into your NOW?

The choice is always ours! For me, I choose life…to the fullest! Join me in making this place called earth just a little brighter with a ferocious determination to live a life of love, joy and kindness. Refuse to haul yester-years’ drama into today’s sunshine!  Choose to love yourself enough to give yourself the best chance to experience each day as a new beginning.

Just Musing….

Dr. Dee