Michael Neely's Blog

Entrepreneurship • Freedom • Success

Economics

Betting it all on “the economy?”

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“The Economy” Won’t Save You

First, it is because it’s not about “the economy,” it’s about “your economy.” If you are waiting for something to pick you up and whisk you away to your dream life, you will be waiting a long time. Taking personal responsibility for how your life and your finances turn out is the only way that you will come close to living the life you want. As Seth Godin put it  “Instead of wondering when your next vacation is, maybe you should set up a life you don’t need to escape from.”

What If “The Economy” Isn’t As Strong As You Think It Is?

Have you heard the news about the economy? According to the mainstream media, total economic activity is going off the rails and demand is so high that the Fed may raise interest rates in December. So, retail is raging, home sales are off the charts, and auto sales are going through the roof. Here’s the problem. They aren’t. This thing that you could be relying on to make your financial dreams come true that the media calls “the economy” is limping along to the same pace it has for over eight years now.

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“Good Job” vs. Entrepreneurship

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Everyone Wants a “Good Job,” Right?

I guess it depends on who you’re speaking with. And what do you mean by a “good job?” I’ve heard this term a lot over the last few years, especially around election time. You hear statements like “There just aren’t enough ‘good jobs.'” What better excuse for mediocrity can you have? Does that mean that you graduate college and then get hired within a few weeks as CEO of a multinational conglomerate earning millions with six months vacation? Maybe a good job is with the government or a union job. Maybe you’ve been able to make this work for you. “I’m not making as much money as I would like because there aren’t enough ‘good jobs’ out there to supply me with the income I desire.” That’s because you’re looking for what you want in the wrong place.

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Economics vs. Politics

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The “mainstream media” keeps telling me that the economy is in the crapper, but I’ve never been without a job for longer than around 45 days (except when I lived in south Florida in the summer one year in 2003). When I lose a job, I get another one. It’s just the way I am. The last time I filed for unemployment, it took me 45 days to get my one and only check because it took me 10 days to find another job.

The politicians are all telling me that the economy is in the crapper, too. Personally, I don’t have a lot to complain about. I’m not necesarily making more or less money, but I am thoroughly enjoying the ride! I did quit two very expensive habits, smoking and drinking. I seem to see things a lot clearer now.

So, what’s really going on here? Some time ago, someone convinced (duped)the American public into thinking that Politics trumps Economics, and hence politicians control the economy. This is one of the biggest hoaxes that has ever been perpetrated on the American people. Maybe because as a formerly-homeless veteran, I can see through government lies about what they do to help you (us), the people. When I went to the VA in the summer of 2003, told them I was homeless and Honorably Discharged, produced copies of my DD-214’s, they took a picture of me and then handed me my VA card. I asked about what resources were available to me, a homeless veteran. The answer was “Nothing.” As it turns out, a LOT of homeless men are veterans. When the government puts better measures into place to help veterans adjust from military life to civilian life, I’ll believe that the government can do anything to help me.

Here’s another clue. The current attorney general of the United States recently made implications that the best weapon we have against terrorism is our civilian court system. This is nothing less of delusional. I have no idea how he can make such a statement. It’s just not even worthy of attention it’s so delusional.

Another clue: Al Gore. As you can see from the link, it is never mentioned that he minored in physics, meteorology (very physics-based) or ever worked as a scientist anywhere, yet, the effects of “global warming” are everywhere…until you ask a REAL scientist. It did cause a politician-forced shift in consumer products from an inexpensive industry to a more expensive industry, such as the ban on incandescent light bulbs set to go into effect in 2012. Here’s a hint for you: The climate is changing and has every year since the Earth was born. Just ask a paleometeorologist.

This brings me to the next failure of the current political structure to convince me that we were sliding off a cliff economically. This whole debt ceiling thing is kind of a hoax. All the players involved know that the debt ceiling has to be raised. Why? They’ve already spent the money.

Why? THEY’VE ALREADY SPENT THE MONEY. This is the equivalent of going to the store with $30 in your checking account and spending $50. I don’t know what happens to your bank account, but mine would get overdrawn and my bank would charge me a pretty decent fee.

They, the politicians (looters) have a spending problem. I fixed my spending problem. Why can’t Washington fix theirs?

I believe that this 2012 election season is one where the American people choose not only a President, but an economic system. The steps are in place to further shift the American economy closer to socialism and further away from capitalism. The only excuse for the shortcomings of the socialist American system is to blame the previous President, not the fact that it mathematically does not work. Just ask Greece…

By the way, taxing the rich IS wealth re-distribution!

What If It’s Not as Bad as “They” Say It Is?

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This blog entry began on July 16, 2010. I am learning about writing a post and saving it as adraft so some of the current information may seem a little outdated, but the message is clear.

As I begin this entry, I am watching the stock markets enter a trading area known as “the crapper.” I’m sure that a lot of novice investors and faithful employees have probably lost money in the stock market this year- that is IF they are bold enough to try to trade this market. The catalyst is that a preliminary consumer sentiment index for July is at the lowest level in 11 months, which shouldn’t be that hard to imagine. I know that a lot of people are having a really difficult time right now financially. I’m not buying yachts or Carribbean islands right now, but I have to say that I’m doing alright. Considering that I was homeless a few years ago, my definition of “alright” might differ from yours. I’m achieving new goals and making plans to restore my FICO score to levels it hasn’t seen in years. This brings me to the question “Who do you believe?”

I almost never watch the news unless I’m forced to because it’s on in an area where I am, like having lunch at CNN Center. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that, if you’re having lunch at CNN Center, you WILL watch CNN, whether you like it or not. I do pull CNBC up online and whenever I can view it in my leisure time, but only very briefly and only during trading hours. It’s actually an old habit from my lost gig as a commodities and currency options and futures broker. Except if there’s some major breaking news, I pay as small amount of attention to the media as possible. I even missed Lindsay Lohan getting sentenced to 90 days in jail, but my life went on.

There is a school of thought that states that whatever thoughts you hold in your mind, those thoughts will materialize in the outside world. If this sounds like an excerpt from the book or movie “The Secret,” you’re right. It is also the way that prayers are answered. I have experienced this phenomenon in my life as I’m sure you have too. So if you watch a lot of news and do your personal economic forecasting and planning based on recent news reports, I’ll bet you haven’t gotten very far recently (unless you work for “the news”). With the media cranking out nothing but bad news, if you pay a lot of attention to it, you have nothing but bad thoughts running through your mind…and this is creating your current reality.

Let’s play a game to illustrate my point. I’m going to ask a few questions and, as quickly as you can, I want you to say first thought you have out loud (or think it to yourself, if you’re in a “quiet” place). My reference for this is an audio program called “I know What To Do, So Why Don’t I Do It” by Dr. Nick Hall (very highly recommended).

a) What color is freshly fallen snow?
b) What color do clouds appear on a sunny day?
c) What color is a doctor’s lab coat?
d) What color does table salt appear?
e) How do you pronounce the word spelled “w-h-i-t-e?”
f) What do cows drink?

Well five out of six “ain’t bad,” right?

What’s my point?

Since the first five questions had your mind fixating on with the word “white,” I would bet your answer for the last question was incorrect. Chances are pretty good that you answered “milk” for the last answer. Cows don’t drink milk, they give milk. Cows drink water.

So what if we’re all being brainwashed by the media these days to limit ourselves and our potential? What if it’s really not THAT bad out there? What if the media is painting a picture that does not really exist for you? I can just about guarantee that if you believe that it’s bad out there (in the “real” world), it will be for you. If you think that things are getting better for you, they will be getting better (or not seem as bad).

If things aren’t really that bad for you out there, what excuses can you now get rid of in order to improve your life?