Articles by Justin Lukasavige on ArticleSnatch.com

What is a Degree Worth?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

A recent study by the Bureau of Labor Statistics found that the more you know, the more you make. It should come as no surprise to you that less than a high school diploma will make you an average of $22,000 per year and that the addition of a Bachelor's degree will catapult you into the low $50,000 range. But how much is an education worth to you? A Doctoral degree will position you for an income near $78,000 per year, but is it worth paying over $200,000 to get there? Some of the most well known, successful businesspeople of our day have no college degree. In 1943, Richard James was a navy tool worker in Philadelphia when he saw a torsion spring coil fall off a workshop table. Later at home, he considered turning the coil into a toy. Betty, his wife, found the term "Slinky" -- a Swedish word for sleek and sinuous in the dictionary. Since that day more than 250,000,000 Slinky's have been sold worldwide. In the 1980s and at 42 years old, Carole Nash was a laid off receptionist. **End Summary** Topics: Labor Statistics]]> personal tendencies]]> insurance consulting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Six Way to Recession Proof Your Business

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The economy seems to be the talk of the town lately, and for good reason. It seems businesses are falling to the ground all around us. Every day we hear of another that closed its doors. What if you could recession proof your business? To look at it another way, what would it look like if you had buyers in good times as well as bad? I had a question posed to me this week about the new tax laws that President-elect Obama may put into place. My friend wanted to know if his business idea would still be viable with the new rules in place. My response to his question was that if the survival of his businesses hinged on tax laws, it surely will not last very long in any climate. Here are Six Ways to Recession Proof Your Business by Jay Conrad Levinson of Guerrilla Marketing fame: 1. Go to where the consistent buyers are Every business has a certain number of clients that buy in good and bad times. Concentrate your efforts on these clients. 2. **End Summary** Topics: consistent buyers]]> persistent markets]]> Recession business]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Make Money by Accident

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

It was a cold and brutal winter morning in New York on January 2, 1924 but Richard Simon had promised his grandmother that he would visit. During his visit he discovered that his grandmother loved doing crossword puzzles with her neighbor. The two ladies kept each other company in the long winter evenings while they worked on the puzzle from the Sunday edition of the New York World. Richard discovered the two ladies had a problem however; by Tuesday the puzzle was usually solved. After thinking for a moment, Richard asked the two women if they would like to have an entire book of crossword puzzles. I'm sure you can imagine the excitement between the two friends when the idea was proposed. A friend, nicknamed Linc, was persuaded to join Richard in creating and publishing a book consisting of nothing but crossword puzzles. The subsequent Crossword Puzzle Book later became the foundation of the publishing empire Simon & Schuster, which today has annual revenues upwards of $14 billion. There are a few things to point out here; the first being that you do not need to have an incredibly brilliant idea in order to make money. **End Summary** Topics: annual revenues]]> crossword puzzles]]> income ideas]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

It's no great shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

The words spoken by Tevye the milkman in "Fiddler on the Roof" ring loud and clear. "It's no great shame to be poor, but it's no great honor either." There is absolutely no shame in being poor. But is that really how you want to live your life? Broke, always scraping by, never being able to help anyone because you only have enough for you? Is there something wrong with desiring more income; to increase your standard of living beyond your current level? Many people get stuck here. After all, it was Paul who stated that "It is the love of money that is the root of all evil." 1 Timothy 6:10 But notice here what Paul does not say in this passage. Paul does not say that money is evil, but rather the love of it. Simply put, if your motivation for more money is to worship it and make it the main thing in your life that is completely the wrong reason. King Solomon wrote that wealth is a crown for the wise. But the desire to make more money is good. I want to surround myself with people that are making money. **End Summary** Topics: motivation]]> money is evil]]> refund checks]]> increasing income]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Don't Fill Out Job Applications

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

If you are filling out job applications and not getting the job you want then your problem is likely resulting from filling out job applications in the first place. Unless you are simply looking for part time work during the holidays or to become debt-free, there is little reason to ever fill out a job application. An effective job search always begins with knowing your personal tendencies. How is it that you are wired? What lights you on fire? Are you a morning person or late-night person? Take this into consideration before beginning to narrow down any career. If you cannot stand to be awake before 9 am do not even think about becoming a grade school teacher. Trust me, many kids will appreciate that. Once you know your tendencies you can begin to identify your skills and abilities and your values, dreams and passions. These things all combine into your "perfect" job. The thing you would do if money were not an issue. This career is why you wake up in the morning and is why you are too excited to sleep at night. **End Summary** Topics: job applications]]> personal tendencies]]> effective job]]> passio]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Budgeting in Uncertain Times

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

If you watch TV or read the newspaper you have heard the economy is bad. You know you need a budget or some sort of plan to keep your family afloat. But how do you do that when everything around you is so bad? I would like to share some great news with you. No matter the state of the economy, you need a plan. It does not matter what is happening in the white house right now but rather what is happening in your house. When times are bad you need a plan just as you do when times are good. Record numbers of people are losing their jobs and their homes. Salaries are being cut and unemployment is on the rise. What are you doing about it? Are you hiding under a rock and hoping everything will be ok? Or are you planning in case something happens, or even planning to reach a goal you have in mind like retirement? The bottom line is you need a plan. **End Summary** Topics: Bad Economy]]> Budgeting]]> personal finance]]> unemployment]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Bad Economy, Great Business Ideas

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 00:00:00 -0500

Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup, McDonald's, the Hula Hoop, UPC codes, Diet Coke and Apple Computer; these companies and products are so ingrained in our minds that we fail to think of them as brand new ideas that could either make it or break it. At one time people and companies bet their livelihoods on bringing all of them to market and all were introduced in bad economies. Campbell's Chicken Noodle soup was introduced in 1934 right in the midst of the Great Depression. Ray Kroc opened the first McDonald's during the 1955 Eisenhower recession. During the same recession the Hula Hoop debuted in 1958. UPC codes were introduced during the Vietnam War and an oil crisis. Diet Coke came to market during the most severe recession since the Great Depression in 1982. Apple introduced the first iPod in 2001 while many other technology companies were crumbling. There is a lesson to be learned here. You can either bury your head in the sand when times are tough or you can take your great idea, use it to change people's lives and make a fortune doing it. The choice is yours. **End Summary** Topics: Bad Economy]]> Business Ideas]]> oil crisis]]> technology companie]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Reason #6 for not making $100,000 in Your Business

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

You are the same as all of the other businesses around you. Stop and think for a moment about why someone would buy your product or service instead of from the company down the street or in another state. In other words, what makes you different? If during this exercise you determine that you are just about the same as all of the other businesses then you certainly are not unique. Every business that wishes to turn a 6-figure profit must determine their unique selling proposition or USP. The difference between you and the competition should set you apart and make your ideal customer beg to do business with you. If you remain the same then most prospects will purchase based on price. Do you really want to market your services to someone that will leave just as soon as your product or service is offered for dollars cheaper somewhere else? My USP in the financial coaching realm is that I do not sell investments, insurance or anything magic software that makes getting out of debt any easier as most companies do. **End Summary** Topics: financial coaching]]> sell investments]]> customer service]]> idea]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Reason #4 for not making $100,000 in Your Business

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Having only one source of referrals I coach with many coaches across the country to help them build their practices. A common problem most of them have in their business is having only one source of referrals. Many of the Dave Ramsey coaches I talk with rely solely on Daveâ€™s company to send them all of their referrals. This is also a problem that I see not only in services businesses, but also with businesses selling traditional products. As a Certified Dave Ramsey Coach myself, my market is a very small one for Dave Ramsey. As a result I have had to build models and streams of referrals that do not depend entirely on one organization sending prospects to me. I even consider anything that Daveâ€™s company sends directly to me as icing on the cake, where many others rely nearly 100% on this one source. When working directly with any Dave Ramsey Coach, I would prefer they be in a small market for Dave Ramsey because they must quickly learn to rely on building their business on more than one referral stream. Any time you are reliant on one source for anything in a business, risk enters the picture. **End Summary** Topics: services businesses]]> traditional products]]> build models]]> sma]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Reason #3 for not making $100,000 in Your Business

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Doing too many tasks on your own instead of hiring or outsourcing. Many small business owners are eager to jump into their business and do everything from the start. That's a great attitude to have but I think you'll quickly find that you will be overcome with what Michael Gerber calls working in the business rather than on the business. There is a very important distinction to be made here. Working in the business means paying bills, handling payroll, finding the best deals on internet and phone service and making sure the fax machine you have is still the best fit for you. Working on the business means doing the sort of things that actually pay the bills (including payroll) and make you happy. This is the reason you started your business, is it not? Grab a notepad right now and list out the things that make up your business day. Put down everything, even if you're not working in your business full-time yet. You have to design business cards, handle website maintenance and, oh yeah, actually talk with your customers. **End Summary** Topics: outsourcing]]> business owners]]> paying bills]]> design business]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Overcoming Insanity

Thu, 20 Nov 2008 00:00:00 -0500

Most twelve-step programs define insanity as doing the same thing over and over again while expecting different results. Those credit cards that have barely budged during the last few years while you have been "getting out of debt" are a sure sign that your plan is not working. Since we just identified your problem, why do you keep doing the same things while expecting to be debt free? It will not work. "We cannot solve our problems with the same thinking we used when we created them." Albert Einstein How long will you persist and not make any progress? Is your spouse still on board with your plans, or have they completely forgotten about them? Are you going to keep wallowing around, or is today the day you have decided to ACT? You must first of all ask yourself "What is my plan?" If you draw a blank after asking that question thatâ€™s great; we have likely just found the reason you are stuck. Antoine de Saint-Exupery said long ago that "A goal without a plan is just a wish." Your time is valuable. Treat it as such and plan for action. **End Summary** Topics: out of debt]]> hidden ingredient]]> accountability]]> hard work]]> p]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

A 900% Return on Your Investments

Wed, 22 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

With all of the economic news lately, many investors are pulling out of the stock market. I have personally seen clients that are in bad investments anyways and thus do need to take a close look at their allocations. Many of these same clients should have done this months, and even years, ago because their investments simply have not been a good fit for them. Is the current market scaring you? The closer you are to retirement usually plays in to your level of emotion right now. Many people are panicking and selling their investments to limit their exposure to the stock market. Where many people have become affected by fear, I see opportunity. In fact, so does the most successful investor of all time, Warren Buffet, who has thought the stock market over-priced for the past few years. Now that it is on sale however, Warren has been buying stocks like crazy. Many of us are familiar with the crashes of 1929 (The Great Depression) and even the crash of 1987 where the market fell over 20% in a single day. What about the other crashes during the late and early 1970s? **End Summary** Topics: economic news]]> Investments]]> bad investments]]> current market]]> ]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Don't Set Goals, They Don't Work

Wed, 08 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Goals often begin for most people as dreams. They envision themselves forty pounds lighter, one million dollars richer, or the envy of everyone in their neighborhood because their driveway has the newest car in it. Progressing from the dream stage, goals often progress to New Year's resolutions. Health clubs see their biggest influx of new members during this time of year, but most fizzle out around the 2-month mark. What is interesting is that many times these same gym goers still maintain their memberships, thinking they may still show up when the time becomes right. It never becomes right. New Year's is a time to pursue dreams previously unattained. Swimsuit season is approaching and "this is they year I will not feel like an outcast on the beach." New Year's resolutions rarely come to fruition because of one major downfall... they are not written down. When you physically write your plans on an old fashioned piece of paper they can be converted into goals. The left and right sides of your brain get to connect when you physically write. The two independent A and B sides are finally aware of what the other is thinking. **End Summary** Topics: Goals]]> Health clubs]]> pursue dreams]]> income]]> develop a plan]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

What do You Struggle With in Business?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

I recently posted this question openly on LinkedIn. While the responses varied, the overwhelming majority of business folks who answered said the downturn in the economy was the biggest problem holding their company back from being great. Mary answered simply UM...the economy! :Pâ€. A few nights ago my family and I were leaving a friendâ€'s home around 7 pm. As we drove down the interstate our 2-year old daughter said Mommy; Target.â€ Sure enough, there along the interstate was the side of Target. What is interesting about this story is that at two years old our daughter cannot read. Even more interesting is the fact that the word Targetâ€ could not even be seen from the road; only the graphical part of their bullâ€'s eye. My first reaction was to ask my wife how much time she honestly spends there each day. Then I wondered what it would look like if kids recognized other businesses as much as my daughter recognized Target. Our economy is changing, I do not deny that. Ask Best Buy how much they are hurting and they will quickly tell you that big-screen TVs are at an all-time high for sales. **End Summary** Topics: Business]]> economy]]> business folks]]> business owners]]> changing]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

The Simple Life?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Often times I meet with people who claim they are too busy to maintain their finances, search for a better career or even clean their own home. While I agree that paying a cleaning service $60 per month is a great idea if you could better use that time with family or make more money during that hour, you really do need to carve out the time to take charge of your life. Take balancing your checkbook for example. In its simplest form, balancing a checkbook consumes minutes each day. If you use Quicken or Money it may take even less. The problem usually lies in the amount of time required to initially set up any system. So how do you find the time? That just happens to be an easy answer.; you donâ€'t find the time. You cannot make the time either. We all have the exact same 168 hours available each week. Making more time is impossible. The answer to this question lies in prioritizing. **End Summary** Topics: Simple Life]]> checkbook]]> finances]]> cleaning service]]> househol]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Are you Using Social Media?

Tue, 07 Oct 2008 00:00:00 -0400

A recent conversation with a friend reminded me just how important marketing can be. As business owners we often approach things from the standpoint of trying to create things for our market. This is the wrong approach to take. Instead of creating we need to find out what our customers want and provide that for them. In talking with my friend we both agreed that services like Facebook and Twitter are pretty stupid. Here is the thing though. It does not matter what he and I think, or even what you think. If our customers and clients demand something, we need to be there to deliver it. My clients demand LinkedIn. They also demand that I have a blog. You need to stop thinking like you and start thinking like your customers. Just because I think something is worthless has no meaning or merit to it. LukasCoaching.com does not receive over 10,000 hits per month simply because I created a website. It receives those hits because of all the other things I do to support it. There is one big caveat here. If you do any of these things, you have to do them well. **End Summary** Topics: Social Media]]> business owners]]> marketing]]> customers]]> clients]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

The Simple Life

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Often times I meet with people who claim they are too busy to maintain their finances, search for a better career or even clean their own home. While I agree that paying a cleaning service $60 per month is a great idea if you could better use that time with family or make more money during that hour, you really do need to carve out the time to take charge of your life. Take balancing your checkbook for example. In its simplest form, balancing a checkbook consumes minutes each day. If you use Quicken or Money it may take even less. The problem usually lies in the amount of time required to initially set up any system. So how do you find the time? That just happens to be an easy answer.; you don’t find the time. You cannot make the time either. We all have the exact same 168 hours available each week. Making more time is impossible. The answer to this question lies in prioritizing. **End Summary** Topics: family income]]> bank account]]> job search]]> personal development]]> Quicken]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Should I Tithe While Getting Out of Debt?

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Alecia wrote me with this very honest and powerful question. She and her husband are working diligently to get out of debt. They want to direct as much money as possible to digging out of their hole, but at this point they are also trying to keep their heads above water. I am not an authority on biblical matters, but I have been studying the bible for years and I know beyond a doubt that it does not say to stop giving to get out of debt. While the act of giving in and of itself is not what matters (it is actually the position of your heart), giving is still very important. "But how can we give if we cannot even stay current on our monthly bills?" she asks. I am afraid I cannot answer that one. Here is what I do know. My wife Christine and I paid off over $45,000 of debt in just twelve months, all the while making only $60,000 in income. We tithed that entire year out of the fullness of our hearts: not because the bible says we have to, but because we wanted to be givers. **End Summary** Topics: Spiritual math]]> tithe]]> debt]]> monthly bills]]> charity]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Relax and Recharge.. Let the Money Flow In

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Even if you are behind on your bills and you cannot find a job needed to support your family, it is important to take time out for regular rest and relaxation. You will not find a long-term successful person who does not schedule regular time for rejuvenation of their mind. Even on the seventh day, God rested. At a minimum, you need to unplug at least one day each week. Have you ever pulled into the parking lot at Chick-Fil-A for a chicken sandwich on Sunday afternoon, only to find the doors locked and the lights off? That is because Chick-Fil-A owner Truett Cathy knows the power of the undeniable law. No matter what, each Chick-Fil-A employee has a minimum of one day off each week. One of my coaches, Preston, is known to regularly visit a lake near our office, or even his neighborhood pond, just to think. The specific day of the week does not matter as much as the fact that it needs to occur. Even the FAA requires commercial pilots a minimum of 24 hours off duty within any consecutive seven day stretch. During your rest, your mind must go elsewhere besides your troubles. **End Summary** Topics: family]]> employee]]> relaxation]]> money]]> life planning]]> goal setting]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Know Where Your Money Goes

Thu, 11 Sep 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Knowledge Equals Money

Tue, 29 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

“Five years from today you’re going to be the same person making the same money except for the books you read and the people you meet.” – Charlie “Tremendous” Jones Where do you want to be five years from now? How about ten years from now? The first step is to identify your goal. Zig Ziglar says that if you have no goal you’ll hit it every time. Do you want to make $50,000 per year or $150,000? Do you want to be driving the same car and living in the same home? Do you want to be working at the same job? Whatever your goals, continuous learning will help get you there. Dr. Tom Stanley, in his book “The Millionaire Next Door”, says the average millionaire reads at least one non-fiction book each month. If a new career is where you see yourself heading, first look inward to discover how you are made and what you are best suited for. Once you begin to discover your true direction in life don’t stop developing your plan. Even if a transition looks to be three to four years away you can begin now. **End Summary** Topics: identify your goal]]> job]]> learning]]> average millionaire]]> non-fiction book]]> career]]> developing your plan]]> bank teller]]> office transcriptionist]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Remove the Worry in Life

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 00:00:00 -0400

There are many situations in life where we feel compelled to worry. Whether your money is tight this month or your job is on the verge of laying you off, there is little cause to worry. Instead, do all that is within your power to develop a plan to carry you through your hard times and follow it. It has been said that about 85% of the things we worry about never actually happen. I’m guessing most of us spend a good amount of time each day worrying not only about the present, but also the future. Instead of worry about something that statistically has very little chance of happening, live in the present and take life one moment at a time. Don’t get me wrong, as life happens you need to be prepared. The time you spend worry about things that will not ever happen can be put to better use improving your current way of life. Many of the personal financial clients I work with are worried about future events and thus cannot focus on current events. **End Summary** Topics: compelled to worry]]> your job]]> plan to carry]]> current way of life]]> the personal financial]]> financial clients]]> current events]]> Financial Freedom]]> emerge]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Why Does Your Job Stink?

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

My passion lies in helping others get what they want. As it turns out, many people really dislike their jobs. I have to ask myself, why are these people working there in the first place? It could be akin to a couple falling "out of love" in a marriage. Really, how do you fall "out of love"? The reality is, many of the workers that hate their jobs are either there because their parents or friends told them it was something they should do. Know any dentist whose dad was a dentist or lawyers whose dad was a lawyer? Years ago I was a flight instructor at a school that trained airline pilots. My family has no background in aviation so it was amazing to me how many students had family in the airlines. I always wondered if they were going to enjoy the profession or if they were just doing it because their parents were paying for it. Our culture also seems to tell us that wherever the money is would be a good place to work. **End Summary** Topics: career]]> success]]> organizing]]> goad setting]]> business]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Quite Possibly the Best Reason to Get Out of Debt

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

Some people want to get out of debt because it's a necessity. They are behind on bills and their marriage is hanging on by a thread. They may not know where their next paycheck is coming from and how to pay the electricity bill due this Friday. Others want to get out of debt because the stress of remembering to pay all of the credit cards and car payments on time each month is too much to handle. These people may not be behind on payments, but they know there must be another way. The reason my wife Christine and I decided to get out of debt a number of years ago was for another reason all together. While we were faithful givers to our church each week, we wanted to do more. We wanted to go beyond just giving to our church. We wanted to help friends, neighbors and anyone else that we saw was struggling and needed a hand. It was our experience that, while we could help these people a little bit, we couldn't give like we really wanted to; not while we were in debt. **End Summary** Topics: Debt]]> paycheck]]> bill]]> loan]]> credit card]]> payment]]> finance]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm

Lower Your Phone Bill

Mon, 30 Jun 2008 00:00:00 -0400

While many households have dropped their home phone to make the switch to just their cell phones, the majority of US homes still have a landline phone for the majority of their calls. Many options exist to lower your bill, and while some are geared towards the high-tech crowd, you can still save a bunch of money with low-tech options. I use Vonage in my business as well as at home. Vonage has options that range from low-tech (you pull the equipment out of the box and plug it in) all the way to high-tech (requiring software and computers). Most people that use Vonage, including me, use the easiest version. All that is required is a high-speed internet connection (usually cable or DSL) and Vonage equipment, purchased from www.vonage.com or at most stores including Best Buy or Circuit City. Vonage works just like any regular phone, and you usually have the option of using your current phone with the service. Make sure the adapter you purchase has a port to plug a regular phone into the back. **End Summary** Topics: cell phone]]> saving]]> incoming call]]> budget]]>]]> About the Author: ]]> Justin Lukasavige is a Personal & Business Coach and owner of Lukas Coaching. Visit www.lukascoaching.com/resources.htm for a ton of free tools to help you improve your health, finances, business, career & life! For more free columns and articles, visit www.lukascoaching.com/articles.htm