Work Ethic is a Learned Skill

Work Ethic is a Learned Skill

April 25, 2016

Teaching the Next Generation

When I was growing up, if I wanted to get some candy or a toy, my mom and dad didn't always get it for me. It's not because they didn't love me or they didn't want me to have such things. It was because we were a family of 6 and they had to prioritize between what we needed and what we wanted. And that's one of the things that made them great parents.

I can remember to this day my parents telling myself and/or my siblings that if we wanted something that cost money to get it, to go out and do something to earn the money. So my brother and I would wash cars, rake leaves, shovel snow to earn $5 or so here and there. Those were stepping stones to what later came in our adult lives. The work we do today in order to help support ourselves and our families.

It is a Skill that is Taught

We spend years teaching our children as they grow up, most of the things they need in order to function in society today. We teach them to walk, talk, feed themselves, bathe, brushing their teeth, clean their rooms, mow the grass, reading, writing, math, spelling, and the list goes on. 

But there is a skill they absolutely need to guarantee their function in society today. What is it? It's Work Ethic. This is a skill that is learned like everything else and it is absolutely vital in today's world and I'm not sure it's being taught today as much as it should be. To give you an example... I once worked at a place where ever so often, I would work double shifts in order to earn extra money to get things I wanted or do things I wanted to do. After one shift was done, I had to work with a guy who was just about half my age. He was always complaining about how tired he was, how hot it was, and/or how hard the work was. One day, the next shift barely started and he started complaining. It had already been a long day for me and I had, had enough. I said, "Do you realize I have already put in 8 hours of work in this hot factory, doing the same stuff you're doing? I'm tired too! You're half my age! You should be running circles around me right now." He didn't say anything in return, and needless to say, he didn't last much longer there before he was let go.

But I haven't seen all negative things when it comes to the young adults today and their work ethics. I have seen some young people who really can run circles around me. And that's because someone in their lives taught them how to have a good work ethic and that money comes from work. The mom, who's little boy is in the above picture, was selling lemonade at a garage sale this past weekend, had taken the first steps in teaching her son to have a good to great work ethic. And her son was tickled to death to be selling lemonade. Saying, "Does anyone want some lemonade?"  and "I'm the lemonade guy!" when people would walk up to the sale. The last I knew, he had earned about $20 before he had to go home to take a nap. That was a pretty good haul for that little guy. But the biggest value he got out of the whole thing (if the mom keeps teaching him) wasn't the amount of money he made, but the experience making the money. That was priceless!

So parents, and even grandparents, please start teaching your kids how to work and that that's where money actually comes from. It will go a long way when they are older.

What about You?

What were some of the lessons you learned when you were growing up and who taught them to you? Share your experiences below.

Toujours Prêt

Being Prepared

Being Prepared

April 11, 2016

We the People

As a veteran, I believe wholeheartedly in the Constitution of the United States and what it says in it. So as my right to Bear Arms, laid out in the Second Amendment, my wife and I applied and received our concealed carry permits this year. It was a whole new learning experience. Learning the laws both at the state and federal levels on what we can and can't do is continually an ongoing process. And so far, we have not had any issues and the whole experience has been a positive one.

Now you maybe asking yourself, "What does any of this have to do with finances?" And the truth is, it has A LOT  to do with finances. In fact, more so than I originally thought.

Being a Responsible Gun Owner

A person who conceal carries has a lot of responsibility to do things right. And just recently, I learned that even if I have done everything right and not fired a single round, I could still find myself in a whole heap of trouble and that can be very costly. It could even become a bankruptable event. With all the people who are against gun ownership, from the politicians in Washington, to the common Joe on the streets, there are a lot of people who are looking to make an example out of someone even if they were right and justified in what they did or where they went with their firearms.

What to Do? 

So with all this bureaucratic crap going on, is it really worth owning firearms, let alone getting a conceal carry permit? That is a question only you can answer. For me, that answer is definitely Yes. 

When it comes down to it, I am the first line of defense in protecting my family. Oh I'll call 911 and let them know that something is going on and we need help, IF there is time to do so, but it is my responsibility to protect my family.

So what is a responsible gun owner to do to protect themselves against the people who are against them and what to make them out to be the bad guys? Well, I just recently discovered a company called U.S. Concealed Carry Association (USCCA). And as an insurance agent and understanding that all forms of insurance is meant to transfer risk from you to the insurance company if a major financial event were to take place, this looks like an ideal program for the gun owners in this country.

Now I want to make sure you all know this before I continue. I'm a licensed LIFE insurance agent ONLY ! I get NO commissions or kick backs from USCCA by telling you any of this. As a responsible gun owner, financial coach, and insurance agent, I'm just trying to teach you of the financial ramifications of what could happen to you if you were justifiably protecting your family and get in trouble doing so and what you can do to protect yourself. This is something I didn't think about before we applied for our permits.

The Plans

USCCA has 3 coverage plans available. A Silver Plus, Gold Plus, and a Platinum Plus. The plans cover from $250,000 to $1,000,000 in Civil Suit Defense and Damages, $50,000 to $100,000 in Criminal Defense Protection and Instant Attorney Retainer, $2,500 to $10,000 in Immediate Bail Bond Funding, $250 to $500 per day in Compensation while In court, Critical Response Team 24/7/365 Immediate Assistance, Complete Attorney Coordination Local Referral Within 24 Hours, Psychological Support Post-Incident Counseling, and a subscription to Concealed Carry Magazine.

Each plan is, in my opinion, is very affordable. The Silver Plus plan is $13/mo or one-time annual payment of $147, the Gold Plus plan is $22/mo or one-time annual payment of $247, and the Platinum Plus is $30/mo or one-time annual payment of $347. And there is no wait period for your plan to take affect, it starts immediately. As you can see from the numbers above, using a firearm of any kind to protect your family can be costly. So it is a great idea to protect yourself if you find yourself in a bind.

If you think about it, we protect ourselves with insurance for our homes, cars, etc... why wouldn't we protect ourselves when it comes to this? Even if you don't have or don't plan to get a concealed carry permit, but do own guns, this is a great idea... in my opinion. 

The Old Dog on the Porch

The Old Dog on the Porch

April 4, 2016

I’ve heard the saying many times, and the credit for saying it has come from multiple sources. So I’m not really sure who said it first. Maybe you’ve heard it too. The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again, and expecting something different. But why would anyone do this? 

Well, there are lots of reasons, but the one I see often is, the person doing this just doesn’t feel the pain of their situation enough to change. There is one story I’ve heard that best sums up this very real truth. I’m not sure of the real title of this story. I just call it The Old Dog on the Porch and it goes like this…

There once was a young man (in his 30’s) who decided to take a walk on a fine sunny summer’s day. As he began his walk, he noticed his elderly neighbor sitting in the shade on his front porch, so he decided to go on over to see how he was doing.

When he walked over and climbed the porch steps, the two men shook hands and greeted each other. As the men sat down, the young man also noticed the old man’s dog lying on the porch.

As the men were talking, the young man heard the old dog whimper a little bit as if in pain, but he continued with his conversation. As time went by, the old dog whimpered two more time, and each time, the young man’s curiosity grew more and more on why the dog was whimpering.

Finally, when the dog whimpered for the fourth time, the young man asked, “What’s wrong with your dog, is he hurt or sick?” the old man replied, “No. Do you see where he’s laying?” The young man nodded. “Right where he’s lying.” The old man continued. “is a nail that has started to come up through the deck board and its poking him a bit.”

Puzzled, the young man asked, “Then why doesn’t he move?” The old man answered, “I guess because it’s not painful enough yet.”

People do this all the time, especially with their finances. Maybe you even know someone like this. People will only change when the pain of change is less than the pain of the same.

I hope this isn’t you. I hope that if it is, you seek help in whatever area you’re struggling with. The question I have for you is, what area did you have some sort of struggle with that you were grateful you got some help with later on down the road?