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I was reading this article about the 12 characteristics needed to be a successful entrepreneur and it struck me that these are characteristics that will benefit anyone who is either an employee, a big boss or an entrepreneur.

Read the entire post here and I’ll go over the main characteristics for you:

1.     Independence
2.     Visionary
3.     Persistence
4.     Determination
5.     Creativity
6.     Honesty
7.     Self-Confidence
8.     Risk-taking
9.     Tolerance
10.  Perseverance
11.  Commitment
12.  Organization

The article goes on to make the point that all of these qualities mean nothing unless they are accompanied by action.  I whole-heartedly agree with this point!  You could be the most intelligent person in the universe, but if you just sit inside of your home and watch television or play games on the computer, that intelligence will surely go to waste.

Read the entire article here:  12 Characteristics of Success

It is so important to create a life and/or business plan.  If you don’t, you may as well be driving around in your car on unmarked roads in a strange city, because you have no idea where your destination is and how you are going to get there.

What’s your opinion?  Do you believe that if you have these characteristics that being successful in life and business is easier, or do you still have to have a plan in order to have balance and success?  Do you have any other characteristics you would add to the list?  Let us hear from you and don’t forget to order your book today so you can start heading down YOUR path to your destination you desire.

Thank you for stopping by.

Tom Loegering, Author

After reading a short article, originally posted in the Grand Season Periodical, written by Sharon Hoelscher Day, I decided to expand on it in today’s blog post.

Most of the things we should be doing sound so easy – eat better, exercise, stop smoking (if you’re a smoker), create a life plan, and a financial plan and budget for you and/or your family.  What is it then that keeps us from accomplishing these things.  They challenge us to change our habits and focus our thoughts away from the computer or the TV perhaps?  They require us to take action and a change our day-to-day habits.  That would be my best guess at least.

So why should you track your income and expenses and develop a budget?  In our current down economy, it’s even more important to know where our hard-earned dollars are being spent.  If you’re having a hard time making your paycheck last until the next one comes in, creating a budget and tracking expenses is even more important for you.  Avoid damaging your credit rating and having late notices coming in the mail by simply learning how much is coming in and how much is going out.

It doesn’t have to be a fancy chart or on any new-fangled software on your computer.  It can just be a sheet paper with one column for income and one column for expenses.  So where do you start?

Track your income and expenses

If you have some envelopes or file folders, mark one ‘receipts’.  Be dedicated about putting those receipts in that envelope for a month or two.  Be sure to include your monthly bills for utilities and such in with those receipts or write them on the sheet if you pay online.  Even if you purchase something for a dollar or two, include those receipts.  You’d be surprised how much those little incidentals add up to.

Develop a spending plan and/or budget based on your income, expenses and include any financial goals you may have (purchasing a new car, paying for college, new furniture).  Don’t look at a spending plan as restrictive, but as a way for you to achieve those wanted items by allocating an amount to be saved towards them monthly.

Decide what your family’s most important financial goals are.  If you’re married, include your spouse and even the children in the financial planning.  Let the family know how much is being spent on things they may take for granted – movie rentals, cable, internet, cell phones.  It should make them appreciate how much the things they enjoy really cost.

Don’t give up if it takes a little while to get in the habit of tracking your expenses.  If you’ve not worried about it in the past, you will have to re-train your habits if you’re really serious about creating a budget and long-term financial plans for you or your family.

If you’d like more information on financial planning, visit the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension’s website at cals.arizona.edu/Maricopa/fcs or call the consumer information line at 602-827-8200 ext. 341.

I hope you find this information useful in finding your balanced path to success.  If you haven’t ordered your book yet, you can get a soft-cover version for $24.97 or get an instant download version for a reduced rate of $9.99 and get going on your Journey of Significance.

Tom Loegering, Author

I found this interesting article pertaining to transitioning from an intern into a full-time position with the company you interned for.  After reading through it I decided that the 10 values that they identified were also very important to have in an existing position within a company or if you’re running your own business.

• Strong Work Ethic
• Dependability and Responsibility
• Possessing a Positive Attitude
• Adaptability
• Honesty and Integrity
• Self-Motivated
• Motivated to Grow & Learn
• Strong Self-Confidence
• Professionalism
• Loyalty

The younger generation coming out of high school and college are being identified by potential employers as lacking in some of these desired values.  In a recent survey that West-MEC did with employers in the West Valley, there was a common thread in their responses as to why they were having difficulty filling open positions.

The foremost concern was that the younger employees are lacking in even the most basic job skills: basic math skills, strong work ethic, basic communication skills (both verbal and written) and common sense.

So read this interesting article through and make a list of how you can help your company achieve profit by adopting these attributes.  Leave us a comment and your thoughts about the Top 10 List.  Do you have any other work values you would add to the list?

The Top 10 Work Values Employers Look For

Tom Loegering, Author

Let’s think about your present and future in this down economic market.  Companies are looking to cut employment as they gain production due to increased productivity from tools such as computer programs and mobile phone apps. There are other problems than being unemployed – there are many who are now under-employed and there’s also the teenage population ready to advance into minimum wage jobs who are now having to compete with over-qualified applicants.  So not only are people struggling with being unemployed, there are also those who are under-employed or stuck in their current positions.

The reality of the future in the job market is that the majority of new jobs created will be entrepreneurial and not from a returning of outsourced corporate positions.  Established companies with white collar jobs will outsource them or automate them by using advanced computer programs, software or apps.  Just think about all of the jobs in the automobile industry that have been lost to the technology of robots when they were developed.

If you think your career path is at a dead-end, then you must re-evaluate what skills and knowledge you currently have.  Whether you want to work towards advancement in your current job, or become an entrepreneur by using those skills and knowledge to start a new enterprise, our book, “Success or Failure-The Choice is Yours!” is a good place to begin.  You can learn to begin your ‘Journey of Significance’ when you first define what success means to you.  Envision yourself living that life.  What kind of home do you live in, what schools do your children attend – envision all of your material things you desire.  Then you must decide how much those things material goals will cost to achieve and maintain.

Now you are ready to start your Business Plan.  Order your copy today, available in a soft cover workbook, or by instant download here on the website, it is an easy to follow yet challenging series of questions and worksheets that will enable you to begin defining what you want out of your life and begin working on those goals at once.

You may email your questions and I will be your mentor to assist you on your ‘Journey of Significance’.  My contact information is tom@successorfailure.org.

Yes, you will face many issues being an entrepreneur rather than an employee.  You are, however, reminded that even if you are employed now, you must think like a business owner.  How do you become more productive as you reach out to others in your group or place of employment to make your employer a profit?

When you receive your copy of “Success or Failure-The Choice is Yours!” and start writing your definition of success, you will realize that success or failure is your choice and your choice alone.

What are you struggling with currently?  I provide a mentoring program that can help you define your goals and achieve all that you conceive.  Contact me for more details.

Tom Loegering, Author