Sunday, December 06, 2009

Put More Cash in Your Pocket... Count your Blessings

by Dale Shumaker
4spirit@gmail.com
www.spiritsavvy.net

Put more Cash in Your Pocket by Loral Langemeier was published in paperback right out the shoot. It is her response to help those who have seen incomes diminish to get back to where they want. Loral's theme is that you don't need to scrimp, but find ways to make money to cover the difference. Everyone can make an extra $500 to $1000 a month by putting Loral's business process in motion. People don't want to start businesses but make extra money. She shows how to create a small business(income venture) to make that extra money with what you have now. Here are the ingredients she identifies that will get you there, and get you there in 30 days.

When most people see their money getting tight, they usually find ways to cut back. Loral says this is the wrong way of thinking. The best thing you can do when finances get tight is to focus on making more money. In this quickly released book, she said you start by uncovering the skills you have, come up with money making ideas around your skills, test if the idea can make money fast, execute the idea immediately, perfect the idea later. She shares this process with worksheets in the book...on making more money ($500 to $1000 every month) to pay off debt or get the things you want. Along the way, Loral has several stories of how other regular folks have done it.
For now, follow her worksheet suggestions and this will get you on the way.


You can make new money and not squirrel away what you have.Written so the average person can follow, she likens her process to setting up your own lemonade stand. You draw on skills and abilities you already possess. Do what you know that the customer already understands, what you already do at work or have done. Do a work/task list of everything you do every day to find niches. Make a hobby list. What chores do you do and how do you do them? What services have you volunteered for? Now make a list of all you can do, that you know people want or need.

Discover the idea. From the lists above craft your skills and abilities. List the resources you have and will need to do what you want to do. Describe the type of personality you have. Get a handle on this. Do what is consistent with who you are.

Test the idea. Figure out how many hours a week it will take to make what you want. How many piano lessons, clients for your dog-sitting service a month at what rate will it take to make $1000 a month. Do the math. See if people will pay that. The idea is making money fast. What money path will it follow? How long will it take to get paid for what you do? Try making a simple flow chart how the money will flow. Find names, addresses, phone numbers in the phone book, do an internet search. If others are doing what you are doing it means a market exists.

Replicate and Duplicate. Follow the leaders and do as others have done in what you want to do. Model your business after an existing business. It's about making money fast, so copy what you see working by others. Talk to other businesses and talk to them as a potential customer to see how they do it. What do you see as the best elements of their business operation you can duplicate? After checking out a few businesses come up with the best plan for you.

The right price. Compare what others charge and charge a little more. It is better to go after customers willing to pay more for something extra than to target customers who are looking for the least expensive option. Loral gives examples of how to price certain products or services.

Be similar but different. It is easier to sell something people are already buying, but create your distinction. Your distinct advantage considers better service, extra value, higher quality, convenience. List five distinctions for what you do. In two sentences, write a track talk on what you do. In these sentences cover your business offer, service/product you provide, distinct advantage, to whom you provide your services.

Ask for cash. Write down your direct positive pitch to your customer. Have your paperwork ready which includes your order form, a one-page contract, a flier, your price list. Describe your customer and write down names and addresses of them. Write down your message and the tools you will use to communicate your message. Consider websites (some have ready to use online tools), online social networking. Seek rejections. Get ten people to turn you down and find out the reason they did. Change your message each time to improve on what each didn't like. After ten rejections you will have found a much stronger message.

Take a moment to reflect on what you got so far. Create a list of the steps to take to get your business up and running. Develop a procedure to follow from getting an order through fulfilling that order.Track every dollar coming and going. Create a countdown checklist and write down everything you need to do to get things up and running. Create a list of expenses that are tax deductible and be sure to keep records of all these areas.

Doing your business is your learning experience. From every action you will learn something. Bad days will teach a lot, so learn from them and keep going. Loral says that you will learn in this sequence...Action... Experience... Evidence... Confidence... Action.

From every action you will start to grow. You may want to formalize the business. Check on business license in your area, consult with an accountant and attorney, computerize, community-ize (get around, get involved), expand operations, widen market, added additional products/services.

Learn how to earn. Read books, websites of those who know. Teach your children how money works by your example. They may want to build a lemonade stand someday.The back of the book has IRS forms to show you some records you will want to keep.

Loral invites you to join Live Out Loud at
http://liveoutloud.com/

You are beautifully and wonderfully made.
There is no one like you. Many see it and marvel at who you are. Consider this and let your bright side show.

You are beautifully and wonderfully made... as David the psalmist wrote in Psalm 139:

To you the night shines as bright as day.
Darkness and light are the same to you.
13 You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body
and knit me together in my mother’s womb.
14 Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex!
Your workmanship is marvelous—how well I know it.
15 You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion,
as I was woven together in the dark of the womb.
16 You saw me before I was born.
Every day of my life was recorded in your book.
Every moment was laid out
before a single day had passed.
17 How precious are your thoughts about me, O God.
They cannot be numbered!
18 I can’t even count them;
they outnumber the grains of sand!
And when I wake up, you are still with me!

The Great hymn, Count your Blessings, is so practical. Take your pen and paper and write down all the things you did in life and and all the skills and abilities they show you have. These are God's Blessings. Keep your eyes on this and remember there are even more. The Lyrics to the song go somethings like this.
Count your blessings, name them one by one.
Count your blessings and note all that God has done.
Count your blessings, and see what God has built in you.
Count your blessings and see the gifts he still has for you to use.

Ponder in your heart the original lyrics of this hymn written in 1897. Read them thoughtfully and see all God has done and will still do through you.

When upon life’s billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Count your blessings, name them one by one,
Count your blessings, see what God hath done!
Count your blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done.

Are you ever burdened with a load of care?
Does the cross seem heavy you are called to bear?
Count your many blessings, every doubt will fly,
And you will keep singing as the days go by.
When you look at others with their lands and gold,
Think that Christ has promised you His wealth untold;
Count your many blessings.

Wealth can never buy Your reward in heaven, nor your home on high.
BoldSo, amid the conflict whether great or small,
Do not be disheartened, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey’s end.

All the Gifts of God are in you. All the gifts you need to get through... God's Spirit has provided for you.

(Contact me directly at 417-224-3517, 4spirit@gmail.com , I also do free on-site presentations.)