Longevity in a time of uncertainty...

Its hard to play for the future when the future seems so uncertain. Anything could happen at any time... We are at the beginning of the third world war waging chaos on the middle east, our economy is declining at a rapid pace with inflation skyrocketing. Isn't now the time to take advantage of the freedoms we do have? Credit cards, vacation time etc... Lets make sure to enjoy ourselves before its too late... FYI The Aztec, Mayan and Incan calendars all end on December 21, 2012.... Just something to think about...

Politics and the New World Order, Pt. 1

Have you ever wondered who really controls this country? Many would say it is our president, the senate and politicians in general... Others would say that Multinational Corporations control our country... Then there are many that would believe that the international bankers control the US along with countless other countries acting in unison and following an agenda unknown to the public. Then there are those that simply don't care... I don't blame any of them. With the enormous amount of information that is readily available and at our fingertips, its hard to determine what is real and what is not. We live in an age where fact and fiction are incredibly hard to distinguish. An age where it is even more vital to verify information with countless sources and when all else fails, resort to the popular phrase "seeing is believing."

It is now more important than ever re-develop the passion for knowledge and practice thinking for ourselves. We need to take control of our future by encouraging our friends and family to do the same.

Urban Poetry Experiment Part 1

I lay under the feet of the masses beneath bright city lights and airplanes that fly overhead. I see everything and everyone from a perspective unlike any other. In the city I connect every path to every other path. I am cold in the winter and warm in the summer. At times I lay barren in the twilight hours only to be trampled upon during the day. I will continue to be even after you are gone. I feel nothing and I am everywhere. I watched as you learned your way around and provided you hope for a brighter future. With my assistance you have completed countless tasks some of them in repetition. I will continue to be a place of sanctuary for some and source of oppression for others. I am neither good nor bad. Please know that I am at your disposal.

Happy Hollidays...

Around this time of year, we end up hearing the expression "happy holidays" more frequently. I look at the holidays as an opportunity to spend time with my family and experience a brief period rest before we begin the next year. Sadly the corporations view it as a time to perpetuate the disease of consumerism.

Reflection upon the year 2007...

As I think back about all the things that have happened this year, it almost seems surreal. The previous place that I worked went out of business, I got a new job, I started becoming serious in photography, I went to a few outstanding parties, I had some really hot dates, I learned a lot about running a business and I re-organized my relationships with certain people to simplify my life. I have grown as a person and have come to the realization that it is the journey that should be appreciated as well as the conclusion. To live in the moment is our greatest gift because the next moment is not guaranteed.

Word is Bond VS. Cash is King

I've recently had an issue obtaining account receivables from someone that I previously considered a friend. They had committed to making payment for services and a timetable was established. I had never conducted financial dealings with them previously so there was some reason to be concerned. I didn't think about drafting a contract for my services, I acting on my instincts that this person was reliable and straight forward. It appears that I made false assumptions, now it has become difficult to correspond with this person and they have continued to make promises that they have not delivered on. What do you think I should do about this situation?

When it rains it pours...

Isn't it amazing to think that we are all connected on a subconscious level. I am a semi-professional photographer and have enjoyed a break as my bookings have slowed in the past month. I have been trying to gain strength and make progress on the development of my company before the upcoming busy season. A week ago I got a call in inquiry to a booking. I followed up and scheduled it for this Saturday. As soon as I booked the shoot another previous client called to book a shoot and then another. It's funny how energy is contagious and our senses go beyond the five that we are supposedly limited to.

The CALM before the Storm : Pt. 1

Sometimes people do things they shouldn't. Things that seem unethical and just downright low. Instead of looking at these things as an opportunity to get revenge or cause these people harm, we should instead try to use these events as a springboard and recognize the fact that they present an opportunity to grow as individuals. Taking the high road can lead to greater rewards. Its hard to practice forgiveness but it will undoubtedly benefit our lives. I'm definitely not saying we should forget these actions but rather use them as a learning opportunity and make sure not to make the same mistake twice. Energy is contagious but we must learn to feed on energy that has a positive impact on ourselves, our friends, our family and our environment.

Taking the high road...

When someone is unable to take responsibility for their own problems they tend to blame someone else... After doing this a few times, it becomes a habit. We need to try to take the high road at all times because if we don't, we risk being dragged down to their level. Negative emotions generally come from a sense of emptiness, this tends to be the cause of the majority of human suffering. Unless we wish to be empty ourselves we must try to feel connected to all things. This connection to the source will be our greatest strength.

Today's Topic : How to make money... Pt. 1

How many ways are there to increase your income? Here are just a few...

Write an E-Book about something you're good @ and sell it on Ebay!
Sign up and gamble for free on the following website : http://www.moola.com
Complete offers @ Treasure Trooper for $$$ : http://www.treasuretrooper.com/343965
Buy Gold - Stocks or Bouillon (sure to double in price eventually...)
Complete Surveys online for $$$
Focus on residual income : stock photography, music (publish through ascap) etc...
Make a website focused on useful content, promote it and approach advertisers...
Get a job!

More to come soon... Remember these three things

Spend Less (reduce waste and recognize the difference between wants and needs)
Make More (increase your revenue by taking on a second job or project)
Invest (research investment opportunities find a good fit between roi and risk)

These three things will help all of us to become stronger financially...

-> The Art of Appreciation <-

I appreciate life. I appreciate my friends. I appreciate my family. I appreciate the people I work with (although it's hard at times). I even appreciate complete strangers. I appreciate nature and embrace it's purity. I try to practice the art of appreciation on a daily basis. Having an appreciation for people, places, things and experiences in general can be incredibly rewarding. Sometimes it seems easier to focus on our problems then our blessings. There is almost always a bright side even if it's not blatantly obvious.

Development of a Quiet Mind...

Change is a constant in life. In my youth I faced some of life's most difficult challenges. Finding an identity among my peers was particularly hard. It's important to learn how to feel comfortable in your own skin. After all, if you can't trust yourself, who can you trust? Internal dialog is something most of us face on a daily basis. The speed at which thoughts and comments race through our head varies from person to person. Through meditation I have trained myself to keep this internal dialog to a minimum. I have developed an appreciation for silence. Silence is in all things, it is the source or canvas for which all sound is painted. Darkness is simply the absence of light. We as human beings see ourselves as solid but the majority of space we occupy is empty.

Why should I establish short term goals?

I've often asked myself this question... What should I do today? Normally when boredom sets in, I find some sort of meaningless task to busy myself with... Not anymore, I have decided to take control of my life and list my short term goals. I hope to make this a daily habit. Eventually I would like to expand my horizons by making long term goals that are implemented on a daily basis through my short term goals. Creating a plan empowers us and results in increased control over our everyday lives.

Evolution of a Business Relationship...

Several years ago I used to make politically charged hip-hop music with a friend of mine. We thought that we could change the world for the better by creating and distributing music that had controversial viewpoints about our government and the multi-national corporations that rule a large portion of the world. We had a purpose that was selfless and because of that we experienced a moderate degree of success. As we invested more and more into this project, it became clear that we needed a way to fund our efforts.





We decided to take a break from the music and focus on creating a profitable enterprise that could allow us to expand our movement. We created a promotional company that would be dedicated to promoting local community businesses online. After several years we had yet to make a real profit in the marketplace and became discouraged in our effort. Our dream had yet to materialize into the organization we had hoped to create. I found myself doing most of the clerical/technical work i.e. website, graphics, sales, marketing etc...

My business partner had no interest in learning these disciplines. He decided to concentrate on street promotions i.e. distributing fliers, posters etc... I wanted to spend more time developing the infrastructure of our organization but he didn't seem to have an interest in developing infrastructure, he wanted me to do all the work organizing the company and just wanted to focus on the day-to-day operations. I was able to successfully negotiate a street-promotion contract with a local venue. I was the first and only person to bring revenue to our company.

Because it seemed that my business partner didn't have a passion for organizational development and I didn't feel like I should have the responsibility to develop all the systems on my own, I thought it would be better to put the development of this organization on hold while i pursued my passion for photography. This eventually evolved into a business itself and my business partner felt threatened.

This resulted in him feeling alienated and decided to start his own promotion company. I completely understood this decision and felt relieved because through this process I realized that I don't have a passion for promotion myself. We should try to only do things that we have a passion for if possible, this results in a much happier existence. The bottom line is that when you own your own company, you have control over is success or failure. This is not always the case in a partnership.

Depravation Mentality Pt. 1

There is an emptiness in all of us that cannot be filled with material possessions. Sometimes this emptiness manifests as envy, other times it manifests as greed. Having a dualistic mentality contributes heavily to this feeling of emptiness that many of us have experienced at one time or another. Things are generally seen as Black or White, Wrong or Right, Us or Them. Lets attempt to break down the walls that confine our minds and look at the world from a more collective perspective. We live on a planet with a finite amount of space, at some point we are going to have to learn how to share.

Should We Sacrifice Our Ethics for Extra Income?

I've been noticing a trend in modern business to sacrifice ethical behavior in exchange for added rewards. The thing that seems odd to me is that many people take the deal without considering the consequences of their actions. I have had several opportunities in my lifetime to sacrifice my ethical beliefs for financial rewards. Since then I have come to learn that every cause has an effect, every action has a reaction, it's simply a law of nature. To become aware of the decisions we make before we make them has an incredibly beneficial effect on our future. If we can imagine the chain of events that may occur as a result of a single action, we can effectively begin to control our destiny. This post is a testament to that fact.

Can you help me fix my friend's problem?

What do you do when you have a friend that is trying his best to support his family, working 12 hour days and just can't make it happen. I have learned many things from him, most importantly how hard it is to run your own business. He owns and operates a Mediterranean restaurant near my house. He provides excellent food for a very fair price. Some people have all the luck but all he seems to get are bills. I have made several suggestions regarding his situation, my first idea was that he applies for an advance on something called the Earned Income Tax Credit. I am uncertain whether this applies to families that are self-employed but I don't see why it wouldn't. My second idea is that he sells the business... Even though it is his family's primary source of income, I think that it will take too long to make the business profitable and the seed money has long been spent. Does anyone have any suggestions regarding government assistance, or loans that apply to businesses? BTW my friend went through bankruptcy recently due to financial hardships...

A Few Thoughts on Work...

I woke up early today and experienced a temporary state of confusion... What is that loud obnoxious sound? Why is it dark outside? Why does my neck feel like beef jerky? And then it struck me... My Thanksgiving break is over, it's time to go back to work. I can't remember the last time I had a four day weekend... Lately I've begin to realize that my job is dull, the people I work with are obnoxious, the satisfaction I receive from a job well done is minimal. I am a robot. I wake up, get dressed, go to work, go home, eat dinner, do some work for myself, get some exercise, read a book for a while and go to sleep only to repeat this process again and again until I reach the weekend. But to keep things relative, Americans work longer hours then most of their foreign counterparts but the standard of living is still alot higher than most third world countries. With that in mind, I can appreciate the fact that I'm work in a safe office environment, blog at work, complete tasks that are not that difficult and receive an income that provides me with a roof over my head, a cell phone, car insurance, groceries, a modest entertainment budget and a few bucks to throw in my savings acct every month. Things aren't too bad after all...

Yesterday's Challenge Was Today's Success

Don't worry about the challenges you face in life, I assure you there is no life and there are no problems. The Chinese word for crisis also means opportunity. Do not allow yourself the dissatisfaction of allowing emotions such as greed, jealousy, envy to disrupt your life. These are things that make us feel separated. Instead lets try to feel emotions like love, hope, enthusiasm, excitement and happiness. Our strength comes from the source. Lets be one with the source and enjoy the peace and serenity that it brings us. Let your anger, rage and frustration disappear. Allow yourself to forgive those that have caused you pain. Forgive yourself for the mistakes you've made in life. Practice forgiveness in every moment of every day.

A Day In The Life

Sometimes life can be confusing... We wake up, get ready for school, work etc... Never do we take pause and wonder "who made all these rules?". Society was arranged before we arived on this terristrial plane and it will continue to be after we are long gone. I take comfort in the fact that I am connected to all things and they to me. If we could all help perpetuate a culture of acceptance and forgiveness our problems would solve themselves. If we can begin with the end in mind we can be closer to that goal.