Telecommuting Millionaire?

Why I Won't Apply for Your Job . . . A snippy response (but a good one)

2012-01-17T14:28:00.000-08:00

Oh my goodness! I love this post. It's written in response to an article entitled "Why I Won't Hire You". And it is brilliant! Tim Gray you are quite the man for this one. I hope and wish that employers will read this very truthful, very helpful article.

If you want to see the original article plus comments, go here.

WHY I WONT APPLY FOR YOUR JOB..

1 - Require me to fill out your company's "application" that simply repeats all the information that is on my resume. Why are you showing me that your company is more interested in busywork than skills? You will never even look at the "application", it is a waste of everyone's time.

2 - Require yet another login to post my resume to your company's website. your company is not special, why are you cluttering up your own servers with the silly logins for people that will never be used again? Hire some competent IT people and design a resume submission system that does not require a un-needed login for them to have to remember. The best one I have seen emailed the submitter a pincode and allowed them to login with their email and pincode if they ever needed to update the resume.

3 - Post ridiculous requirements. 30+ years in java, astronaut that has been in space 10 times, has god's cellphone number. If you are letting the idiots in HR write the job description at least take some time from golf or your fantasy football to proofread the job position. It just makes you look like a very uneducated manager, a big red flag for the real professionals.

4 -Do not post a salary range. You want me to waste my time to find out you are paying 30% under industry average? Be honest and post the salary range so you get real professionals that don't want to waste our time to apply.

The above are the reasons that most companies get 5000 resumes or more for a single position that are not what they are looking for. Mostly because the hiring manager is incompetent at writing a proper job posting. The HR department think they are godlike. And everyone thinks their company is so good they don't have to give any real information about the position.

Want a better list of hires to choose from? Do the above and look like a respectable company to work for.

Honestly, if you want top notch professionals, you have to look good enough for us to apply.

Back to Life, Back to Reality

2012-01-03T15:44:00.000-08:00

Hello, everyone! It is 2012 and I've come back to continue helping you with your dreams of "working from home" or telecommuting . . . becoming wealthy (becoming a millionaire) . . . or just realizing your dreams whatever they may be. Yes, it's been awhile but I never gave up on my goals and dreams. Life and all its issues just interrupted my efforts for a moment. Ready? Let's go!

Resiliency

2010-08-26T08:44:00.000-07:00

THIS is what I love about having the internet (specifically Youtube) and other resources at the tips of my finger. When I need motivations. When I need words of encouragement. When I need just a little bit of "positive" to get be over . . . I can find it. Thank you Mr. Thomas.

What happened?

2010-08-11T17:40:00.000-07:00

It's been awhile and there is good reason why . . .

So many things have happened -- have changed in my life. In late 2008, I found out that my older sister was fighting cancer. It was a shock to all of us. You have no idea what a terminal illness does to a family. It nearly destroyed her marriage, and it totally changed my sister and her husband's working life . . . so much so that she ended up living with me until her death in the September 2009.

Immediately, my goals had to change. That's what happens you know . . . LIFE. Between taking care of my sister, dealing with marital issues wrapped in grief and poignant goodbyes, keeping home life as "normal as possible" for my children and my family's shifting financial needs -- my plans for financial freedom had to be put aside.

Six months before her death, the house we were renting (which fit my family perfectly even with my sister and her husband living with us -- went up for sale. She was in no condition to move and we could not purchase a house big enough for all of us with only my husband's salary. Because you see, due to the housing bubble popping and the banking industry making the rules on lending nearly ridiculous (after their crazy credit party of the years previously) - the money I made from my contract work meant nothing. They wanted to see W-2's to even consider lending to us.

I had to quickly find a W-2 job.

By the great kindness of my landlord -- they offered us first dibs on the house. And the fact that the Lord truly provides -- because soon after that, I found a job with a salary that was large enough to purchase the house. We began the process of purchasing the house we were living in. It was a short-sale. So there was a lot of "hurry up and find financial documentation and send it to us now" and then wait . . . and wait.

By the end of September 2009 there were . . . funeral arrangements, a 9 to 5 job schedule, kids beginning school, and many other things in life that one has to adjust to . . . and I did it all in a numb kind of limbo. And ironically, two days after I buried my sister, we signed the documents to the house. After six months, the short sale finally went through. I had made a step toward one of my goals . . . and I didn't care.

During the time of my sister's sickness, I was often angry and frustrated. There was so much I could have done if I had the "financial freedom" that I had been previously fighting for. She could have had better health care, an easier time of it. I would have been able to care for her more than get a "job" and be absent 9-10 hours a day to make sure there was a roof over everyone's head. I could have afforded the best nurses and day-care providers to make her life much more comfortable. We may have been able to afford some type of "new treatment" that would have extended her life or maybe cured her. All this could have happened if I would have tried for and succeeded in gaining financial freedom sooner. Why did I wait?

LIFE. Because life keeps happening to me. And I end up doing what everyone else does. Set aside my goals to handle the problems of life, instead of making plans to continue my goals around life. Making those contingencies that will help me take the steps toward my goal, even when life happens.

It's been almost a year since my sister's death, a year into owning my new home, over a year since I began my new job . . . and I'm looking around, feeling uncomfortable, still feeling frustrated and angry. My restlessness has helped me realize that I'm ready to take on my challenge again. It's time to make things better. To add value to life.

So, if you don't mind. Let's continue this journey. Pull up your belts and tie your shoes . . . I'm ready to get back on the "wild ride" to financial freedom. Let's go.

Job Finder!

2009-06-17T15:53:00.000-07:00

Freelance Writing Opportunity!

The Copy Editor will work with our content development team to develop and maintain interactive, online content for undergraduate courses. This is a freelance, off-site opportunity.

Specific Responsibilities:

Work directly with authors, reviewers, and production staff to ensure the assigned projects are delivered on schedule and reflect our editorial standards
Copyedit problem sets and other online content for clarity, consistency, and adherence to our style guide; proofread material online; check changes; and conduct comparison reads

Came across this job, they use the term "off-site opportunity" Hmmm. I think I'll be using that as a search term in my "looking for telecommuting jobs" activities.

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You can make this blog better. Tell me what types of topics you want me to focus on. I'll be happy to write about things that actually help and entertain you. Or drop me a line at telemill at gmail. [You know what to do to send the e-mail, right?]

Tube Ninja Wealth Principle: The Money Myth...

2008-12-13T18:29:00.000-08:00

I simply love this guy and this video is EXACTLY the kind of stuff we need to realize as people who will soon hold much wealth! [grin]

He's fun and entertaining and if you listen -- you might just learn something valuable.

And just so you know: I take my money "attitude" from my grandmother who raised me and survived the depression. So, for me . . . money is always scarce. I've got to change that huh?

Telecommuting Jobs for Week of 12/12/08

2008-12-12T10:12:00.000-08:00

As promised! More Telecommuting jobs I've found during my job search. Good luck my friends.

B2C SEO/SEM Marketing Guru wanted

Omniture Web Analytics Consultant

Shop Drawing Draftsman for Commercial Construction

iPhone developer (telecommute opportunity)

Sales Consultants for International Design Company
Business Process Modeler - ProVision

Physical Rehabilitation Staffing Manager/Coordinator

Lead Oracle Configurator (VIRTUAL - ANYWHERE)

Law Firm Marketing/Administrator for Estate Planner

Biofuel Startup - Process Engineer (Remote & UCSF
Green Technology - Sales Job Available IMMEDIATELY

Flash Developer

CHILDREN'S WEB SITE SEEKS CUSTOMER SERVICE HELP

ONSITE & REMOTE COMPUTER / IT SUPPORT ENGINEER NEEDED

Community Organizer – part time

Los Angeles REO Listing Agent/Broker

Online Content Manager

Media Relations Specialist, Health Care – Freelance Project

National Field Sales Manager

Grant Writing and Editing for Education - Free World U

Web coder/designer part time freelance

Health Benefits Representative

Apple Articles - Apple, Developer, Mac, iPhone, JavaScript, Ajax, SDK

Architectural Designer / Drafter

Account/Customer Service Manager Healthcare

FEMALE VOICE OVER ARTIST WANTED

Technical Writers with Manufacturing / Aerospace Experience (Virtual)

Google Apps Consultant - work from home

Business Development Professional (Multiple positions & locations)
Public sector experience, outstanding communication skills, proficient with MS Office , Self-motivated, Enthusiastic

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You may want to "fan" me on Plurk or follow me on Twitter, I usually put up some of these job openings every day. Just look t the right of this blog post, the social networking sites I visit often are there.

We’re in a recession -- Is your freelance/contract work screwed?

2008-12-11T12:00:00.000-08:00

Go back and read parts 1, 2 and 3 of this series!

If I have learned nothing more from owning a business it is . . . “Don’t sit around and wait for good fortune – make your own good fortune.”

I also own a virtual assistant/freelance writing business. Yeah, as my kids say: “Mommy, you do to much.” Kids, what do they know?

Anyway, as you can guess, business is now slow. My clients either don’t need me, are cutting back or need me but don’t have the means in which to pay for my services. Bummer.

Now what?

I can either close up shop . . . or, I can ask my previous customers and some of the guys on the social media networks I frequent (hunting for gigs) what they need now in the form of assistance. From the ones that answer that question, I can then ask what would their budget allow in paying for said assistance. Whatever my clients and colleagues say they need, I plan to move my service business in that direction and market to those needs.

All it takes is a little change in mental direction. I'll allow the change to flow . . . like water. Be the water my friends:

We’re in a Recession: Is your business screwed?

2008-12-08T12:39:00.000-08:00

Last week I featured Part 1 and 2 of this series.

Just a few months ago, I developed a business on eBay that was pretty lucrative for the first six months . . . until about October. You know October 2008, when the president appeared on all the TV screens and said we were royally screwed unless Congress OK’d a big government bailout for the failing banks. And then credit dried up. Then no one came to eBay to buy any of my stuff and all my products just sat there all sad and lonely. Yeah, THAT October 2008.

Anyway, before I shut down my eBay account, it occurred to me that I had more power than I credited myself with. You see, I had customers (about 500 customers) that I could tap into. And guess what, even more amazing – I had their mailing and e-mail addresses.

And then this even bigger idea came to mind. Instead of letting eBay get my customers for me, perhaps – just perhaps – I should work at getting some of my previous customers to come look at my auctions. You know, ACTIVELY court and market to the people that were satisfied with my service and products. Wow! So, I created a database of 500 people, contacted them through e-mail and my sells picked up. Imagine that!

How did I do that? Well good friend I just changed my thinking. No wait, I changed my whole mental direction . . . like I was Bruce Lee talking about . . . water:

Look for part 4, later this week!

New Social Site, Meet Interesting People!

2008-12-06T06:40:00.000-08:00

Visit Sta.rtUp.Biz - The Small Business Social Network

Don't be shy, meet interesting new people with new ideas. Surround yourself with success! All the millionaire books say that it is the best way to gain riches. Want to be rich, get some rich or successful friends.

We’re in a recession and you’re job hunting – you’re screwed right? (Part 2)

2008-12-04T12:31:00.000-08:00

If you haven't done it yet, please read part 1 of this article.

I, like about 1.25 million people in America, am looking for a job.

But in a recession, it’s important that you hunt and apply for a particular sort of job. Instead of getting a job in, say the dead industries: construction, real estate or banking. Maybe you should look around the job vacancies of public utilities, good companies like grocery store chains, Green Technology companies . . . you know the companies that produce products that everyone still spends money on – water, gas, electricity, food, and alternative fuels.

Wow, look at that a whole set of recession-proof jobs I can apply to. And if you don’t have the skill-set to apply to the jobs in these recession proof industries – then get them. Online classes, adult classes, university extension courses, the “library.” You’re out of work anyway, do something constructive, get the training, get educated and start fresh.

Remember . . . be like the water:

OK, you are going to hate me . . .

2008-12-03T09:58:00.000-08:00

Please, if you are a subscriber to my blog. Don't unsubscribe me in the next 48 hours -- because . . . well, you are going to hate me.

See, I'm going to play catch up.

Though I haven't posted in a while . . . I didn't stop writing. In fact, I have over 6 months worth of stuff that I wrote and didn't post.

Yeah, sue me. I was making money.

Anyway, it's time to post all those things up and you'll probably get lots of updated e-mail notices saying Telecommuting Millionaire? has a new post up - like every few minutes. And you'll probably get really mad at me.

Don't.

Just ignore me for the next couple of days, ok?

Thanks, you're a peach!

(This message will be removed when I finish updating).

THIS is our problem . . . thanks Pete!

2008-12-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

This was our problem everyone. This is why we are in the mess we are in. Holla' if you disagree. I like Pete's music on this video by the way.

For more great information, check out Pete the Planner's Website. He's great!

Telecommuting Jobs for Week of 12/02/08

2008-12-02T12:00:00.000-08:00

As you guys may know, I'm looking for employment. Yeah, it's a really bad time to do that -- but hey, what can you do. I need a job.

Anyway, I thought since I've been looking for a job and I come across positions that I won't apply for, I thought I'd share them with you. In hopes that somehow I make a difference in this crazy economic situation we are all in.

I'll try to do this weekly until I find a job for myself. Let me know if there is a particular "type" of job that I should keep my eyes open for. Good luck in your search . . .

Ad Sales Executive (Boston - South)

About.com Seeks Health Professionals as Writers

About.com Seeks Sports Journalists

Account Exec. for Cigar Mag - Fun, Flexible, and Lucrative (ATL)

Casual Game Programmer - Contract Position

Curriculum Writers for High School Business Courses (SF Bay Area)

Director of Engineering
Freelance Flash Designer (Portland)

Information Security Engineer (San Francisco)

Internet Marketing Apprentice CHALLENGE (San Francisco)

Lifestyle Writer for 50+ Audience (Boston)

Medical Writers and Editors

Native Spanish Speakers Needed

Regional Account Executie (Midwest/South Central)

Regional Sales Manager - bilingual English/Spanish (LA based)

Reliable Website/Graphics Designer Needed ASAP (Atlanta)

Retail Web designer needed (Atlanta, GA )

Seminar Scheduler - PART TIME (San Francisco)

Senior ITIL/ITSM Consultant (West Coast)

T-shirt designers needed!

Website and Flash Designer Needed for a Short Project

It’s official we’re in a recession – OK, so we’re screwed, right?

2008-12-01T11:52:00.000-08:00

Wrong!

Just because we are experiencing a bad economy – scratch that – a recession does not mean you can not make money. It just means that money isn’t flowing as freely as it did before. In the recent past, money (or may I say credit) was effortless. People was throwing it at you and you were throwing it right back out, getting the things you wanted . . . brand-named clothes, new gadgets, shiney cars, pretty fingernail tips . . . well, that’s over.

Okay, that’s the bad news.

The good news is, money (actual money) can still be made. The wonderful thing about a recession is, when you make money this time, you have incentive to SAVE (actually KEEP some of the money you earn).

Wait. So, how do you gain money if people are clutching their money tighter than a pair of skinny jeans on a 15-year-old at a Kanye West concert?

The fact of the matter is, people still need to spend money. Maybe not on frivolous stuff like 72 inch flat-screen TVs or $300 hand-held devices that purr when you pet it – yeah, they may not be spending on those things. But there still are basics like clothes, food, shelter, transportation, heat/light/water. You know, the things that keep you and me alive. Somehow, you need to become an integral part of “the things that keep us alive” – the basics that we will purchase, even in bad economic times.

How do we do this? Well first of all you have to change your thinking or better yet, change your whole mental direction.

As the Great Bruce Lee says . . . be like Wah-tah! (water)

Part 2, 3 and 4 coming this week

If SHE can save, I can save . . .

2008-11-29T11:10:00.000-08:00

Trying to find the motivation to continue saving money, when live is always getting in the way? You know how it works. You save up $500 and you pat yourself on the back because you finally did it . . . you have money in a account . . . "savings." Then, your 2 tires go flat. Or you backed into a pole. Or you kids needs braces. And just like [snap] the money that took three whole months to save is gone. What's the use?

Then I come across articles like this.

Laxmi Das says she has been saving the coins since she started
begging more than 40 years ago as a disabled child because of an early
attack of polio.
"I saved for the days when I cannot beg," she told the BBC.

Indian beggar saved for 40 years.

Now seriously, doesn't this woman put all of us to shame when we say we just can't manage to save any money?

5 Millionaire Secrets - Homeless to Millions

2008-11-28T07:06:00.000-08:00

Okay, I like this woman. I'm going to be reading up and listening to a lot of her stuff. Interesting to see what she's got going on.

If you know of any other people like her, give a shout and let us know!

Instead of talking to your kids about credit cards - BECOME VISA!

2008-11-01T11:49:00.000-07:00

I'm going to admit it the sad truth. I'll be talking to my kids about major important stuff, stuff they must learn, stuff that will make them or break them in their adult life -- like credit cards. But, in the middle of my speech . . . in my own head . . . I hear my voice slowly turning into the Charlie Brown adult voice: "Wah, wah-wah, wah, wah-wah, wah . . ."

Man, if that's what my own voice sounds like to me, I can't imagine what type of information my kids are getting from my "sage words of wisdom." And let's face it, 6th Grade and credit cards just don't mix well - seriously. Not when the latest Marvel Comic is in LIVE ACTION at the movies this weekend.

So what's the best way to teach your kids about credit cards and the dark hole they can dig themselves into when they cross over to the "dark side." (You know you've crossed over to the dark side when you apply for that credit card and get that plastic, right?)

Well, the best way to teach your kids about credit, is to give your kid a credit card. Yes, seriously. I gave each of my kids credit cards. But the catch was (cause there is always a catch) -- I became VISA. I've always wanted to be a banking giant.

Here's the break down of this learning exercise:

STEP 1. They work HARD for the money . . .

First, you must give your children a way to earn money. I set up a system where I list things I need done around the house and how much it pays . . . the list looks like:

1. Break down all the boxes in the garage and set up for Recycling . . . $6
2. Clean all the bathrooms . . . $15
3. Clean out the pantry and organize food stuff . . . $7
4. Clean out the refrigerator and make list of needed groceries . . . $15
5. Weed the entire backyard . . . $20
6. Go through all closets and clean out/put giveaways in boxes . . . $25

The list is prominently display on the refrigerator for all to see. The list changes bi-monthly. The rule is that you can't just take up a job. You must first be "hired" for the job. Which involves a quick written agreement outlining:

(1) exactly what I want done, (2) the agreed amount of compensation (salary) if successfully completed, (3) signature from both parties. (4) when the task is finished there is a final signed evaluation from supervisor (me or their father).

Good evaluations produces the entire compensation as agreed via signed contract. Poor performing and bad evaluations get a percentage of compensation (usually 50%).

Payment is made at the end of the week via an envelope of cash (this envelope has written information on it -- we'll talk about this on another post).

STEP 2. Don't leave home without it . . .

Meanwhile, before each child receives their paycheck/envelope, they would like cash for the movies, the mall, etc. Great, that's where their credit cards come in.

I sit each kid down and go over the CREDIT CARD agreement with them. Let them know that they can borrow from me (VISA), as long as they pay me back using their earnings. I carefully explain to them about minimum payments, interest rates, and maximum limits, etc. And I watch their eyes glaze over -- much like today's adult credit card holder.

Their eyes quickly un-glaze and sparkle when I slap the card in their hand. Each kid gets a credit card with their name on it. I tell them, again that they can borrow from me at any time. I give them a written document outlining everything I told them about minimum payments, limits, fees, charges etc.

When they need to borrow money from their earnings, they give me their credit card and I jot down next to their credit card number the amount and the date of the charge. And tally their charges and interest into a billing statement.

Step 3: The joy of pay-day and the agony of bills . . .

So at the end of the week, I give each kid two things. Their pay envelope with cold hard cash and their credit card bill due immediately. You should hear the gasps and moans. You should hear the urgent demands to now explain all those things that made their eyes glaze over just a few days ago.

Miraculously, they want to know all about MINIMUM payments, ACCOUNT balances, interest RATES, finance CHARGES (because they always overspend their limit, you know) and ultimately . . . (two or three weeks later) why their balance goes up even if they haven't charged anything and made payments each week!

It's amazing how math skills get so much sharper when it deals with labor and money. And quickly, your kids begin to realize how much labor it takes to get out of debt. A lesson most people learn in their 20s or 30s.

So, yeah you can sit down and talk to your kids about credit cards -- and watch the slow eye glazing affect your words have. Or you can take a little bit more effort to show them what credit is all about.

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This article was first featured in Real Life Debt Blog under my "writer's name," Rosalind Mays. So don't get your panties in a bunch. I didn't copy someone else's work.
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News Flash! Hey guys I recently found out that my article was featured in MSN Money's Smart Spending Blog! Can you believe? They like me!

Why do I love Craigslist? Let me count the ways . . .

2008-07-31T10:37:00.000-07:00

1. Craigslist has allowed me to work from home and still take care of my small children. My last 6 clients/jobs I’ve found was through Craigslist Job Listings. Thanks Craigslist for allowing me to make a living and feed my kids!

2. Craigslist helps me sell my book and prove my arguments . . . I’ve written a book called “The Real Deal on Telecommuting” and my website allows me to help the would-be-telecommuters find legitimate jobs and avoid scams. The first website I direct those job hunters to? . . . Craigslist Job Listing (telecommuting button marked). Thanks Craigslist for showing my readers that there are legitimate places to find work-at-home jobs and giving me the credibility I need to sell books!

3. By becoming addicted to the Housing Discussion Forum, I realized it was time to sale my house in 2005 and rent for a while – now I have a six-figure savings account, no mortgage and thanks to the jobs I found on Craigslist (see #1), no debt. Thanks Craigslist for helping me profit for the housing bubble and the impending economic crisis!

4. Craigslist helped me find the house I live in right now. I found this 5 bedroom, 3 bathroom house in a great neighborhood, through Craigslist . . . Thanks Craigslist for the best landlord ever!

5. I furnished said house that I now live in through Craigslist’s furniture for sale listings. Thanks Craigslist for the best 6-piece all-wood dining room set.

6. Craigslist has helped me find the car I drive. Got the greatest deal on a 2003 Mini-Van I found through Craigslist. Thanks Craigslist for my safe and luxurious ride!

7. My side business is on E-bay. This side-business has flourished because of the items I purchase through estate sales, yard sales and public storage sales announced by Craigslist. Thanks Craigslist for allowing me to make even more money!

8. Craigslist’s local news and event section helps me keep my two blogs running smoothly. If I want to know what’s going on in my area I simply visit here. It also gives me ideas for articles. Thanks Craigslist for being my blogging muse!

9. Craigslist has helped me keep my jobs/clients by providing client satisfaction. My main business is in promotion. I’m often given the task of promoting events and businesses. I have had great success with my clients because I promote their events through Craigslist. Thanks Craigslist for satisfying my customers!

10. I have met two very-well connected and influential individuals (who I would have never meet otherwise) through my involvement in discussion groups with Craigslist. Thanks Craigslist for connecting me with the right people.

11. And lastly, when I am depressed and need a good boost, Craigslist makes me laugh at life with the BEST OF CRAIGSLIST (my favorite area) . . . which always helps me to laugh at myself and life in general. Thanks Craigslist for the smiles -- and many times, the all out belly-aching laughs).

Now you tell me, what would I do without Craigslist?

Membership has it's advantages

2008-07-09T15:04:00.001-07:00

Had no idea that all the work I've been doing around the Interwebs had a name and a title: Social Networking. Well here I am, claiming it all I'm a Social Network Addict. I love getting to know people, networking and creating content. So there, I admit it.

View my page on Marketing 2.0

Wealth - What is it really?

2008-06-24T13:06:00.000-07:00

Just to let you know, I am a researcher. I am in complete heaven when I take a topic (such as wealth) and research the hell out of it. Weeks can go by and I am content learning, more and more and more about a particular subject. This happened recently when I decided to learn about the topic of wealth, and in my searching, I've gained some wonderful insights that I would like to share with you.

My mind-set in the beginning: Wealth = a whole lot of money.

Which turned into: "Having a plentiful supply of material goods and money" (http://wordnet.princeton.edu)

Which became: "The value of one's total possessions and property rights." (www.ncbuy.com/credit/glossary.html)

Then: "The abundance of objects of value." (en.wikipedia.org)

Later: "Money is not wealth; the stuff money buys is wealth" (http://web2.airmail.net/scsr/Define5.htm)

And after that: "the quality of profuse abundance" (http://dict.die.net/wealth/)

Much later: "Wealth is the things that create an abundance of happiness"

And finally: Wealth is the abundance of all things that can make us happier. (Note the term happier). It is the abundance in ALL realms of life -- financial, emotional, physical, spiritual, etc. (telecommuting millionaire)

Wisdom was found in my journey -- and isn't that the point of all good journeys? And along the path to wisdom I found some really cool friends, people that see very clearly in this world that is muddled with "stuff", "obstacles," and "intentional blinders." And in their clear vision and sharing heart, they say things like:

Wealth is not money. Wealth is what money buys. (In a dark alley at night, would you rather have a ten-dollar flashlight, or a ten-dollar bill?) Money isn't wealth; it's a claim on wealth. Money is just the solvent that makes it easier to create, obtain, and exchange wealth. (Money I've earned is just a bunch of certificates that say I've created a certain amount of wealth, turned it over to others, but haven't yet acquired an equivalent amount of wealth produced by others. Money is a time-shifting mechanism. Money I've earned says, "This guy produced wealth of this value, but he hasn't exchanged it for an equivalent amount of wealth yet." )
What is Wealth? What is Growth?

" . . . the word wealth comes from the Old English words "weal" (well-being) and "th" (condition) which taken together means "the condition of well-being?" Did you also know that the word "economic" comes from the Greek oikonomia meaning "the management of the household." When have you heard a report from economists or business analysts talk about conditions of household living and management? Instead we have become immune to strong language like the word "mortgage" which literally means in French "a pledge unto death" or what I call "a grip of death!" How we have twisted the meaning of words."
The Meaning of Wealth by Mark Anielski
(warning: links to PDF file of the full article -- but it is an article worth reading!)

"Personally, I dont think being wealthy has too much to do about money. One can be money rich and spiritually a pauper, end result MISERABLE life. I have seen and met a lot of people who had barely enough for daily needs but were happy and there were people who were rich and very unhappy."
Comment by Robin Bal on "What is Wealth" posted on SmartWealthyRich.com

Wealth is not measured by the size of houses, the speed of cars, the price of handbags, the trendy eateries and lounges frequented by celebrities, or the purity of the drugs that those who consider themselves fashionable funnel up their noses. That sort of wealth can be attained by simply being born the son or daughter of financially wealthy parents, climbing dirty ladders, or marrying someone.

Our acts determine our true wealth.
When someone says that they love you, and you know that they mean it to their very core, that there is no doubt in any cell in your entire body that they are unconditionally sincere – then you are wealthy.

Wealth by Matthewgood.org
(A MUST READ!)

It bears repeating: WEALTH = The abundance in ALL realms of life -- emotional, physical, mental, spiritual, and maybe as an afterthought . . . financial.

Collecting Change can change your life!

2008-06-23T07:30:00.000-07:00

Wow, I was not aware that so many people collect change in this world and how it has changed their lives -- often for the better. May goodness, I did some math the other day and if I had picked up and saved all the change that I encountered in my young life . . . I would already by a millionaire. I mean do the math . . .

Anyway, I'm devoting this post to all the bloggers out there that collect change and in that change, changed their lives and my life as well. Carry on my good people!

Thoughts from the Change Race

One Coin at a Time

The Changepot

Change is Good

Penny Squishing

Race of the Century

Piggy Bank

Believe it or not, ALOT of these people are actually FINDING $200 - $500 a year by just picking up coins on the street and in stores and what-not. Do you realize that if you picked up $200 a year and invested it in a safe money-market account giving 4.5% interest, you would have . . . $1,392 in five years. Five years of simply looking down and picking up change! Let's say you take that $1,392 and put it in a mutual fund gaining you 7% interest for the next five years (adding $200 a year in coins that you find). Within 10 years you now have $3,183. Now watch this . . . let's just say you keep it in there for another 5 years (adding $200 a year) -- $5, 695 . . . just from picking up pennies!

Over $5,000 in 15 years, just from picking up pennies and dimes and such? I can do that!

Dog-gone it Apple, quit tempting me with iPhones!

2008-06-09T16:52:00.000-07:00

Look, I'm trying to keep my nose to the grind stone. I'm working really hard to make my millionaire dreams come true. I'm saving every damn penny . . . sweating over this dog-gone keyboard . . . selling my soul to the devil. And then Apple does it to me again.

I saved exactly $300 from my efforts last month and then what do they do? Offer the iPhone for $199 . . . urghhhhhh! You KNOW I want an iPhone. You KNOW I do. Now, mean ole Apple has made web surfing faster, it has G3 network technology, it's got even cooler new applications and GOOGLE geo-maps to put the period on the sentence . . . DAMN. This is so unfair.

Seriously, the only thing stopping me from pre-paying for a new iPhone in July is the rumors that AT&T's price for data service may be the same or "more" than Blackberry users and I can't even think of affording that cost right now.

[Sigh] Oh well, maybe Google's Android (their new phone coming out soon) will give me an alternative . . . but I really want an iPhone damn it.

Tallying my GAINS for April-May 2008

2008-06-07T11:21:00.000-07:00

Okay, just in case you guys want to know and because it's only fair -- I'm going to outline my efforts to gain my millions and millions of dollars. I'm not listing gains from my actual "job" because that money is used to take care of family, household, etc. This list of gains strictly goes toward my millionaire dreams. So here it goes (rounded out for convenience).

eBay $400.00
Blogging & Writing $100.00
Advertising Revenue $35.00
Affiliate Revenue $39.00
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Total 2 Month Gain $574.00

I can hear you all saying, "Is that it?" All your work and you just made a measly 574 dollars? Well, yeah. It'll be more soon. Those that shoot me down because this experiment has started off slow (and feels like it will forever remain slow) obviously are oblivious to the concept of exponential growth.

[For those of you that have no clue what exponential growth is . . . hold on, I'll have an explanation about this type of growth in another post. Stay tuned.]

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You can make this blog better. Tell me what types of topics you want me to focus on. I'll be happy to write about things that actually help and entertain you. Or drop me a line at telemill at gmail. [You know what to do to send the e-mail, right?]

There is no 12-step eBay addiction program

2008-06-02T10:46:00.000-07:00

eBay has everything, except a 12 Step eBay Addiction Program. If there was one, I'd enlist my husband in it. No matter what I do, I can't get him to stop shopping from eBay and spending money that I think would be better suited to paying down credit card debt or better yet, paying into an investment program.

So, me being a creative little thing -- and knowing that there is no way my husband will stop -- I began collecting all the things in the house that we did not want (which was a lot of stuff -- I had no idea we had so much stuff). And began selling it on eBay to offset my husband's eBay obsession.

Guess what . . . now I'm addicted to eBay, as a seller. I'm selling things left and right. Things I never thought would sell, are snatched up for what I feel are ridiculous prices. I have friends over-seas now . . . customers that drop me a line to see how I'm doing . . .a mailing list with over 100 people waiting for my next auction to come up . . . and an obsessive goal to have over 1,000 listing up at one time.

I've far outpaced my husband's eBay spending and make enough money for his "habit," many of our monthly bills, and gas for the car. A couple more months of sleepless nights -- I can't sleep because I have to check on my auction's bidding amounts at least once an hour -- and we'll be out of debt.

I have piles and piles of stuff I'm selling all through the house. My relatives have truck-loads of stuff in their closets and are gleefully happy to dump it all on me -- as long as they can get rid of it. Now, my husband is complaining that I eBay to much. Payback is a mother, huh?

Signed,
the Queen of Passive-Aggressive।

*** Though I'm making fun of this topic, there are people that have a serious problem with eBay addiction. There are people actually losing their jobs because of their fascination with eBay. Actually, there is help out there for people who just can't stop eBaying -- if you or someone you know have this type of problem and need actual help, visit NetAddiction to learn more.