Write Your Content Properly

Photo Credit: Library of Congress

I read with interest on forums when people write about wanting to make money by writing a blog. What I find the most interesting is that they will write a whole paragraph with no punctuation, misspellings through out, and very bad grammar. How can that person be serious about writing for money or even for having others come to their blog and want to follow it? Sure we make a typing error or misspell a word........but not every time! Not through out our whole blog! If I did that I'd be embarrassed to publish it or especially for other people to read it.

Spelling should be a "no brainer" with all the computer writing programs having spell check. I can see immediately that I have misspelled a word. In fact, some words stand out to me if they are not correct. How many emails do you receive with someone wanting to sell you something but is full of misspelling and very bad grammar? If you want to sell me something, I don't care what country you are from...........you better learn to write in English properly or you will not get my business!

If you picked up a book and it was full of misspelled words and had no sentences or paragraphs, wouldn't you find it hard to read? I always pick out the misspellings in any book or any website. It just comes to me. I worked a job once in Clearwater, FL that was proofreading telephone books. I loved it! The designers dreaded me getting their ads. To this day, I pride myself on finding those mistakes.

Remember if you are trying to write a blog or a website or even emails, you want to make an impression with what you put down in text. If you make it hard to read, your readers will click away or they will delete your email. I know. I do it all the time. If you write your text with no paragraphs or make them real long and boring and hard to read.............no one is going to read them through! I look at notes on Face Book for example and they write them with no breaks or paragraphs between sentences. So I find them hard to read and cannot finish them. I might skim them at the most. Maybe it is my eyes as I have gotten older.

Then again, I know some people who have trouble with fonts that are too small or they are colored. I loved using the different colors for my writing until I met someone who could not read what I wrote due to her eye problems with colored font. So how many other people online have those same problems? She could not be the only one. I stick with black most of the time now.

The most important part of writing online is getting people to come to your site or blog and staying there to read it. To click to other pages or posts. To click the links you have set up for them. To spend some time with you. But if you make it hard for them they will leave in less than a second. That is not much time to make a good impression. So brush up on your writing skills. One other thing is that the more you write the better you will become. So spend some time on it and make it worth reading by your visitors. Good luck!

Copyright © 2010  Kathleen G. Lupole

The Root Of All Evil Is NOT Money!

Photo Source: Smithsonian Institution

If you work at something long enough you expect to have some kind of success. Somewhere along the line even if it is small successes. Hard work usually equals success. Right? Well, not always. We can work and work and then the economy goes downhill. Politics start effecting all facets of our lives. The political arena will often cause the financial downfall of it's citizens. Which I see happening presently. You have to change the way you think and live. You have to become independent, self-sufficient, self-reliant. I am not saying this to scare you but it is important to provide for yourself. Not depend on others to do it for you.

Even working a job is depending on someone else. Now if you have a business of your own that is fine, but you cannot have all your eggs in one basket. Have several different ways to bring money in. That way if one goes down the others are still there. That is what I refer to as "many streams of income". And that is what we all want. Sometimes one stream has a slow season and maybe two of the others are so-so, but another one is really streaming! Makes up for the others. They all go through these times.

Start putting aside a little bit of money. Even if it is only $5.00 a week, a month or whatever you can. Put it in a savings account or your paypal account or even in an envelope in your dresser drawer. Put it away regularly and do not touch it no matter what. And if you do touch it, replace what you took plus add more. Just see how fast you can increase it. Then you won't be wanting to touch it for any reason. I know of someone who puts any five dollar bill she gets in change away. She saves all the five dollar bills and won't spend them. It adds up pretty quickly. I knew someone who used to put all change in a jar and he'd use vending machines at his job and would purposely use bills and not the change so he could add the change to his change jar. There are many creative ways to save money. Try some of you own!

My plan is to not live cheaply, frugally or tightfisted the rest of my life. I want to enjoy life. I want to do what I want, when I want, and how I want. What is wrong with that? I am not going to say that I do not like money. I do. I have lived with it and without it. It is much nicer to have it. And to say the root of all evil is money is very wrong. It is not. It is what people do to get that money or what they do with it once they get it that makes it evil.

According to Wikipedia:


Root of all evil is a figure of speech denoting something that causes all wickedness or suffering. By extension, it may be applied to any cause of serious problems. The phrase derives from a saying attributed to Jesus in the Apostle Paul's First Epistle to Timothy in the New Testament: "The love of money is the root of all evil" (1 Timothy 6:10, KJV). The expression is commonly misquoted as simply "Money is the root of all evil". A more accurate rendering from the original Greek may be: "For the love of money is a root of all sorts of evil," (New American Standard Bible). This phrase may signify:

• Greed, the excessive love of money and other possessions.
• Money itself, and particularly wealth.

The Path To Freedom

Photo Source

Everyone is looking for money. Everyone is looking for an easy way to riches. Everyone is searching for a way to eliminate debt. People are struggling financially the world over. If you are not rich you are suffering from no freedom. Freedom is only available to people with the means to pay their own way. To pay for their own health care. To pay for their own food, housing, transportation, etc. What to do?

Not only do you have make a plan but you have to make the time. The time to educate yourself. Wisdom is the key to life. Remember when Solomon prayed to God for wisdom? The Lord liked that. So he rewarded him with a long life and much riches. God rewarded Abraham for persevering and traveling in the desert and  living in tents and just having the faith that God would bless him eventually. Which he did. 

I have the faith that if I believe...........then it will come to be. I believe that in all areas of my life. From financial to my health. So I know that one day I will be prospering and I want to share my wisdom with anyone who wants to prosper too. So please join me in this unbelievable journey.......you will be glad you did!

If I can accomplish my goals to financial freedom from here..........then you can too! Yes, you can. The first thing you need is a game plan or a map. As everyone is writing all over the internet, is that you can not travel anywhere without a map. You have to figure out where you want to go as well as how you want to go.

Dare to dream and dream BIG! Make a list of your dreams. If you have them written down you will remember them. You will see them every day if you put your list somewhere prominent........near your computer, on your refrigerator...........anywhere where you will see it and read it daily.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole

Goal #3 Is Preparation - Be Prepared!

Know where you are going........and how you are getting there!

Yesterday my husband and I were talking with my brother-in-law (BIL), and he was talking about buying a single family house to rent out. He hadn't even thought about what he would do if he could not get it rented for a few months or what he would do if the tenant moved out. There was so much he hadn't even thought of. It makes me see how many people start doing something like that and then give up because it seems daunting to them.

He brought up the fact that their aunt and uncle had owned a rental property in the past. They complained about the tenants not paying the rent or destroying the apartments. BIL was wondering about what you would do about those types of cases. I had just been talking about this to my husband the day before. I told him I plan on buying property that is not in an area of cheap homes or apartment buildings. Then I can charge rent that is in line with the rents in that area. That means that people who can afford those types of rents are usually the type of people who have pride in their homes or how they lead their lives. If you care about your credit rating you are not the type to not pay your rent.

Real estate investment is something I AM going to accomplish. I read about it daily. I research. I research more and more every day. I read books. I study real estate forums, articles and listings in my area almost daily. My BIL has no computer. He says he doesn't want one and he hates the fact that the library now has computerized the card catalog! Here is a perfect example of someone who has a little money in cds (certificates of desposit) and a money market account and will be getting a very small social security check in the near future. He will need to do something to live. But what?

I am not as prepared as I need and want to be. But at least I am working on it. And I know that you need a computer to be able to do it. If I had to go to a library to use a computer or did not know how to use a computer I would not be able to do it.  The computer is your tool, to teach everything you need to know. Otherwise, you'd have to take a class somewhere or go to a library to do research. It is amazing what you can learn online!

The Boy Scouts' motto of being prepared carries over to your financial life too. Prepare yourself so your finances are in order. You need to have a computer with internet access and know how to use it. Know how to find real estate forums in the search engines. Study the listings. Learn, learn, learn! You are never too old to learn. I like being self-taught, it seems that you know more that way.

Goal #3 Is Preparation - Be Prepared!

Little Step #1 - Make sure your computer skills are up to date.

Little Step #2 - Find good quality real estate forums and become a member and post.

Little Step #3 - Find a good source of online real estate articles.

Little Step #4 - Visit real estate listings in your area. Study them!

Little Step # 5 - Read books!

These steps I have accomplished. But I still keep striving for more preparation. I feel I am prepared on the real estate itself. Now I have to think about the financing part.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole

Goal #2 Is Organization!

Organizing starts with your computer!

I have made a change today. I had signed up for a MLM opportunity. I am not saying it is a bad opportunity or a good one. I canceled my account because it is not for me. MLM is just something I am not comfortable doing. It is for people who like to work as a team. I do not. Working alone or with just my husband is what I like to do. I think I can do other things I have in the works better. Since they are already started, it would seem that is the best way to go for me. Like I said, I am not putting MLM down it is just not my thing.

What I am doing though is working on my organization. Organizing your business, your office, your home is all part of success. I have been working on it for months now. I keep having to add more things to my list, as I keep thinking I almost at the end of the list and then ten more things get added to it.

So for me Goal #2 is Organization

Little Step #1 - Make a list of what needs organizing and put up a big calendar.

Little Step #2 - Business paperwork - such as taxes, permits, licenses, bank accounts, financials, legal, etc.

Little Step #2 - Organize your home office, your brief case, your Rolodex, etc.

Little Step #3 - Organize your home - get rid of clutter, papers, old magazines, old anything..........get rid of it!

Little Step #4 - Organize you vehicle - make sure your registration, insurance, anything you need is in it.

Little Step # 5 - Organize your purse, wallet and address book.

Little Step #6 - Organize that big calendar - make sure every date, bill or important note is on it.

I'd say that is a good start. I will probably think of more steps under this goal. You cannot be successful if you are not organized. My sister-in-law is the most organized woman or person I know! She always knows what she is doing at any given time. She can plan weddings, showers, family reunions, or anything, and makes them spectacular. She always sends out cards on birthdays, anniversaries or any occasion that warrants it . She is very loving and everyone who knows her loves her immediately. So because she is organized, it does not make her hard to get along with. I'd have to say, even though she is not a business woman, she is the person I look up to the most in this respect.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole

Think Big!

Freedom to do what I want when I want!

Goal #1 - Freedom to do what I want when and how I want. 


That is a big goal to try to reach. I know that. Donald Trump tells in his book to think big. I am struggling at this moment in time to do that. Have to keep that in my mind all the time. I think I will make a big sign to put on my wall that says 

T H I N K   B I G !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

Now that might work since I can see it all day long. I am also realistic enough to know I can't do something that would cost me thousands or millions of dollars if I don't have that much money. My "little steps" will lead to those types of deals or situations in the future. Just prod along till I get there. In my case though, I am going to be prodding along a little faster than most due to my age. But what I have come to realize in writing this is that my main objective in life should be Freedom to do what I want, when, and how I want. It should not be goal #1. The goals should be leading up to that. Just like the "little steps" should lead up to accomplishing each goal. 

So my list now looks like this:

Main Objective: Freedom to do what I want when and how I want.

Goal #1 - Educate myself to be able to do my first investment.
                Little Step #1 - Read Cashflow Quadrant.
                Little Step #2 - Study the real estate forums (for investors) that I belong to.

                Little Step #3 - Put up a sign that says: Think Big on the wall next to me.

                Little Step #4 - Find a way to generate at least $400. extra a month for next steps. 

                Little Step #5 - Put extra money on debts.

                Little Step #6 - Put extra money in savings toward first investment.

Okay, now I at least have a plan. It can be changed. It is not set in stone. It is my plan. But it gives me something to work for. Finding the extra money is my biggest hurdle. I need to work on my affiliate links that I have on my blogs. Have good ones that people will be interested in. Work on my new network marketing business, Global Domain International. Work on listing more books and other items on Bonanzle. Bonanzle is like eBay but better and friendlier. I have been listing books on there for the last couple of weeks. Put out more advertisements for my two websites on which I sell guitar strings. Had real good sales the last month. Hope it keeps going that well. 

Another way I am able to get more cash is by growing my own food in my garden. If the groceries cost me less than that is money in my pocket too. So those are things I am working on today and will write more about some of them in my next posts. In many ways, your present lifestyle can free up some cash to use for your investment fund or debt load. Then you can go back to living the way you want after you have your investments giving you that passive cashflow. 

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole

Little Step #2 Is Education

Are you living by the clock? Someone else's clock? Or your own?

As I told you in a previous post, I am working on my goals. My main goal is to have enough money to have FREEDOM to do whatever I want to do whenever I want to do it. Words like Freedom, Wisdom, Knowledge, Education all come to mind. They are all words that mean you know enough to have it all. When I speak of education I am not necessarily telling you to go back to school. Not at all. I am telling you to read books. Take classes or seminars that teach you what you need to know. How many people who are self taught become very wealthy? More than you know.

So my "little steps" will be to read books for education. Presently, I am reading aloud the Rich Dad Poor Dad Cashflow Quadrant - Rich Dad's Guide To Financial Freedom. I am getting a lot of information out of this book. I have read the first book, Rich Dad Poor Dad - What The Rich Teaches Their Kids About Money That The Poor Don't. I am learning the fact that having a job or being self-employed will not put me in the rich status I want. It will only help me if I educate myself to get out of this side of the quadrant (you have to read the book to understand the quadrant)  while I work that job or run my small business. I am self-employed running a small home based business.

What I am learning is that I need to make extra money somehow and put a percentage of that money on my debts and another percentage of that money in an account for investments. Then when I have enough money saved I can use that toward my first investment. Because of my age, 57, I need to do this as quickly as possible. I feel that time is not on my side in this. If you are younger you can take more time than I am, but it is best to do it as quickly as you can. Why waste time no matter what your age is?

So many people will say that they don't care about money. Money is not everything. Money is not important. Or how about this one "the root of all evil is money." Maybe so. But money is what we all need to live in this world  today. Money is what pays our bills. Money is what buys our food, pays for our medicine, pays for our dentist or vet bills. Money is what pays for our children's education or pays for the house we raise them in. We NEED it no matter what you or anyone else says about it. You can put money down all you want but you still need it. If not, then why do you give so many hours up of your life to do what someone else tells you to do for it? Be honest with yourself about it.

My list today is like this:

Goal #1 - Freedom to do what I want when and how I want.
                Little Step #1 - Read Cashflow Quadrant.
                Little Step #2 - Study the 2 real estate forums (for investors) that I belong to.

You can do that for today too. Then follow your little steps. I will elaborate more on those in my next post.

Copyright © 2010 Kathleen G. Lupole