Entry #10: Start getting ahead!!

Hello!

I hope you all had a wonderful week and weekend. 

Today we are going to be talking about something near and dear to my heart. Being average. 

Being average is something I've always feared. If you have been reading this blog for the past couple of months, you probably have that same fear.

But... there is nothing wrong with being an average Joe. 

Average is alright. It gets by and pays the bills. But maybe you want more, like me. You want to stop being average but you just don't know where to start. If that's the case, here's a couple of things you could do to start the long process of becoming more than just the average Joe. 

Here’s How to Stop Being One of the Average Joes

1. Start paying off your debts!

It's no surprise that the average American is in debt. Most families are in debt due to mortgages, but there are tons of families that have credit card debt, student loans, car payments... the list goes on. The first step is to get out of debt. This might take a while, but just starting this process is a solid start. One of the best ways to get out of debt is to make a budget! Write down all of your bills and expenses and live within your limits. You go to sleep at night with ease knowing where all of your money is going!

2. Look into investing

Only about half of Americans currently invest their money. A huge step into becoming successful in making your money work for you! Investing is an amazing thing you can do for your future. If you've never done this before, it can be really scary. Thanks to modern-day technology, there are many ways you can start without having to be the next Wolf on Wallstreet. There are so many apps that you can download on your phone, and start investing right this second! Just make sure the app is safe of course. Here are the best 7 investing apps last year if you are interested. 

3. Get insurance!

Insurance is a thing that everyone knows is super important, but not a lot of people actually get. The average person does not plan for the worst that could happen, due to this, they are often left stranded or leave their family with massive bills and stress! If you were to pass away today, would your family make it the next couple of months without any income? Would they have to drop what they are doing to get jobs to pay for YOUR bills? If you want to be successful in this life, and while you're gone... you need insurance. 

4. Don't waste your own time

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. DO NOT waste your time binge-watching Netflix! It's not a crime, but seriously, monitor your relaxation time. If you spend more than half of your day for, "me-time" then you are doing it wrong. Be productive, work, study, read a book. Imagine you are in a video-game and you are a character. Your stats are lowering while you relax, you need to do something worth-while to get them back up! Go on quests with valuable rewards. Don't be a bad video game character, do something productive and monitor how much you relax. 

 5. Give back

I'm sure we have all seen this pyramid at one point in our lives. The top of Maslow's Hierarchy of needs is Transcendence. Reach Transcendence. One day, (after I finally get out of the second level), I will hopefully do this. Help others. Being above the average Joe doesn't mean buying a private island and bringing celebrities/politicians there on your private jet. The average is selfish and only concerned with their own needs. You need to give back before your success gets to your head. Find yourself a charity that means something to you, or just go wander the streets and help those that are in need. There are tons of different charities and organizations that you can donate to. Not only money, but your time could help those in need as well. There are also a ton of volunteer opportunities you can find if you look hard enough in your local area. Here are some charities that support a good cause. 

Remember, being average is ok. Average people are typically very happy with their lives! But if something deep inside you is telling you to do better. Then you should listen to that little feeling. You could be a name to remember, and do something great with your life. 

Have a great week everyone!

Entry #9: The price of food and why it's terrible

Hello!

I hope you had a wonderful weekend! 

Today we're going to be talking about a very important topic that affects many people in this great country. First, I want you to take a look at this popular internet "meme" and take about a minute to take it all in. 

Alright.. so food is the topic. Specifically, the price of food. If you don't understand the "meme", let me explain it a little more in-depth for you. So, the photo is a shopping-cart with about 10 items or so from the grocery store, Whole Foods. This grocery store is known for having mostly organic, healthy food. The text: 

"Whole Foods be like ... your total is $198.22"

Funny right? It's funny because it's true! but why is it true? Why is it that healthy food is SO much more expensive than unhealthy food?

Go ahead, walk into any fast-food chain. They will have deals and specials on cheeseburgers, chicken wings, milkshakes but almost EVERY time there is no deal/special on something healthy! Go to Mcdonalds and you will see that one single dollar USD, can get you a cheeseburger, or chicken nuggets, or a chicken sandwich. Guess what you can't afford? A side salad!

It really is ridiculous. We as Americans, have one thing to blame. Money!

The one single reason that this is the way it is, is because of money. HUGE companies have invested HUGE amounts of money into the infrastructure that supports the mass production of unhealthy food. and guess what? It works. Multi-billion dollar companies make vast amounts of money each year by selling Americans garbage. 

In a perfect world, hopefully, one day.. the same technology and effort that we put into this mass production of bad food will be put into good food instead. 

I know there are many counter-arguments to this and other opinions, but I'm sure all sides can agree on one thing: healthy food should be more accessible and fast-food should not be a staple in America's diet!

Start your week by looking at the prices of food. You will realize how ridiculous it is that our country has gotten to this point. 

Thanks for reading, and have a great week!

Entry #8: Why you should hire a United States Marine NOW!

Hello!

Happy Veteran's day.

Thank you Veterans for the cost you paid for our freedom, the freedom to live in safety and pursue happiness, freedom of speech, and for all the freedoms that we daily take for granted.

Now, if you all didn't know by now, I myself am a Veteran. I served in the United States Marine Corps from April of 2015 to April 2019. You can thank me by reading this blog and leaving amazing constructive comments. 

Today's entry is specifically about why you, as a future (or present) successful business owner/employer/manager... should hire Veterans! Veterans are a different breed of people. I can't speak for all branches of the military, but I can speak on the Marine Corps. I would hire every single Marine I ever met. Now.. some may be a little rough around the edges. Curse words are a part of the dictionary for the Marine Corps. Some may attempt to turn your business model into a 5 paragraph order (if you know, you know). You also might see your Marine employees use an excessive amount of chewing tobacco and smoke a pack of cigarettes a day, but this is normal. Besides that, YOU WANT Marines in your company, and I will tell you why. 

5 HUGE reasons you should hire a Marine!

1. Leadership

Marines make amazing leaders. Leadership is engraved in every single Marine's brain since boot camp. No matter what your future Veterans job in the military was, from the basic Motor-T Mechanic to the valiant, fearless Infantryman, solid leadership was what made that unit successful. Here's the Marine Corps principles of leadership if you're interested. 

2. Professional Appearance 

Marines ALWAYS look good. Every single weekend while I was in the Marine Corps, I spent over 20 minutes out of my precious day to wait in line to get a 2 minute medium or low fade haircut at my local barbershop. If you didn't have a haircut by P.T. formation come Monday morning, you were screwed. Uniform inspections almost every week, discrepancies found had to be fixed by the following day. Even while not working, there was always a standard on what to wear out in the "civilian world" No gym shorts, or tank tops while not at the gym or beach. No rips in jeans and ALWAYS WEAR A BELT. You won't have to worry about your future warrior not shaving or looking a like a mess at your company meeting. Here's the Marine Corps uniform regulation if you're interested. 

3. Responsibility

(Picture unrelated... or is it?) Marines are responsible. Three words: Fifteen. Minutes. Prior. Marines are ALWAYS expected to be 15 minutes early to a timeline otherwise, they are late. You have formation at 0600 sharp. Your Platoon Sergeant tells you to be there at 0545 to make Gunny happy. Your Squad Leader says that he/she "implores" you to be there at 0530. Your Team Leader then tells you to be there at 0515, so you BETTER be there by 0500 for that 0600 formation, rah? Marines are always accountable and responsible for themselves and their actions, thus making a great asset to your company.

4. Integrity

Integrity, as defined by the Marine Corps, means that you are honest and truthful in what you say or do. Having integrity means that you put honesty, sense of duty, and sound moral principles above all else. Marines are taught integrity in boot camp, and many Marines have this core characteristics tested in many ways throughout their career. Integrity is vital in the Marine Corps, and in business. 

5. Semper Fidelis

Semper Fidelis means Always faithful, and is the Marine Corps' motto. You won't find anyone more loyal than a Marine and that is a fact. Semper Fidelis means being faithful to your country, to the Marine Corps, but most importantly, to your brother and sister Marines. Not just for your 4-year enlistment, or your 20 year career. If you do it right, becoming a Marine changes who you are. The spirit of the Corps, and the Marines who came before us is indelibly etched into our souls. That is what Semper Fidelis means, and you can think of the multitude of ways it can enhance your business having a Marine in your office, on your own. 

Have a great week everyone!

Entry #7: WHAT are you eating??

Happy Monday!

Welcome back to the most important part of your day, reading this amazing blog! Today, you're going to be reading about something VERY important. To start off, I want you think about these questions:

What did you eat today? 

Did you have a typical breakfast, lunch, dinner type of schedule?

Do you eat randomly, or at different times every day?

Do you know what is in your food?

Yummy, right??

This weekend, I watched a documentary. The approximate hour and a half I spent watching this made me really start thinking. I eat food I think is healthy, when in reality, MOST of it really isn't.
I don't think of where the food I eat comes from, WHATSOEVER. I don't put one single ounce of thought into who made this, where it came from, or the effect it has on my body. I mean, I eat healthy, but I don't really care. I eat fast food just like any other average American. This film truly has made me change my thought process, and I think it will do the same for you. Food is fuel. Would you put diesel in your gasoline driven car? I don't think so. Watch this documentary, and you will have some food for thought this week.

The documentary, Fresh, shows us the farmers, thinkers and business people across America who are re-creating our food system. Each having experienced the CRAZY transformation of our agriculture into an industrial model, and confronted the consequences: contamination, pollution, depletion of natural resources, and obesity. Creating healthier, sustainable alternatives, they offer a new vision for a future of our food and our country. Featuring urban farmer and activist, Will Allen, the recipient of MacArthur's 2008 Genius Award; sustainable farmer and entrepreneur, Joel Salatin, and supermarket owner, David Ball. 

Secret for success #352, know what you put into your body. 

Maybe instead of watching football this weekend, give this film a shot. It could change your life!

Have a great week everyone, thanks for reading!

Entry #6: Beans of Success

Welcome back!

If you're reading this in the morning, there is a 95 percent chance you have a cup of coffee next to you. Today, we are going to talk about 5 reasons coffee is an important and some might say vital part of becoming a successful human being. 

Now, I'm not talking about a venti (large) caramel frapuccino with 5 shots of your life is boring, calorie increasing chocolate chips, and you can't forget that espresso shot to get you HYPED to go binge-watch Netflix while you get a little closer to death. 

No... I'm talking about a simple cup of black coffee. This is purely based on my own opinion, if you drink $5 Starbucks coffee then good on you, I guess. If you enjoy the simple things in life like drinking a cup while getting ready for a hard day of work, or on a Sunday evening in late October before an assignment is due, then read these 5 benefits that a classic cup of joe can do for you. 

*If you understand the reference from the GIF, you might have a binge-watching problem and should seek compensation.

1. Decrease your risk of Type-2 Diabetes

Type 2 diabetes is a condition which occurs when your body either doesn’t produce enough insulin or it resists insulin. Many studies point to a decreased risk of Type 2 Diabetes with daily coffee consumption. One Harvard study even found that a person’s risk for Type 2 Diabetes decreased by 9% with every daily cup of coffee they consumed. 

2. Helps your workouts

Research suggests that caffeine intake prior to a workout helps improve your performance and train longer and harder. Drink a cup in the morning, workout BEFORE you eat breakfast. Studies have been done showing that in men, those who workout before eating in the morning can burn twice the amount of fat than those who workout after they eat.

3. Protects your liver

If you are like me and celebrate on the weekends after a long work/school week with a healthy amount of alcohol consumption (1 drink per hour followed by an hour of drinking water and an episode of Cops to remind you the dangers of alcohol, of course) then this might be a life saving tip. Coffee drinkers have a decreased risk of cirrhosis of the liver, scarring of the liver which can lead to liver failure in some cases. Drinking just 2 cups per day has been shown to reduce the risk of cirrhosis by as much as 43%.

4. Reduces risk of stroke

15 million people A YEAR suffer a stroke. Your daily cup of joe' can cut your risk of stroke. Data from several studies has suggested that drinking at least 2 cups of coffee a day can decrease your risk of stroke by up to 14% when compared to not drinking any coffee at all.

5. Helps you look really, really cool

Who is the epitome of cool? That's right, Elvis. Thank you, thank you very much. 

Entry #5: Advertisement Mayhem

Happy Sunday! 

No matter what business you are in, THIS ADVERTISEMENT should be influence you or your company's business model in advertising. Before watching this ad, think about the audience that Allstate is directing this towards, what the purpose is behind it, the tone/voice they succeeded in portraying, and overall, the structure that was utilized.

A little background info on Allstate for those interested, Allstate is an American insurance company that is based in the U.S. The company has personal lines insurance operations in Canada was well. Founded in 1931 as part of Sears and spun off in the early 90's.

Last year, their total revenue was $39.8 BILLION. Ranked 79th in the Fortune 500 list of the largest United States corporations by total revenue, so basically this means PAY ATTENTION.

Also, check out their advertising/sponsor pages on their website.

https://www.allstate.com/advertising.aspx

https://www.allstate.com/national-sponsorships/main.aspx

Audience

So first of all, let's determine who this advertisement is directed to. 

"I'm a filthy rich executive, I hear the market's down a million points. I freak out. (yelling) I spill my large espresso, the searing pain makes me slam on the brakes. Uh-oh, your fault. Your cut-rate insurance may not cover my $90,000 car so I sue you, cause' that's what I do. So get Allstate, you can save money and be better protected by Mayhem, like me."

Simple, yet so DARN EFFECTIVE. So.. who was this ad made for? The filthy rich exec. like myself and those reading will hopefully be some day? or the young teen in his lowered 97' Honda Civic like this one who just ran in to this man? (I know the teen in the video is driving a Nissan Xterra, but still)

The answer is the proud Honda Civic owner, obviously. Who wants to get sued? Not me. This ad does a great job of portraying the cocky, mean business exec. that most teenagers/young adults would absolutely HATE to crash their car into. 

Purpose

I mean, come on. The purpose of this ad is to obviously make people who need insurance to do business with Allstate rather than their rival companies, right? This should be very obvious everyone. No need to complicate everything, money is the purpose!

Tone/Voice

Okay, this one is actually very important regarding this ad. The tone used here was done perfectly. Whoever constructed the Mayhem campaign for Allstate deserves a raise. Sarcasm and humor was used by the book. 

"Your cut-rate insurance may not cover my $90,000 car so I sue you, cause' that's what I do"

Cause' that's what I do! Stereotyping rich business people is the RIGHT thing to do when targeting your ad towards the American youth who needs car insurance! 

Dean Winters is the actor in the ad, and did a wonderful job at portraying this. Face already bandaged, hot large espresso ready to spill at a moments notice, in a SUIT, driving a typical rich-guy car, and his literal tone of voice perfect for the job.

Structure

Beginning, middle, end. Just kidding, but really. At only 30 seconds long (like most ads), there really is not much to say about the structure.

This ad starts out with Dean Winters in the said typical rich-guy car, listening to the radio (maybe) hearing that the market went down a million points. He freaks out, spills his coffee. Ultimately, the car accident is his fault, but he's rich! He can sue whoever exposed him to this personal traumatic event for his whole 97' Honda Civic neon light fund! The ad shows the young driver, looking very disappointed as most would be. 

Probably the most important thing to note about the structure of advertisements is in the last 5 seconds. The last 5 seconds of this ad has the famous Dennis Haysbert, saying by far one of most recognizable sayings in America, "Are you in good hands?" When hearing this, viewers are reminded that they most likely pay far too much for insurance and should probably go over their policy, and possibly take another look at their budget.


Are you in good hands?

Are you actually though?

Have a great week!

Entry #3: Zesty Success

     Whether it be in my water, with tacos on a Tuesday or just with salt alone, these little yellow fruits are a must have for every occasion. I have always loved the sour taste of these soft yellow slices. You always know what to expect, that weird, instant zap feeling once you get a good mouthful. You can’t help but to close your eyes and make that “sour face”. I love to get a whole one of these little bad boys and cut it in half. Then, I sprinkle some salt and lick away to my heart’s content. There is something weirdly addictive about its tangy, acidic taste that I just absolutely love. After all the juice is squeezed out, I turn it inside out and eat it completely, leaving nothing but the empty half of a peel. The zesty overwhelming taste of the tear-shaped fruit is by far one of my favorite childhood memories. My mother would let my siblings and I pick them from our trees in the backyard. We would compete to see who could get the most. Of course, I would always win. A trend that would continue for the rest of my life.

      How does this relate to success you ask? Next time you’re at a business meeting, job interview, or just at your local coffee shop reading your daily dose of your own Twitter feed. Ask for one of these wedged on your glass of water. You’ll look like you have experience and want something a little more in life. Zesty Success.

Click here if you want some zesty success in your life, 11 benefits of having this mysterious fruit in your water.