Build Your Own RoadWritten by Jean Fritz
The country of Brazil is actively recruiting American farmers to relocate to prime growing area of Matto Grosso del Sol. The government’s enticements include easy financing opportunities, low labor costs, limited regulations imposed on land use, and a per-acre price of $17.00 USD. The downside – this area has no infrastructure, and purchaser would be required to build his / her own road in order to access their land, and outside world.Now, out of 10,000 people, 9,995 would be saying, “No way! Give me something more settled, proven, time-tested. I’ll gladly pay price to live in civilization.” And thank goodness for this majority – they are people who literally make industry in United States and elsewhere function on a daily basis. They are purveyors of GDP, and we hold them in high regard. However, there are 5 people thinking, “Build your own road! How cool is that?” These five people are destined to be entrepreneurs, and they are people whose efforts and chutzpah eventually push world forward. One of primary characteristics of an entrepreneur is ability to see opportunity where others see nothing more than hard work and potential loss. The entrepreneur realizes that greater risk in an investment, greater potential reward. Entrepreneurs learn to minimize losses by educating themselves about what actual risks are, and using resources of other people (capital and intellectual) to reduce or overcome those risks. The “hard work” part is relative – there are many employees who work hard, but gain very little in terms of reward. The entrepreneur is willing to work hard, delay gratification of reward for years, if necessary, in order to win big in end.
| | The Greatest Gift of All – The Gift of EmpowermentWritten by Joy Fisher-Sykes
During year, a variety of celebrations – birthdays, holidays, and other special occasions – call for a gift of some kind. We sometimes work ourselves into a frenzy trying to come up with “perfect gift.” The “perfect gift” is one that doesn’t wind up in bottom of a drawer or a gift receipt because no one in his/her right mind would return it (after all it’s perfect.) Or have you ever received a gift and couldn’t wait for return counter to open? Why not invest in a gift that has staying power – gift of empowerment. The gift of empowerment is a gift that keeps on giving, enabling one to enhance and further his or her personal development and achievement. An empowering gift is one that keeps on giving whole year through and, if we’re lucky, beyond. Here are three empowering gift ideas: The Gift of Change * Enjoy cuisine of a culture other than your own. Learn about a culture other than your own. Learn customs and cuisine, or purchase a piece of clothing which can provide insight and an appreciation of others. * Realize no one is perfect. Don’t beat yourself up about past - remember past doesn’t define your future – only you can do that. See and accept only positive people and thoughts in your life. * Change someone’s life for better; do a good deed. A good deed has multiple payoffs for everyone. You can make life a little easier or enable others to accomplish something they may not have been able to on their own. The size of a good deed is not of importance – only that you did something for someone else. The payoff for you – as commercial says, “priceless.” The Gift of Knowledge * Expand your knowledge with books. Seeking new information expands our mind and can develop our spirit. No time to read you say, books on tape (especially motivational tapes) are a great way to squeeze in learning during vast amount of time we spend commuting, walking on treadmill, or waiting at a doctor’s office. * Take a class at an adult learning center or community college. This inexpensive option allows you to further your knowledge and increase your potential. * Join Toastmasters! It’s not just for public speakers. This dynamic international organization empowers you to increase your communication and leadership skills in a supportive environment. This is a must for anyone who interacts with people – ever!
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