Prepare for YOUR Future now

All Presidential candidates (before and after) make all kinds of promises about YOUR 'social security' when running for the top job. Regardless of the promises, YOU are the one who has to live or die by the future plans made on your behalf.

Future plans that YOU make and control. It's your actions that count. No one else is going to make sure that you are cared for in your old age. At street intersections in every city there's the guys and gals with a sign (hungry, homeless, work for food, etc.). The 'Government' will not meet your needs when you are down and out or feeble and too old to work.

BELIEVE the truth --

NO one is concerned about YOUR welfare more than you should be. Statistical data indicates that most of us (85%) will be broke at 65, the retirement age (for most). Does that sound very inviting to you and your family? Probably not! It certainly is not very exciting for any of us.

Your FUTURE is the result of what YOU do today and tomorrow and the next day. Every single day has some impact on how comfortably you will retire. How much money you will have to live on. Travel. Fish. Go hunting. All those fun things you have always wanted to do.

DON'T PUT IT OFF

Good advice coming from one who did. I put it off. Not my retirement, but failing to have more FUN along the way. No real vacations. Business was always demanding my attention. Nose to the grindstone. Work - work - Work!

No rest for the weary was the norm. I could not believe that my business could get along without me. Could it have? Absolutely. Most of the time. YES! The Janitor and cleaning crews are missed far more than the CEO or the boss.

I had a great staff who ran the daily business without a problem. Few situations required my constant presence on the job. I can think of NONE right now since I sold my business several years ago.

What did I believe? WHY?

History! GUILT! My Dad never took a vacation that I can remember. He worked (it seemed) all the time. He worked 8 to 5 in his warehousing business and then he brought home a "set of books" from another company each night. His second "job" was "bookkeeping" at the dining room table from 7 to 12 midnight. At least he was at home in body but little else.

On Sunday he was the church treasurer. Another "job" to do on Sunday afternoon or in the evening. At least we went to the farm most Sunday afternoons to visit family. It was great but not the same as a vacation. Just a quick trip and then back home to more work.

My first trip to the coast of South Carolina, Windy Hill (near Myrtle Beach) was with a younger neighbor (I had worked with him in the summer) who took me along with his family. I was 14 at the time and had never before seen the ocean.

Our kids can't believe that! NO vacation. No play time. All work and little play time. Was it really work or was it dealing with a guilt complex?

How do YOU fit into this equasion? Are you taking your vacation time? Spending time with your spouse and children? Working 80 hour weeks? 100 hours? Something for you to think about. What is really important in your life?

WHO IS IN CONTROL

Your own mind should be. However, many of our decisions in life are often influenced by our childhood experiences. GUILT can be a tremendous factor. Not so much a top level conscious decision but a subtle feeling of wasting time. No one said, don't take a vacation. "Kinda" just felt "bad" doing it. Leaving work behind and unfinished.

Work is always UN-finished. There is always something more to be done. Something to begin. Fires to put out. Employees to guide to the next level. You face a never- ending challenge to make your business bigger and better. You can't slow down or the competition will "eat your lunch" and you'll be left behind.


What is the TRUTH?

Vacation time is very valuable and a good business investment. You and your family need time to grow together; to appreciate each other; get to know your spouse and the children. Listen to them. Love them. Everyone needs to get away from the daily "grind" and renew his/her batteries.

"Recharge" your "internal" energies and new insights will appear. Your value to the company will grow. You'll have more to give when you return from vacation. It is NOT a waste of your time.

Taking time off with your family is good "modeling" that you can do for your employees. Set the pace. Show the value of "time off" by your example. Encourage EVERY one of your employees to take their vacation. It's extremely important for the health of the employee as well as the benefit to the company.

Yes, I know! Not everyone has a "guilt" complex. Vacation is NOT lacking and more would be taken if offered. It just goes without saying that all of us are influenced by different role models in our lives. You have to make the judgment call at your company. Give your employees time to "forget" about work for short periods of vacation time.

SIMPLY GOOD BUSINESS --

Insist on vacation time being taken by everyone. Make NO exceptions. In most cases, you will not have any problem. However, there are some rare "birds" (employees) that love their job and don't want to take a vacation. You must set the policy. EVERYONE has to take a minimum of one-week (7 days) at one time.

When employees are on vacation is a GOOD time for you to handle incoming MAIL and phone calls. Be aware of EVERYTHING going on in your business. If you have the time and "know how" then take over the daily activity of your vacationing employee. You'll interact with others in the department and learn a bunch.

NOW IS YOUR BEST TIME

There is NO best time for anything. You simply have to move when the iron is HOT. A good time is always NOW. There is no better time than the present. Why wait? You'll only delay the desired result and putting off never works in your favor.

Put it off another day and soon you have put it off "forever". Next time it does not seem as pressing or as important. No big deal. It will wait. There is No rush. I'll get "around" to it next week or month or the year 2010!

TODAY Vs TOMORROW

TODAY is YESTERDAYS tomorrow! That's FUTURE! Our point is that you cannot keep putting off until tomorrow the things that should be done today. If we do, there is a heavy price to pay. Before long we will have put everything beyond reach and never arrive at our GOAL.

ACTION TIP: Plan for YOUR financial security. Do everything you can TODAY. Live your life in the NOW. Don't let guilt control your decisions. Take family vacations and spend quality time together. Set vacation policy and model it. Change comes quickly. Proper planning is the KEY to a pleasant "landing" into retirement or old age.

Don Monteith spent 32 years in the Staffing Business. His firm placed thousands of job candidates in their dream job. Today, he continues to share his expertise. Learn more by visiting his website at: http://www.HowToGetYourDreamJob.com


More Resources

Networking - A Key Factor in a Successful Job Search
In today's economy, job seekers need an edge beyond their experience, education and specific industry and job-related skills, in order to find and secure a position. Regardless if you are looking for an opportunity as CEO, Vice President, IT Manager or Customer Service Representative, you need effective tools to compete within a market that is job-poor and candidate rich.
Supplement Your Skills and Improve Your Work Position
It is often said that the majority of people are but a few checks away from homelessness. Without a consistent income, this may be a true statement.
Think Twice Before You Change Jobs
You've got the itch to change jobs. This might be a good time to make the move.
Career Success: Get Ahead of the Crowd
Regardless of where you open your briefcase or palm pilot each day - at a large corporation, a small business or the end of your dining room table - the key to staying employable the rest of your life is your own creative action. The person who is going to be successful is not going to succeed just because of good work.
How to Get the Job You Want in Any Economy... Act Like a Headhunter
Having spent the last few years of my career in the staffing and recruiting industry, I'm asked all the time by friends and relatives if I can help them find a more desirable job. I've helped my fiancé get a job, helped my college buddies get jobs after graduation, and even helped a few high school buddies find jobs having not seen them for years.
How To Ask For A Pay Rise!
Negotiating a pay rise is not something many people do on a regular basis. By applying these keys you will be well positioned to improve your negotiation skills and feel more empowered when asking for a pay rise.
Where Do I Go From Here?
Making Your Future Work Better For YouIt's the commonest concern people have about their careers. Where am I heading? Is this the right direction for me? How can I tell what will suit me best? Making good career decisions doesn't have to be agony if you clear away a few misconceptions.
Four Job Interview Mistakes That Can Torpedo Your Chances of Success
What are the worst mistakes job hunters make? It turns out there are four big ones. These four mistakes turn up repeatedly when executives responsible for hiring talk about the reasons why someone didn't get a job offer.
The Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Should Avoid In Contacting An Employer
There are numerous tools and resources available to guide job seekers through the steps of a career transition. These tools are very useful and suggest much that you should do.
Use Job Search Hacks to Get Hired Faster
Job searching alone is like hitchhiking a scary ride with an unknown stranger on a 180-mile long deserted, no-exit road with hopes you'll make your destination. When you lack time or expertise to plan career moves carefully, sometimes the loss of ground is not apparent until years later.
Personal Grooming: 8 Top Reasons Why You Can't Take It For Granted In Your Career
Most people when they landed "the dream job" after an interview or even got "the deal" of the lifetime in their businesses, sadly to say tend to slack on their grooming habits and it even goes to the point that they are wearing their pajamas going to the office. It seems that's very extreme but it happens.
Why Do Interviews Die: That Sinking Feeling and How to Prevent it!
Interviews die because a mistake occurred. Sometimes, you've made a mistake; sometimes they die because someone who screened a resume did.
Career Advice On Freelance Writing Jobs
Sometimes the freelance writing jobs available are those that no one wants. Or, they are those that new businesses are looking to fill.
Staying In Shape
Why Lawyers Should Eat Bananas by Simon Tupman is a book that caught my eye both because of its unusual title and because I coach lawyers who are growing their practices. The book cover says it gives "Inspirational Ideas for Lawyers Wanting More Out of Life"Much of what Mr.
Resume Objectives: How Do You Know if Resume Objectives Are Right for You?
Some experts say NEVER bother with resume objectives.While others say they should be an essential element onevery resume.
Job Interviews: Ill File a Grievance!
I recently went to a retirement party with my husband for one of his co-workers. I worked at this same place six years ago (that's where I met my husband, but that's another story), so I knew most of the people at the party.
Networking is the Key to Star Performance in Everything You Do.
Many people's idea of networking relates to the 'size of their Christmas Card List, rather than the quality of their relationship with each person on that list. Similarly those people network, but few reap the rewards of zeroing in on their potential.
Rekindling Passion for Work
Passion comes in many forms. I'm focused on the version of passion that is "boundless enthusiasm".
20 Powerful Tips For Advancing Your Career
You don't want to stay in your current position forever..
Moving From A Weekend Hobby To Career In The Arts
Building a career as an artist takes hard work. Because the field attracts so many talented people, jobs in this field remain competitive.

More Careers & Employment Information:

Related Articles

Multiple Skills for the 21st Century
(excerpted from The Weekend Seminar - Skills for the 21st Century 1999 Version)I find it's important to not walk into the 21st Century without multiple skills. But what I also find is that if you are already in sales, network marketing or have an entrepreneurial business (or plan to in the future), you can gain the needed skills for the future while you create your income now.
Making Yourself More Relevant To The New Workplace
Being a current job seeker can be quite a challenging prospect as there are many changes in the workplace. Life-long employment is no longer the norm and workers must also learn to adapt with the complementary expertise of foreign talents.
Ten Healthcare Fields That Cant Wait To Hire You
Healthcare is one of the hottest career fields in America today. The aging and retiring of the largest population segment in the country, known as "baby boomers", has left the healthcare industry racing to find enough employees to fill the void.
5 Resume Mistakes Telecommuters Often Make
Finding a legit telecommute job can be difficult. Telecommute jobs are in high demand and hundreds if not thousands of other people are competing for the same position.
Telecommuting Website (Part Two)
Last article I discussed why a telecommuter would benefit from starting a website, and what you should include on the website. This article, I'm going to cover how to market the website and the basics of getting one set up.
Stacking The Deck In Your Favor
Many people do not bother to look at their own magnificence and without that view it is not likely that we will recognize the need for strategies to maximize our strengths. When we buy an outfit for a special affair, we automatically try to coordinate each piece so that they enhance one another and amplify our sense of "looking good" from head to toe.
Three Myths About Resume Writing
Your perspective on resumes - what they are and how they function - will doubtless influence how well you can write your own. To create an outstanding resume, begin by questioning and replacing some of the commonly held assumptions about resume writing.
Auto-Disqualification - When Your Resume Never Reaches the Decision Maker
How would you know if your resume did or didn't reach the appropriate decision maker? You can truly never know for certain. However, there are steps you can take to ensure that your resume does not get "auto-disqualified", or provide obvious reasons not to be hired.
The Group Interview
Sometimes, when going on job interviews, you might end up in a situation where you are in a group interview. A group interview is where you are being interviewed along with several other candidates for the job.
In a Rut? Ready for a Career Change?
Are you unhappy at work? Tired and lacking energy and drive? Don't worry, you are not alone! Studies in the US show that up to 70 percent of the workforce is unhappy with their job at any given time. We all feel dissatisfied and frustrated with our jobs at times.
Your Attitude Is Screaming
There is more attitude around than the 'traditional 'positive / negative attitude. This issue's topic will expose you to the other kind of attitude.
The Not-So-Effective Cover Letter
Here's a newsflash: Cover letters work, plain and simple. This is why I'm intrigued by the fact that a) jobseekers rarely submit them and b) hiring managers seldom read them.
How To Get More Interviews In Your Job Search
Richard Bolles, job search guru and author of What Color Is Your Parachute? predicts that you can expect to search for work 1-2 months for every $10,000 you hope to earn. So, if you're looking for a $40,000 a year position, you may search for 4-8 months to land it.
Avoid Potential Job Interview Disasters
There are definitely things that you can do to avoid minor mishaps which could ultimately blow an interview. Become familiar with these 7 potential interview disasters so you can prevent them from obstructing your path to that ideal job.
Kick-In-The-Pants Job Search
Believe it: three obstacles will hold you back from your ideal job -- your résumé, you, and your job-search methods. There's no hidden formula; there's no bribery needed; there's no one standing in front of employment - other than YOU!You've probably heard all the excuses, or used them yourself.
Finding Employees For Insurance Industry Jobs
Finding the right employee for any job opening can be a challenge to say the least, and this is no truer than in the insurance industry. With considerations ranging from experience and education to their personal skills, the decisions faced by recruiters and employers can be of critical importance.
How to Tell if You are Fired and Just Dont Know It
No one should be fired and be surprised about it. There are always warning signs.
Looking for a Qualified Medical Billing Specialist
Families, mothers, employers, and medical practices all interact in one way or another with a medical billing specialist. When medical billing is required, a qualified medical billing specialist can help you process your claim quickly and thoroughly.
Are You a Nice Person? What Companies are Looking for in Recruiting and Retaining Great People
Hal Rosenbluth, author of The Customer Comes Second, states; "In our selection process, kindness, caring, compassion, and unselfishness carry more weight than years on the job, an impressive salary history, and stacks of degrees."Does your company hire these types? Are you one of them? Take the following quiz to see if you are:Agree Disagree1.
The Top 10 Mistakes Job Seekers Should Avoid In Contacting An Employer
There are numerous tools and resources available to guide job seekers through the steps of a career transition. These tools are very useful and suggest much that you should do.