SOLO NEWSLETTER 40
April 2010
Copyright Albert Wright
The Marcus Di Maria commentary has been postponed to next month to be replaced by:
Thoughts on Voting for the coming elections
This relates to principles/standpoints/philosophy rather than policies.
1 The Generation Game
What we enjoy today is the result of what our ancestors have left us.
The roads, schools, infrastructure, investment and institutions we use today were largely provided by previous generations who left us positive legacies.
There are worrying signs that the new generation of politicians seem intent on simply leaving us debts.
This, to me, is the ultimate political betrayal by the generation who have never had it so good. Having consumed more than we have produced, the final insult is to make future generations pay for what we are consuming today and in the next decade.
Beware those parties whose reforms only 'kick in' from 2012 onwards and are intent on postponing the pain for others to suffer while they enjoy today.
2 Funny Money, Carbon Trading, Green Greed
The current superficial attention on so called “global warming” and governments promotion and support for all things deemed to be green, contains for me the seeds of the next big Global Mistake.
Not yet having understood the role of junk bonds, derivatives and financial instruments, we are off again inventing artificial markets for carbon trading, issuing 'credits' to large companies for stuff that does not physically exist but needs to “financially” exist so we can sell the right to pollute for new paper money backed by nothing.
We are about to convince ourselves through the spurious notion of carbon offsetting, that planting a tree today, which could take hundreds of years to grow and be of use in cleaning the atmosphere, is a good thing, which will allow us to continue emitting noxious gases for years to come.
It seems we will be investing billions in producing electrically powered cars without fully understanding the true costs of producing the batteries and additional electricity production required, yet alone sorting out how we will replace the tax revenues from petrol and diesel when this type of fuel is no longer being used.
3 Public Sector and Private Sector
While huge parts of the private sector today are based on service industry, nearly all parts of the public sector are service based.
The important difference for me is that adding true value in the service sector is much more difficult than in manufacturing or the extraction industries.
Getting minerals out of the ground, turning them into metal and making a car, for me, has obvious added value. Having a taxi to drive me home from the pub is less obvious added value and paying taxes to employ hordes of people to issue me with a Road Fund licence allowing me to drive my car on the road totally fails the test.
Add to this the absence of any 'market mechanism' in the public sector to help decide how much a civil servant, let alone an MP should be paid, also causes me concern.
Overlay the cost of public sector pensions based on final salary, another example of the next generation paying for the pleasures of the current generation, and I am really worried.
Frankly, I can think of no area of economic activity where the public sector is/seems more efficient or effective than the private sector, although there are many areas of the private sector, for example motor insurance, that could do with major reform.
So, when you come to vote, you may want to consider some of the thoughts above.
The 4-Hour Week
Timothy Ferris and his book, The 4-Hour Work Week, Escape the 9-5, Live Anywhere and join the New Rich, continues to haunt me.
Away in sunny Madeira for a week I managed a 4-Hour Week and felt I could get used to it.
However, I came back to lots of post and emails and will be forced to be decisive to clear the backlog.
Remember - do the important, ignore the trivial, cut out time wasters and time consumers.
I will be exploring outsourcing to the New World and paying only for each completed task, not paying for time, next month. So far I have gone to Eastern Europeans for the Millionaire Coaching Academy website and for other support with VA – virtual assistant activity.
Next month will also see the Solo newsletter incorporating a video email element, which could become my automated vehicle for generating cash without consuming time, along with the sale of information products, currently in development.
Business Development
I am told one of the greatest indicators to an individual’s future success is linked to the company they keep. It seems we become the average of the 10 people we spend the most time with.
I am spending an increasing amount of time with my wife, Janette, which has to be a good start, and with people connected with ecademy and Entrepreneurs’ World.
The recently formed North London ecademy Blackstar Boardroom is another approach to forming a Master Mind Group of people that will provide mutual support on a regular basis.
The first monthly meeting was in East Barnet in March and the next will be on April 15th.
For FREE help in identifying your own Master Mind Group or the Business Board You Cannot Afford, give me a call on 07973 192712.
Millionaire Coaching Academy
Visit www.millionairecoachingacademy.co.uk
You, my readers, are obviously too well off as no one, as yet, has asked for their £1,000 for referring a client.
Send us the details of someone you know who realistically wants to be a business millionaire, with sales of £1 million a year and you think might benefit from being coached by Millionaire Mentors.
Free Stuff
For more about the Magic Matrix email albert@millionairecoachingacademy.co.uk
Marketing Donut
To subscribe to our Small Business Solutions Marketing Donut monthly newsletter contact info@cushiontheimpact.co.uk
Raw Business
Last month saw the opening of their new offices in Chelmsford but I was unable to attend.
They are expanding the number of Entrepreneur Schools and the distribution of their printed magazine, where I am a regular contributor.
To read my articles www.rawbusinessmagazine.com
Let’s Talk and Robert Craven
As regular readers of this newsletter know, you are entitled to attend Robert’s excellent workshops, held around the UK, at no cost whatever.
Robert’s 'Let’s Talk' half day seminars / workshops, sponsored by Barclays Bank, are worth over £200, for example:
'Let's Talk... More Profit'
Makes businesses re-think how they make their money
Tuesday 18th May, The Menzies Prince Regent Hotel, Woodford Bridge
Wednesday 19th May, Lord's Cricket Ground, St John's Wood.
Thursday 20th May, Holiday Inn London, Kingston-Upon-Thames
Thursday 27th May, Glaziers Hall, London Bridge.
Full details, with June and July dates and all locations can be viewed and booked here BOOK HERE
Next Month
Marcus Di Maria?
PS Don’t forget, as a reader of this newsletter, you are entitled to a 30-minute phone advice session from me to you.
Book an appointment via Andrea by emailing andrea@cushiontheimpact.co.uk or phone me on 07973 192 712.