Good News Bad News

We are enjoying the greatest economy here in the Puget Sound area. However inadequate transportation planning could cut it short. There are other dark clouds on the horizon as well.

Jon Talton recently outlined a number of macroeconomic concerns in his January 30 article for the Seattle Times. China and other emerging economies dependent on Chinese investment have been struggling; oil and commodities prices have been collapsing; tech stocks may be overvalued; and there is trouble in the manufacturing sector, often a precursor to economic downturn.

The NY Times reported recently that American businesses are hoarding $1.9 trillion as a hedge against future economic turmoil.

While our tech industry has buoyed our local economy, other markets dependent on housing or manufacturing have been left behind in an uneven economic recovery. But there are several other concerns in Seattle's economy. Venture capital that fuels local tech start-ups actually declined in the fourth quarter of 2015. Boeing's employment numbers have dropped in 2015 to 79,238 employees versus more than 86,000 in 2013. Seattle risks overbuilding in its hot commercial market. Global economic slowdown has already impacted rail traffic dependent on coal and oil, and could also have significant impact on the new ports alliance between Seattle and Tacoma.

Chris Mefford, president of the research group Community Attributes, expects the metro Seattle economy to grow in 2016, albeit slower than in the past. Robert Kiyosaki has predicted a big crash in the national economy in 2016. Jason Dimond of JP Morgan Chase dismisses this possibility. The Federal Reserve puts it at a ten percent possibility; while Citigroup puts the chances at 65%.

What are you doing as an investor to prepare yourself?

Happy Investing!

Kiyosaki on Second Chances

In my last blog, I talked about motivation to get control of your life and your destiny. For many that is starting a business, perhaps investing in real estate. Just get started on something, and stop waiting for others to give you what you want.

Here are some thoughts from Robert Kiyosaki on starting a simple direct sales or multilevel marketing business. Joining a network marketing company is a great way to build leadership skills, lead a team, and support a shared mission.

The best thing about network marketing is that you learn to lead people without having to issue them paychecks....

In network marketing, you have to learn to be an inspirational, mission-driven leader, someone who can train people to be successful - even without the short-term gratification of a paycheck. You are training people who can operate without a paycheck. If you can do that, you can do almost anything.

From Second Chance for your money, your life and Our World by Robert T. Kiyosaki

In my next blog, I will share the tax benefits of starting your own business.

Happy Investing!

Business of the Future

"The effect of having other interests beyond those domestic works well. The more one does and sees and feels, the more genuine may be one's appreciation of fundamental things like home, and love, and understanding companionship."
   --Amelia Earhart

I love this quote from Amelia Earhart, because it explains her love for air travel and adventure. For many of the same reasons, I was drawn to the disruptive premise of a certain network marketing company that it was possible to get paid to travel, to become a professional tourist, and to help others pursue their dreams of travel and financial freedom.

All of these concepts are important to Robert Kiyosaki, and in his Baltimore speech this past weekend, he explained why he believes that network marketing is the business of the 21st century.

His belief stems from his conviction that the rich control the world economy. And most people, raised in the public educational system, lack knowledge and understanding of the economy, how it works, and how to become wealthy. So when the markets crashed in 2007, the middle-class savers were paying the investment banking losers.

During his remarks to our "View from the Edge" audience of entrepreneurs, Kiyosaki explained, "Intelligence is found on the edge. We live in the world of heads and tails, but the third side is the edge - the ability to understand both the heads and the tails, and to profit from it."

Financial education is key to success in any market condition. It is why Kiyosaki has positioned himself as an educator. "If you teach you will be reach."

Kiyosaki was introduced to network marketing through a successful real estate investor who started a network marketing company. His wife Kim was also a successful network marketer when they met.

Why network marketing?

Kiyosaki believes that network marketing has the potential "to educate people back to entrepreneurs....Network marketing is the business of the 21st century."

Most people do not realize that the "price of security is expensive. The beauty of network marketing is so good, because success is not expensive. Everyone has a chance to succeed. Network marketing gives you the opportunity to bring the financial genius out."

Most people quit before they see success. They choose fear over freedom. This is a mistake.

"Don't stop until you win; don't quit when you lose," advises Kiyosaki.

In fact, Kiyosaki was very impressed by our direct sales company and its products in the vacation travel industry. He paid it the highest compliments, that it has the "most generous comp plan I've seen, designed to make you win."

"We are in the education business," explained Kiyosaki. Those who are educated on financial literacy will be taking money from the uneducated when the next bust cycle hits. Kiyosaki forecast the last financial crisis before it occurred, and was prepared for it.

Many educational resources are available on the www.RichDad.com website, to help those who want to learn more.

Says Kiyosaki, "Show the videos [on his website] to friends and family, and they will understand why you are in network marketing."

To learn more about this particular vacation travel business or The View from the Edge conference held this past weekend in Baltimore, please message me privately at HomeLandInvestment@gmail.com.

Happy Investing!

Schools Make You Stupid

Robert Kiyosaki has some harsh words for public education. Financial literacy, how to get ahead in life, how to manage finances,and how to accumulate wealth are all things ignored by the schools. In his opinion, the public education system is based on the Industrial Age, focused on turning farmers into employees.

Here are a few ways on how Kiyosaki claims that going to school makes you stupid:
Cooperation is essential to success in business. Yet in school, cooperation is viewed as cheating.

The goal of a successful life should be to help your friend up, by cooperating, and by teaching paths to success.

School punishes the person who makes the most mistakes.

Yet, Kiyosaki suggests that the opposite of mistakes is practice. You can practice everyday to be an entrepreneur; as Kiyosaki says, "practice on idiots...." or those that refuse to learn from their mistakes.

He has failed many times as an entrepreneur. But "I am successful because I make mistakes, and I learned from them."

He recalled that everyday as a marine, they practiced crashing. When the market crashed in 2007 Kiyosaki saw it coming, and made money. Whenever crises hit, those who practice know what to do. Everyday in any business you have to practice.

Kiyosaki is distressed by the exorbitant level of student loans, and that he feels the money has not been well-spent to ensure financial success.

Schools teach reliance on a good job, financial security. According to Kiyosaki, security is the opposite of success. It is almost impossible to succeed financially when focused on security.

Self esteem, cooperation, self control. These things are essential to success in life. A winner never quits, and keeps their eye on the prize. A loser is someone who quits when they lose, instead of using that as a learning tool to propel them to ever greater success.

Kiyosaki is committed to financial education, teaching people what they failed to learn growing up in the public school system, about how to prepare oneself financially for real independence and freedom.

Happy Investing!

Kiyosaki Live!

Robert Kyosaki, the number 1 best selling personal finance author of all time, was our speaker at the national convention for my travel business this past weekend. He is as dynamic a speaker as he is an author. (Note to my wrtier sister Vicky: Kiyosaki was turned down by all the NYC publishers before he decided to self-publish).

He was blown away by our company and its leadership, our business model, and by the "best reception anywhere in the world" given to him by our enthusiastic 11,000 convention attendees.

His path towards financial literacy began in Hilo, HI in 4th grade when he asked his teacher, "when are you going to teach us about money?" The teacher responded that they would not be teaching this, as money is the root of all evil. Dissatisfied with that answer, he went on his own seach.

His first book, written in 1992, was originally titled "if you want to be rich and happy, do not go to school."

Make no mistake about it, Kiyosaki considers himself an educator on financial literacy, and owns a very profitable education business. "Education is more important than ever," says Kiyosaki, "but not the garbage they teach you in school."

He believes strongly that the way to success is many fold, but most importantly includes good mentors.

His mentor taught him that the wealthy do not want a paycheck. "If I pay you, you will think like an employee."

His mentor taught him many things, and they played a lot of Monopoly as he was growing up.

He asked a lot of questions. "If you want something in your life, you have to ask."

Today he owns 10,000 rental units, 4 hotels, and several golf courses, in addition to very successful publishing and conslting businesses.

The reason he was so enthusiastic about speaking to a bunch of travel entrepreneurs is because all he wanted to do after high school was travel. That is why he joined the military, and he has never stopped traveling since!

He has solid investment advice - and it does not include leading a debt-free life or playing the stock market. His advice: Invest in real estate!!!!

I couldn't agree more! For more on Kiyosaki's remarks, read my blog tomorrow.

Happy Investing!