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Author: stevedevane

Planning for retirement: Why you’ll need recurring income

Planning for retirement: Why you’ll need recurring income

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For years, most people planning for retirement have heard about the wisdom of contributing to a 401(k) or similar plan. But as the financial crisis turned into a full-blown recession, everybody saw their investment accounts shrink. photo credit: nick farnhill Plans like the 401(k) let people contribute pre-tax dollars into an investment account that is expected to increase in value over time. But now the financial situation has gotten so bad that Time magazine’s Oct. 19 cover story says it’s…

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Guest blogger: Free to choose a better life

Guest blogger: Free to choose a better life

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NOTE — Today’s blog post was written by Jason Lewis, who gives his thoughts on the power of choosing our own path in the world. When I think about what makes life so great, my mind always comes back to the same thing — freedom. The freedom to live our lives however we choose is in my mind, without a doubt, the most exciting thing life has to offer us. photo credit: thelastminute We have the power and the privilege to live…

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Two rules for living life

Two rules for living life

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The other day I was thinking about my oldest daughter, who is a senior in high school. She’s applying to colleges and thinking about which school would be the best fit for her. photo credit: Rob ShenkIt reminded me of my senior year in high school. Within about three months, I went from not even thinking about college to looking at technical schools and finally to applying for a scholarship at a university with the hopes of one day graduating…

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Be something to somebody

Be something to somebody

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We’ve talked before about how important a blog can be in your efforts to connect with folks who will become part of your community. Those who are thinking about starting a blog and those who want to improve their existing blog would do well to read Seth Godin‘s post about “Things to ask before you redo your website.” photo credit: in-boulder Godin lists 24 excellent questions to ask yourself about your website. Spend some time considering all of them. But…

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Look for what you want

Look for what you want

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A few weeks ago, my wife and son were talking about license plates. For months my son has been playing a game of sorts, trying to find a license plate from every state in the union. He has a form with all the states on it. When we go on a trip, he gets it out, hoping to see a state that he hasn’t marked off the list. photo credit: codepo8 During the course of the conversation, my son mentioned…

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Social network marketing: Learn before you earn

Social network marketing: Learn before you earn

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NOTE — This is the final post in a series on social network marketing. The complete series can be found here. Social network marketing can work in multiple ways, but there are principles that increase your chances of success. photo credit: nsaplayer A few of the principles are personal — knowing why you’re in business and staying focused. But most of the principles concern you’re dealings with other people — building relationships, helping people, starting a blog, interacting with people,…

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Social network marketing: Specialization leads to realization

Social network marketing: Specialization leads to realization

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NOTE — This is the 11th post in a series on social network marketing. The full series can be found here. Most everybody in social network marketing gets sidetracked because they lose focus in one of two ways. They either try to make money in too many ways or their way of making money gets fragmented. photo credit: chamko rani Even worse, many people trying to make money using the Internet too often lose sight of the reason they got…

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Social network marketing: Beyond business, build community

Social network marketing: Beyond business, build community

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NOTE — This is the tenth in a series on social network marketing. All the posts in the series can be found here. At its best, social network marketing leads to the formation of a community. You have to do more than just provide advice on how to get income. Your worth should be measured in friendship not dollars. The business objective of making money must be put aside so you can focus on bringing together a committed group of…

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Social network marketing: Artistry in motion

Social network marketing: Artistry in motion

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NOTE — This is the ninth post in a series on social network marketing. All the posts in the series can be found here. Social network marketing is as much an art as a science. Making it work involves learning how to present your opportunity without coming on in a way that will turn off wary readers. These days, nearly everyone on the Internet — from the solitary blogger to the big corporation — is seeking ways to “monetize” a…

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Social network marketing: Teach what you know, show what you do

Social network marketing: Teach what you know, show what you do

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NOTE — This is the eighth post in a series on social network marketing. Previous posts can be found here. When someone joins your business through social network marketing, they’re going to want to use the same method to attract more people. So, you need to be ready to show them exactly how to do it. In other words, you need to show them a simple system that they can use. Moreover, you need an easy way to teach them…

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