15 Top Tips to Save Money

When I ask people what their financial goals are, saving money is always in the top 3. But they also tell me that they don’t know how, or they don’t have any good ideas. Well, good news – I’ve done the work for you and I hope to challenge your thinking.

Now, wouldn’t you rather use some money for something else – paying off debt, saving for a holiday, investing, etc?

o 1. Decide what you want to save and transfer it out of your main account as soon as you get paid

Somehow, you will make the rest work with your budget. I’ve been saving this way for the last 10 years and I’ve only ever had to take some of the money out about 6 times. If you don’t have anything budgeted for savings, then start with a small amount. You’ll get hooked on saving soon enough and that amount will start to increase. Continue reading “15 Top Tips to Save Money”

McDonalds Business Analysis

‘In the 1990s managers will be judged on their ability to identify, cultivate, and exploit the core competencies that make growth possible – indeed, they’ll have to rethink the concept of the corporation it self.’

C K Prahalad and G Hamel 1990

Organizations do not exist in vacuum. They operate within a competitive industrial environment. Analyzing its competitors not only enables an organization to identify its own strengths and weaknesses but also help to identify opportunities for and threats to the organization from its industrial environment. SWOT analysis is a systematic analysis of these factors and the strategy that reflects the best match between them. Continue reading “McDonalds Business Analysis”

When Science and Myth Converge

The dictionary meaning of ‘myth’ is suppose to be a ‘traditional or legendary story, usually concerning some being or hero or event, with or without a determinable basis of fact or a natural explanation, esp. one that is concerned with deities or demigods and explains some practice, rite, or phenomenon of nature’. Very often we are quick to discount a ‘story’ we hear as a myth but how often do we stop to think, admit and say ‘hey, hang on, it could be true!’ I am going to take the example of a Hindu ‘mythology’ to explain my point. To me this is not mythology, it is faith.

One of the important deities in Hinduism is Lord Shiva and his consort Parvathi. In this account of events, they are called Mullaivananadhar and Garbarakshambigai (Garba means womb, raksha means protect, ambigai is the goddess). Legend has it that ages back there lived a couple called Nithuruvar and Vedhigai. After several years of marriage they had no issues and were concerned. They took guidance from some saints and offered service to the Lord and Ambigai. With their blessing, Vedhigai conceived. During her pregnancy, her husband left her alone at home as he had to run some errands and promised to come back soon. Vedhigai was suffering from all typical ailments common in pregnancy and was absolutely exhausted. At this time a sage named Urdhuvapada came to their Continue reading “When Science and Myth Converge”

8 Life Lessons Learned From the Coronavirus

Are there life lessons to be learned during this pandemic? You bet.

Albeit, it isn’t over yet. President Donald Trump warned last week that the coronavirus pandemic in the U.S. will probably “get worse before it gets better.” Yup, kinda figured that out. The coronavirus isn’t going anywhere soon and, once again, this pandemic is forcing people to pause and reflect.

Well, maybe not everyone is pausing. As states began lifting restrictions of businesses and public areas, photos and videos of people gathering in mass began emerging on the news. Not only was I alarmed as an older American, but I felt that in the rush to get back to “normal,” people were missing out on learning valuable lessons about empathy and self-sacrificing.

Continue reading “8 Life Lessons Learned From the Coronavirus”

Silence Is Golden-An Impromptu Speech

As a member of Rostrum, the English equivalent of the American Toastmasters, I was often asked to do an impromptu speech, lasting three minutes with just three minutes to prepare. One such speech was titled “Silence is Golden” and it was part of the club’s annual speaking championships.

There are many ways to plan an impromptu speech. You can use “How, When, Where or Why”; “Past, Present and Future”; or perhaps “Local, National or International” as your approach.

One of the best ways, I believe, to give an impromptu speech is to use an experience you have had. This way you don’t have to make up your content. All you need to concentrate on is your delivery. So that is what I did. Here is the basis of that speech. Continue reading “Silence Is Golden-An Impromptu Speech”

Hitchhike Aboard Sailboats!

How can you sail the world without ever owning, or buying a boat? Hitchhike aboard sailboats of course!

Would you like unlimited adventure, see places hard to access, dive in reefs in far off places, enjoy different cultures and learn new skills all on a tight budget! In some rare instances even getting paid for it! How?

Easy! Let me answer some of the immediate questions going round in your brain! Continue reading “Hitchhike Aboard Sailboats!”

My Introduction to Permaculture

My first introduction to Permaculture happened before I even knew there was such a system. As a teenager with a keen interest in horticulture, watching neighbours, friends and family removing trees from their property and loading them onto (often) several trailer loads and taking them to the tip. Then within days seeing a truck deliver a load of bark or woodchips to rejuvenate old or create new beds in the freshly trimmed landscape. Seeing these delivery trucks my thoughts went back to the loads of biomass that went to the tip only days earlier that could have easily been converted to woodchips.

Now, with an understanding of Permaculture and its ethics I recognised what I was observing to be the 3 ethics (Earth care, People Care and Return of Surplus / Fair Share) as well as several principles including – “Produce no waste”, “Catch and Store Energy”, “Obtain a Yield”, “Use and Value Renewable Resources and Services”, “Creatively use and Respond to Change”. Continue reading “My Introduction to Permaculture”

How to Run an Ethical Business

I want to address the subject of the damage we can do to our business unless we diligently follow ethical practices and treat our clients as our first priority.

I have noticed that clients appear to have been relegated to ‘nuisance’ status in some companies – people either to be ignored or put on hold until a more convenient time. I am not talking about the many businesses that are started with the sole objective of making profits, with no concern for the people or planet. These businesses were never ethical in the first place, and by virtue of their damaging products and/or services probably never will be. I am talking about businesses that started because of a passion, that wanted to make a difference, but through lack of thought, or bad management, have fallen off the ethical ladder and are now a source of frustration and disappointment to those that deal with them. Continue reading “How to Run an Ethical Business”

Caring Shielding and Surviving

I am currently looking after and caring for a 99 year-old, whilst shielding from this frightful virus. I must say the combination makes it the hardest thing I have ever done in my life.

I have survived 3 marriages and their traumas. I have brought up a family single-handed without maintenance and support. Survived injury and fractures and life’s ups and downs, but this is something else.

Being shut in with no mental space, support or let up is never-ending and extremely hard. Especially as we are now told it will continue longer.

My companion is a spirited lady who believes the world revolves around her, her wishes and requirements, mostly to the exclusion of everything else. Her hair which is usually kept beautifully with the help of her hairdresser is her biggest bug-bare, and mine, for that matter! The house is constantly filled with the fumes of her hair spray, which isn’t helpful for my lung condition. Continue reading “Caring Shielding and Surviving”

Looking After Your Family in a Disaster

A disaster scenario is not the easiest idea to cope with in the beginning, people generally are avoiding this subject as being too remote probabilistically speaking to even consider it. But, if you think about it, taking care of your family in a disaster scenario should be your number one priority. And also, if you’re watching the news, you should take emergency readiness very seriously, with all these natural(or man-made) disasters happening all around the world.

There are all sorts of things to take care of, you just can’t wrap your head around this issue, doesn’t it? It seems so complicated, you don’t even know where to start. Well, here’s a crash course in disaster prepping in six easy steps. After you finish reading it, you can use it as a blueprint for making you and your family more secure if shtf. Continue reading “Looking After Your Family in a Disaster”