From Welfare2Well-Off

Once you make-up their mind that you are committed to following their dreams, the hard part kicks in. On your own, without a built-in structure to take you step-by-step to the realization of your dreams, you've got an uphill climb on your hands.

As you progress, more questions than answers appear on your horizon. How to clear-out the clutter becomes the challenge. The clutter are all the nay-sayers, the negative thoughts, the fears and doubts that kept you from achieving your dreams in the first place.

For me, I find I begin each new venture with a great deal of enthusiasm and verve for the project, entrepreneurial endeavor or activity. Then, slowly, I run into what can be described as a violation of your great expectation of going in a straight line from dream to realization. The truth is, there's always a zig in your zag.

Here are 10 pitfalls to navigate around on your path to success.

1. Fear & Doubt: Fear has been described as "false evidence appearing real", which means most of what you're afraid of is based on false perceptions we harbor which creates the doubt from which we suffer. Accepting that we all struggle with weaknesses in some areas, turn it into a strength by seeking expert advise, help and support from professional sources, friends, hubpages.

2. Don't Go-it Alone: the road to success does not have to be trod alone. As stated, no one has all the gifts, talents and experience that will be needed to achieve their goals. Seek others advise and wisdom in making important decisions. Find experts in your community to help you in areas you do not have training and knowledge. Solicit the support of your friends and family, you will need them when the going gets tough.

3. Personal Priorities: who among us does not feel the pull of cares of our daily lives? Our priorities are real and important. The challenge we face is to include your dreams in this category. Women are the worst offenders in this, I think, many often choose to do things for our own benefit last. Remember, you, your family, your community benefits from a more fulfilled you. Invest in yourself.

4.Time-management: there's never enough time to do all the things your could do in a day. Time management is a close cousin to planning and prioritizing. Here is where it is critical to know what must be accomplished over what can be left undone today. MANAGE your life.

5. Lack of Organization: any endeavor requires careful planning. If you take a trip to Florida, without planning you may get there, but it will take much longer than if you had mapped-out your course. The same is true of your life. Planning, whether it be financial, personal goal-setting or weekly meals, will give you a sense of clarity and order to help you remain focused.

6. Distractions: one of thegreatest challenges of our 21st Century lifestyles is the lure of multi-tasking. We have numerous devices with idle-time distractions at a fingertip. There is always something competing for our attention. Recognize that your dream is your highest and best choice. Prioritize your dreams. The achievement is not only for yourself, but the people who are watching, wanting to believe it can be done.

7. the Boring Part: Seth Godin calls this "The Dip". It is the point at which your initial enthusiasm and drive begins to wane. This is exactly when you must dig deep and remember why you were seeking your dreams in the first place, keep yourself motivated when it's not fun, when you're not getting positive feedback. Maintain your vest for the end result to remain on the path to your personal victory.

8. People Pleasing: don't get sidetracked if others' lack of vision of your dream. Vision is your God-breathed inspiration to do what you are uniquely prepared to do. Some of the people in your surroundings may not readily be able to see what's in your heart until you have achieved your goal, then not only will they be able to see your dreams come true, they may be inspired to do likewise.

9. Money: a fact of life. The only thing I can tell you is, what others have said before, many of the great things you and others have experienced in your life would not have been accomplished if we waited for enough money. I would not have had my son, bought a house, gotten my education. It is a necessary evil that we must find practical and creative ways to approach finding it, attracting it, believing for it and trudging forward toward our dreams without enough of it.

10. Obstacles: though I've listed it last, this has been the biggest hurdle of my adult life. Looking back, I find, most often, when faced with difficulties, hurdles, obstacles, I took delays as endings. Expect to have things get in the way of your dreams. Plan for them, circumvent them, keep going in spite of them. Don't stop. I've 'aborted-the-mission' more times than I care to remember, always to my detriment and the perishing of my dreams. That is why I'm halfway through my life reinventing myself, reinvigorating my dreams. Meet the obstacle with the same drive and commitment you began your journey.

Meet you at the finish line.

Ever think of operating your own business? Some of us have that entrepreneurial spirit and just don't feel we fit-in in the corporate world. Some of us are unemployed, underemployed or like me, in the latter-part of our career life. If that's you, have you considered a home-based business? Small Business Administration statistics indicate that 1 in 5 new businesses begin as home-based businesses. When circumstances converged, a Family Home Daycare became a great opportunity for me.

I had a head-start when I started my home daycare. I had a basement, not only that, a basement full of toys, books, DVDs, VHS tapes, furniture, computer programs and more. I had small children, so I knew people in my neighborhood to get-the-word-out about my daycare and I'd worked in a daycare so I actual work experience.

1. Determine why you want to start your home-based daycare. As with any business, you want to be honest with yourself about the reasons you want to operate a home daycare. Having your own business puts you in control of your income and career path, but, make no mistake, it is a lot of work.
2. Assess what's in your hands. What skills and experience do you possess that will give you a leg-up on competition in your neighborhood? ~ Do you have a degree in education? ~ Do you childcare work experience?
3. Find your niche. As part of your planning and preparation, do your homework. Are there many other home daycare programs operating in your neighborhood? What services do they offer? How can you make your business different from theirs? ~ Could you offer childcare on nights and weekends to serve moms with alternative work hours or those who travel for their jobs? ~ Many moms need 'drop-in' care for parents who don't really need regular daily child care, but only when they have appointments or have varied work schedules. These services are in high demand and very hard to find. Do a search on drop-in child care services in your area; you can be the first to fill this niche
4. Unless you live alone, you should consult with your spouse and/or children about the new commitment you are making. Having a home daycare will definitely involve your entire family. It's best to have their agreement at the outset. Then you can involve them in the planning and operation of your business.
5. Develop a PLAN. Business consultants everywhere tell us to begin with a plan. You may not have to do a formal business plan, but you will want to do some advance planning in a few crucial areas: (1) meal-planning - you will be feeding 5 or more children 2 or 3 times/day, you need to know what you're serving, how much you're meals will cost you and do your grocery shopping for a week, if not a month. (2) daily activities - you will need to have a structure for the children's day so that you can transition from one activity to another smoothly and without surprises. It will make your day much easier and more enjoyable for the children. Children like to know what to expect
6. Check with your City/County to be aware of the legal requirements for running a business in your home. You may have to obtain a license, check on proper zoning or obtain government certification. Each town or county has its own regulations regarding the # of children you're permitted to care for on-your-own (or hire additional help), space requirements, equipment safety, etc. You want to know what these regulations are before you get started, for the safety of the children you will care or and to avoid being inspected and closed-down once you get started
7. Get professional advice in legal & accounting matters. There are numerous organizations that are set-up to assist new entrepreneurs businesses. Most States have a Small Business Development Center - look to see where one is in your location. The Service Corps of Retired Entrepreneurs (SCORE) is a great resource. Check-out their website for more resources.

If you love children, have space in your home and your heart to care for several children and provide a vital service to working parents, Family Home Daycare may be your means of stepping into the world of owning your own business. There are numerous financial tax benefits and you can begin to take control of your own finances and your destiny.

Do you have kids? If you do, you've already got the basic inventory for this home-based business at hand. Your kids have toys, games, videos, books and spaces in which to play with them. That's the foundation of your home daycare.

When I took the plunge into my family business, I took an inventory of the playthings and equipment I already owned. My kids were ages 3 yrs to 8 yrs. Since the babies kept coming, I hadn't rid our home of the age-appropriate toys over several growth stages. Our house was plump with an array of crib toys, stuffed animals and learning materials from alphabets to action figures, from dinosaurs to dominoes. I had VHS, DVDs, video games and 3 tvs lined-up in a row to accomodate them all. I had 2 desk top computers and software for pre-school to 6th grade (handed-down from older cousins). My love of books led to the development of a library which rivalled that of some small, private schools. We had scooters, tricycles, bicycles and big wheels, if you could roll on it, it was lined-up in my backyard.

Maybe you aren't a borderline hoarder like myself. If someone offered it to me, I took it ... and ... held onto it. Maybe you toss those well-loved bunnies and beanie babies out on their ears as soon as the next favorite toy comes through the front door - not me, once you join our family, you've got a home for life.

If you find your inventory is sparce, here are some inexpensive, even free suggestions for obtaining the things you MUST have, according to State regulation and those things you might want to create the kid-friendly environment you desire.

1. Craig's List: http://www.Craig'slist.com Baby items and all sorts of childhood favorites are available for sale at very low prices. You can go see 'n touch the goods before purchasing. Try to buy whole batches of things, a box of clothes, books, videos for a flat rate, rather than item by item which adds-up quickly.

2. Yard/Garage Sales: Check your local newspapers for listings of yard sale locations (more affluent neighborhoods have better things) dates and items for sale. Take advantage of this motivated seller and try to haggle to drive the price the down. Remember, the owner wants to get rid of as much stuff as they can. No sleeping in on yard sale day, serious yard sale enthusiasts are early birds so the best things go fast. Get there early. I once got a wonderful rocking horse we called "Thunder, The Wonder horse". The family had him for 10 yrs, he was in excellent condition. The yard sale was already over & he was going to the curbside for refuse ... the owner turned him over to our loving hands for FREE!

3. Local Government Surplus Stores: This is a great resource because many of the items on sale are discarded from schools. You can pick-up wonderful kid-sized tables 'n chairs, sturdy bookshelves, books and tapes, even electronics, such as computers, accessories or office furniture. Our County Surplus store sells electronics at rock-bottom prices ($3.00 for monitors or computer speakers). I had a big, round red table for circle-time and homework time.

4. Hand-me-downs: canvas your friends and family. Children are always outgrowing their toys and moms may be willing to share blackboards, chairs, playmats, whatever they are finished with and glad to see it go to a good use.

5. Church Resale Stores: check your local churches, many operate 2nd hand stores to sell donations from their members. You can find great items, especially for babies. Be sure to check with your state regulations regarding crib specifications and for items that may have been recalled to be safe. Schools and churches sometimes have book or clothing swaps. You bring something to donate and you get to pick-out whatever you would like in return. Keep an eye-out for these free sources for crib sheets, video games and more.

6. Thrift Stores: hospitals, non-profits, Salvation Army, there are many organizations who receive and sell items. The same goes here, you will be able to pick up many gently-used items, bedding, baby items, toys, books, etc. Again, some of these items may not meet current requirements for safety, so check to be sure.

7. Recycling online: http://www.freecycle.org/group/US . Check-out your local conservation website. You have to join to participate. Freecycle members have come-up with a way to keep their neighbors from filling the County landfills with toys, furniture, electronic and office equipment and lots more by recycling it around their members. The purpose is not primarily to get free stuff, but in the process of giving away your cast-offs, you can receive some great items you may be looking for ... for free.

8. Library book, movie sales/giveaways: our local public library has regular book sales where they sell the books they are cycling-out. You can get Classic Disney movies, educational DVDs, as well.

9. Store Closings: you can get great deals when local grocery stores close-down. Recently, we've seen some branches close and sell grocery items at 25%, 50% off. I was able to stock my pantry. You can get diapers, baby foods and other non-perishables to fill-out your meal-planning menus. Don't neglect using your coupons for extra savings.

10. Trash-day treasures: ... another man's treasure! Don't overlook this cost-free resource you walk past every week. but I have found some nearly new, CLEAN toys, even furniture , as I walked to the school bus (where I'm close enough to see if it's broken, too dirty or damaged to use) in my neighborhood. Some of my treasures included: book shelves, a toy musical instruments, a lovely rocker, a double stroller and more. Some people just don't take the time to donate; they just throw things out. I do my part to help the planet by recycling. My kids weren't too happy when I strolled that stroller home, but the price was right and the goods were in great shape.

With some planning, you will know what you're looking for and how much you have to spend. That way you will be able to save lots on your home daycare needs.

These ways to save work in reverse, as well. When you're ready to replace your inventory, donate and resell to help keep from filling-up our landfills.

What is the origin of the phrase "well-off"? Google the KEYWORD well-off, you'll find it's an adjective meaning, "having unexpected good fortune", a synonym for rich, financially fortunate. It means... "well-heeled, well-fixed, well-to-do".

Do you ever actually hear from someone in the media, who is poor? If the middle-class is disappearing [the greatest loss of household income in 11 yrs was reported last year] the poor are invisible. We only zoom-in on the most extreme stories of sickness, powerlessness and pitiable conditions.

You must hear the well-off complain that President Obama is the "Food Stamp President" because the numbers of food-stamp recipients keeps rising like a tide and GOP candidates wrangle over just the right way to say they don't care about people on welfare, that our "safety net" is sufficient. The divide between the well-to-do and the poor grows wider

Hmmm! Class warfare .... . the well-heeled continue to receive a great deal of our prime-time attention and a great deal of our federal aid. In Googling my hub title, "Welfare to Well-Off", pgs 1, 2 & 3 lists related topics to 'Welfare FOR the Well-Off'. Rightly so, the mainstream media has been preoccupied with the wealthy, either "lauding them or castigating them", For the past quarter century America has really focused on making the rich richer, hardly unexpected fortunes. It has been a 'cattle-drive' of our money to their off-shore bank accounts. We're not unfortunate, we're run-over by their 'cattle'.

Consider that being on welfare, receiving Food Stamps, is a calculated and direct act of war on our ability to pursue happiness and take care of your family. It was 'done-to-you', inspite of your best efforts. Resist the pull to take-on a stigma of being low-income. Apply for and receive your government benefits, it's a characteristic of the well-off.

All-the-while, this talk, talk, talk is a distraction from the real issue which is how and when we will actually help those who are really poor? The numbers are growing, you know. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that nearly one quarter of American children are poor according to government criteria. Unemployment was at 12% as early as 2007 in urban areas. We are told that double-digit unemployment figures equals a depression. Many in our nation's cities, were experiencing the affects of depression before the rest of us knew our economy was in trouble.

Think of 2012 as an exciting time of creating a generation of our own stories of making-it under the difficult circumstances. We are now living in the new normal.

Many say it takes "guts" to jump off a cliff ... either that or not having any sense. People say, to start a business, you've got to have a business plan, money, expertise and a good idea. I won't be jumping off a cliff, but I did start a home-based business to improve my personal circumstances. Maybe I just don't have any sense.

In 2008, I left my 'dream job' as a college instructor to start a home daycare business. It wasn't entirely my idea. I am raising 3 small grandkids (at that time, 8, 5 & 3 yrs old). I needed after-sch & f/t daycare. I lost County benefits (another testimony).

I traded work for childcare at the li'l one's pre-sch. After 4 months, things unravelled. By Easter, I prayed and prayed for the answer to the question ... should I start my own Family Home Daycare? Bloomin' Kidz was born.

About 2 wks later, I registered my 1st baby. A beautiful toddler who lived across the street. We loved her and soon 4 more children started showing up at the door around 7 a.m.every morning It was wonderful. I was home to prepare hot breakfasts. I was home after school. The whole kit 'n kaboodle walked to the bus to send-off and meet each child. I was paid to go to the pool everyday in the summer, take long, lazy walks around the pond. We discovered wild strawberries in the open fields behind my home, we took field trips. What a life!

It was a lot of fun and a lot of work, but I was only barely bringing-in enough money to pay all the bills and the families that I served couldn't pay more. In the Town where I lived, I couldn't care for more than 5 children; I was constantly marketing to bring in new families and to find ways to earn extra $.

In June 2010, 2 parents lost their jobs & another family became separated in one month. I had to consider my options. I was subsidizing Bloomin' Kidz with my 401(k), like the National debt, financially unsustainable. I was 54 years old, I'd worked all my life to pay bills, keep a single-parent household going, cared for other people's children in all sorts of ways. What did I really want to do? What was my dream?

What had I left undone in my life? What did I not want to leave on this planet having left it undone? I always wanted to be a writer. StoryGlory was born.

I was 54 years of age. I woke up earlier than my grandchildren, As I tucked-in the sheets making up my bed, a strange feeling seized me, I'm broke! I'm educated, I'm smart, I have health and vitality and more than that, I have dreams. But I can't pay my bills ontime, I my credit is bad, I'm not living the American dream and I'm participating in it.

At that moment, something inside began to change. I didn't know it then, but it's breaking the surface now. I began to put focus on my circumstances.

"What is it in my life that I always wanted to do, to acccomplish that I have not done?" "What will I regret if I've left "it" undone when I am gone?"

Poor people don't always know they're poor and broke people don't always know they're broke, but when you can't feed your children, you know something is wrong. When you are poor in spirit, when you are broke-down inside, you know it. Hope deferred makes the heart sick, the Good Book says. I'm pursuing the desires of my heart, it's the truth of who I am and it will set me free.

Finding yourself barreling down at amazing speed, hurtling toward “I can’t”!? Are you losing all the resolve and courage you've been able to summon for going onward under the harshest of circumstances, continuing against churlish odds, just to find your mind crashing faster than you can manage, stopping ever so perilously close to ? "Arrrgggghhhhh! I GIVE UP!!!"

Grab the life-rope inside yourself, the one that swings like a pendulum within us all bidding us to let slip the words, the giving up words, “I can’t do it”. It’s whispered between the ears of everyone who has ever been a seeker and a searcher for more, for the best within him or herself. It swings in good times and bad and rakes itself against the sides of your skull in your worst moments.

Know when to hold em; know when to fold 'em. Know when to walk away ... We're taught a lot about quitting, "quitters never win & winners never quit". Truth is, winners quit all the time. It's the decisions: what, when and why, that can be costly.

Some say, "look, if you're over 50 and it hasn't happened yet, it's not going to happen". Others advise, if you're over the age of 40 with enduring desires for marriage, "forget it, that ship has sailed."

Stuck in a dead-end job? In an abusive relationship? ^{"We fail when we don't have the guts to quit"! Seth Godin, The Dip [http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/]}

Or are you writing your heart out in hopes of getting recognized for your talent? Are you spending nights and weekends building a company, learning a new skill, discovering a new way? Have you been following a dream, building a vision? ^{We fail when we give up too soon. Seth Godin, The Dip[http://www.sethgodin.com/sg/]}

Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. gave his famous "I Have A Dream Speech" when I was 8 yrs old. My aunt (who is now 88 yrs of age) and her husband, Uncle Warren (gone to Glory) travelled from Philadelphia to Washington, DC to hear him. I always thought that was very cool.

My grandmother took me to see the good Reverend Dr. He was in Atlantic City, NJ. She came by the house and told my mother she wanted me to see Dr. King. I really didn't understand, but when we arrived at the small church, seemingly in the middle of nowhere, it began to make sense.

The tiny building was packed. Its 2 little doors were pressed as far open as they could; the people spilled-out and streamed-down the portico onto the pavement. Everyone's head faced the same way ... forward, toward the inside of the lil church, their necks straining to catch the slightest glimpse, to hear any of what he was saying.

We were much too late to get inside, even to get close. There my grandmother and I stood on the sidewalk really on the curb. Someone said, "let the child see him." Next thing, I was raised-up high between some man's dark, leathery hands, I could see over all the men's and women's hats; over the sea of their heads. "Let the child see him" they said as they passed me forward closer to the doors.

"Can you see him?" someone asked. I looked in, down the aisle and waaaayyyy at the very front of the church, there he was, it was unmistakenly him. "Yes", I said, "I see him".

I was lowered to the ground. The grown-ups were satisfied; I was satisfied. That's all we wanted, I'd laid eyes on the "man". I'd pressed through the throngs and been allowed to touch the hem of his garment.

It must've made an impression, I can still remember, these 49 years later. I can STILL see him.

Last night in his final State of the Union Address prior to the 2012 election, our President told us the nation’s economy is improving and getting stronger. For this I am glad and appreciative of whatever efforts he has contributed to this turnaround. Then he said the American economy is fragile.

We live in a world where things go back ‘n forth like the weather we're having this winter… 1st it's hot then it's cold. Volatility demonstrates the absence of stability; the best economies are stable. From where I sit, we don't have any of those these days.

God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. Never changing. This is the polar opposite to our world which is ever-changing. It's a good thing, then, that we, as Christians, do not live in this world’s economy.

Are you ready financially? What if your Father, today, were to drop a fix-all into your finances; are you supported by a ready plan for maintaining your finances?

For the Believer, 1^st and foremostly, it would mean: to tithe, regularly and without fail (the first 10% of your income … it’s the same $.10 on a dollar whether it is $1.00 or $10,000.00. Are you willing? Are you ready?

Secondly, you’ve got to be ready to steward that money by saving. God gives us the ability to make wealth. Think of it as a wealth-building plan. A good plan for distribution is the 80-10-10 plan, [http://www.debtfreemarriage.org/budgeting-the-80-10-10-way]

I use it w/ my children. They earn their allowance and put 10% in tithe (a jar) and 10% in savings (a 2^nd jar), which can not be touched. The remainder, the 80% they can spend. Not a bad deal.

3rdly, be prepared to Give. God’s people are a financial distribution warehouse. Not a storehouse where we store-up treasures, but a distribution center. The finances come in and they go out. That’s how many of us get into our financial messes, we spend every cent we take in. If you’re going to get a $ MIL and you’re going to spend a $ MIL, then all you’ll have in the end is a lot of junk that will eventually end-up in storage or the Salvation Army Thrift Store. Make use of your $ and be prepared to GIVE .

Expect the good things to catch-up to you and overtake you this year. Prepare your heart and your mind to receive it (and not miss it), turn your eyes away from the way the world handles its resources and you will reap a harvest in 2012.

What will break you and being broke are 2 different things. Being broke isn't even a matter of money. There are plenty of people with money who are poor in spirit and plenty of people with little money who stand for something and stand strong.

I'm going for my dreams; I'm intend to land on the other side of my dreams so that I can look back, my children and grandchildren and anyone who knows me, can one day look back and realize that it can be done. If you don't get distracted, if you keep on going, if you won't let go, no matter what, you will achieve what you set out to do.

Growing up in a former revolution, you were taught a lot of rhetoric. You were taught to work hard, earn good grades, be nice to people and you'll succeed. I was a good girl, I brought home As on my report cards.

The Civil Rights Movement told me that education is the KEY to success and dignity. I went to Law School. Women rose up and taught me to want more than being a stay-at-home mom, to want to be a taken seriously.

I became a single-mom. I couldn't have worked harder if I were the President of the United States and still I didn't have enough money. I was trapped in an under-class. And I never, never,never thought I'd be a single-grandmother, as well.

My culture attaches a stigma to people who don't have a house of their own, don't pay their bills on time & don't make 6-figures. We are considered either stupid or lazy or both. So we didn't talk about the obvious things related to our financial condition. It makes the 'haves' uncomfortable and the 'have-nots' feel badly about themselves. We try to work-it-out on our own.

Today, the culture of the 1% is creating poverty at a faster rate than we are creating wealth. To save ourselves, to save our children, we've got to stop the conspiracy of suffering in silence. We've got to talk about what helps, what works, what is needed.

Poverty is not a moral condition. It is not even a matter of money. It begins on the inside.

My culture has a lot to say, but most of it is not helping me. I'm going to live-out my dreams, to prepare a way for my grandkids, build a bridge off welfare and put my money where my culture's mouth is.

Each one of us is called upon to be a leader of our own, personal "Occupy" movement, the leaderless movement, it was called, the movement where we are all leaders. I, for one, will stand as the light of following your dreams, no matter what age, no matter what your condition, a light in the dark rooms of despair.

I've never watched or listened to Tavis Smiley without hearing words I do not hear in other public arenas. Same for Dr. Cornell West. They are endeavoring to keep the public awareness of the ever-before-us issue of poverty, it's historical underpinnings, it's opposite and immovable force, the 1 %, the call to eradicate it in our time.

I watched with rapt attention to the panelists. The words were poignant, important and prophetic.

"Pay attention to your personal finances" Suze Orman prophesies to us "or you will find yourself in poverty". "Save yourself first, so you can save you children." she warns us using the instructions of a flight attendant analogy.

With tears in his eyes and a lump in his throat, Tavis expressed his deep concerns for his people, "I'm afraid that if we don't get it right this time, I'm afraid African Americans will fall behind and never, never catch up."

There was optimism; they tried to tell us that there is reason to be optimistic and defined the term as seeing evidence of reason to feel things will get better. But for African Americans, there has never been evidence, so then, we have reason to hope ... you know ...the substance of things what is hoped for, the evidence of what is unseen. Essentially,then, there is nothing upon which to be optimistic except your own deep and abiding faith in the unseen God who can restore you, restore your financial well-being in a day, what you can't do in a lifetime.

Following the flicker of hope for your own better tomorrows not only brightens the darkness surrounding you, it illuminates the way out for those around you. My movement is, "Occupy the Light".