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Tag Archives: Mindset

Again?

Closed sign

Businesses close, especially in small towns. It’s not usually that big a deal. Unless it’s your business or your employer. But all closures affect the community at large.

In the past month or so, two chain restaurants in Cameron closed their doors: Bush’s Chicken and the Sonic (again). When businesses close, the fault usually rests with the management, not an elected official, no matter how much he promotes himself as a problem solver, as has been suggested on Rantbook. The management issues at both of these restaurants were obvious. My opinion: both closed because management failed to manage their personnel.

Both Bush’s and the Sonic have a reputation for good, fast food. Bush’s is my favorite chicken house by far, and I have a loving relationship with Sonic that goes back to the 1970s. My first job was at a Sonic, and my first entrepreneurial ambition was to own a Sonic. If I went out for chicken or burgers, it was to a Bush’s (since I discovered them a decade ago) or to Sonic (since I was 14). So, I was saddened to find both of these restaurants in Cameron were the worst, in my experience, of their respective chains. I mean, how many of you Cameronians ate at either one regularly?

Closed Bush's location in Cameron

Bush’s built a new building. If they don’t reopen in the same location, that’s a lot of money to just walk away from.

The last four times I went to Bush’s, they were out of chicken. That happens occasionally with chicken places—but four times in a row? The staff was always friendly, new, and basically clueless. They seemed more interested in gossiping in the kitchen than taking care of business. The food was edible, but not up to Bush’s standards. The management failure here was in instilling a culture of customer service. Continue reading →

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I Finally Got My Shoe Tied!

This is the final installment! (See the first and second one by clicking the links.)

This is pretty important

How could anyone be mad at rich people like Thurston Howell III and his beautiful wife, Lovey? I’m sure he earned his money by hard work.

I see so many people who are angry with others who they believe are rich. Why are they angry? Usually it stems from jealousy, or on the surface it appears as the person didn’t earn what they have.

Here’s a personal example. I’m a single mom, single-income family of six people, six dogs, 3 cats, and 2 birds. I accept second-hand clothing in very good condition from people I know. I just got a whole bunch of name brand, business casual clothing (some with the tags still attached) from my good friend and soul sister, Kayla. I’ve received several compliments! I dug my make up out, and I’ve been dressing up a lot lately. It makes me feel better. Now the downside of this is also that some people think I went on one heck of an expensive shopping spree. Because of that, they think that I am rich all of the sudden. Bless their hearts!

I have earned (by working hard even when people don’t see it) what I have. The Rattlesnake house was not gifted to me, I pay for it (sorry to burst anyone’s assumption bubble), my van and car are my personal purchases not the company’s. I work hard for what I have.

This is not what Sue Ann and Lee do all day. Believe it or not, they’re regular people with bills and stuff.

What really irks me is to hear, “Well it must be nice!” from someone who thinks it was handed to me. Well the clothes were because Kayla loves me, and I love her and her style! So, it is nice. It is also nice to work hard and earn something. It isn’t nice for people to treat me or anyone else as if it wasn’t earned.

The people who do that are prime examples of the poverty mentality. They assume I am Lee and Sue Ann’s pet and now just get handed everything. That is their own poverty mentality not allowing them to see that I do work for what I have. They assume others have a rich relative or some bundle of money somewhere that provides what they have. Maybe the people who do this would have something nice, too, if they took accountability for their actions, were careful with spending and really tried. At least they’d not have an ugly view of the world.

More poverty mentality hang-ups

Complaining about other people on social media is not a highly paid profession, either.

Also, if you are stuck in the poverty mentality, being a landlord IS NOT the job for you! To be a successful landlord, you have to be able to save money and have patience. You can’t touch any of the rental income for a minimum of 10 years. You can’t live off of that rental income. Read that last sentence again. You have to build that rental account up for paying the mortgage, taxes, insurance, advertising, vacancy, repairs, etc.

Plus, you have to remember that the deposits people give you have to just sit somewhere for when they move out to be refunded as appropriate. If you meet a landlord with a poverty mentality, RUN! Chances are they won’t keep that house and you will never have any maintenance issues addressed!

If you believe that you will just never have as much money as someone else, you’re correct. Stop comparing where you are to where someone else is. Make a savings account, get serious, stop blaming people who have more than you for you not having everything you want.

So I am asking our readers that have overcome this mentality, how did you do it? What made that change happen? Grow your prosperity mindset everyone! Throw that poverty mentality in the trash where it belongs! Oh and BTW, the lottery is not a retirement plan. But that’s a whole other blog.

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My Shoe Is Still Loose!

Last time, I left everyone hanging with the news that my car was almost repossessed. So, here’s the story and why it is my fault that it happened.

Gosh, that call center lady was so friendly!

I started making extra partial payments above what I owed every month so that in November and December, I wouldn’t have to make a car payment. Smart, right? Right. I called in August, bypassed the automated system and spoke to a representative. While their computers were running very slowly, I explained what I was doing with the extra payments. She thought it was a fantastic idea. She then told me that I could do that over the automated system. The automated system would give me the option of applying the extra money to the principle payment, or the next month’s bill. “Just press 2, and you won’t have to wait so long on the phone.” How convenient!

So I called another time in August, twice in September, paid what was left of the payment to cover December, and I was so proud of myself! So, I’m ignoring all of these weird phone numbers that never leave a message, only dead air.

Don’t take my car! I paid extra!

Finally last Sunday, I answered the phone for this weird number. I was prepared to really mess with these scammers! It was my lien holder informing me that my car payment was 87 days past due, and my car was going to be picked up at any time. SHUT THE FRONT DOOR!!!! I explained what happened, and the nice young man explained to me that the excess payments had gone to principle and not to the next payment. So I haven’t made a payment since September. There was no way to change this. The only thing I could do was promise a payment when I got paid on the following Monday.

He did put a hold on my account that would stop it from accruing another day, more fees, and interest since the payment was coming the next day. That would bring me down to only 57 days late. I only had enough to make one payment since I planned on the January payment being the one that was due. I was furious! I’m still not very happy, because I REALLY do not like being this far behind. I am working on building good credit after all, and this does not help! Plus, I just have this terrible, nauseated feeling that I will wake up and my car is gone. I have a plan to fix all of this, and by January 15th, I will be completely caught up from 70ish days late by then.

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I Can’t Go on Vacation Because My Shoe Is Loose.

My shoe is loose!

That title doesn’t make much sense, does it? I’m using it as an example of poverty mindset. I know many people who have this mindset, but aren’t actually that bad off. They say, “We just can’t afford a vacation this year. We just don’t have the money.”

Do they really not have the money, or do they not have the ability to save money?

As I have pointed out before, I am not super wealthy person. I am overcoming the poverty mindset myself. I read a great article, found here that states, “38% of American households making $40,000-$100,000 per year could not cover $400 for an emergency without going into debt.” They got their information from a report found here.

But, I LOVE my fancy phone!

You probably can afford a vacation, but you will have to save money. I see a lot of people not wanting to do something if there is not instant gratification.

But consider this! Saving money can provide instant gratification if you reward yourself for every deposit.

It is becoming more rare to find people who are good at saving money. I’m guilty too! But I am working on that.

“Well, Mandi we just can’t have vacations, nice things, or nice Christmases because we just can’t afford it.” Yeah, you probably can. It might mean that you can’t upgrade your phone every 6 months (seriously, not joking); it might mean that you don’t get to eat out 6 times per week (again, I see it happening); and you’re going to have to open a savings account and leave it alone!

Consider This

Let me ask you some questions, but don’t answer them here. Just think about the answers to yourself and be honest with yourself.

  • Do you dislike/are you jealous of wealthy people?
  • Do you assume everyone who has more than you must be wealthy?
  • Do you feel like you will never have enough money to do anything?
  • Do you feel like there is just no way to save any money at all, because your bills are too high?

If any of these are a “Yes” for you, answer these next:

  • Are you willing to shop thrifty, possibly wearing second hand clothes?
  • Are you willing to do without cable?
  • Are you willing to do without internet?
  • Are you willing to do without all of the subscriptions out there that have spoiled us to movies on demand?
  • Are you willing to drive a way older car (in condition, mind you) that may not look very good, but payments and insurance are cheap?
  • Are you willing to live in a place that is sort of small and cramped, but rent is cheap?
  • Are you willing to stop habits that cost you money like smoking?
  • Are you willing to give up going to the coffee shop everyday to save money?
  • Are you willing to buy store brand instead of name brand for groceries and other products?
Make it an Abundance Mindset, not Poverty.

If you answered “Yes” to these (some may not apply to everyone), then you are ready to overcome the mindset that you have created.

“Wait! What? Hold up Mandi! I didn’t create this mindset for myself!”

Yes you did. Every bit as much as I created mine too.

Step 1: Hold yourself accountable!

Here is a rather embarrassing story that I am going to share because it was a valuable lesson for me, and I hope someone else will benefit from it as well.

My car was almost repossessed right after Christmas. That stings. Man, I hate even seeing that typed out! But why? You will have to tune in to my next blog to find out! I’ll tell you this much now though, it wasn’t because I wasn’t making the full payments, but it absolutely was my fault…

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Q&A: OPM and Effort

Argue for your limitations and you get to keep them.

Mindset plays a big role in business. What you can do is most limited by what you think you can do.

I try to answer your questions openly and honestly. This post originated with a reader question:

Is there a way to buy into the market of homes that are up for auction an or tax liens without using my own money and doing the remodel myself and having a real estate agent do the marketing for it?

There are really three—maybe four—questions expressed here:

  • Can I have a real estate agent do the marketing for me?
  • Can I buy a house at auction or from tax liens without using my own money?
  • Can I renovate a house using other people’s money if I don’t do the renovation work myself?
  • Can I renovate a house myself using other people’s money?

The answer to each of these questions individually is a resounding “Yes!” The answer when you start stacking them becomes increasingly less certain until it finally results in, “Well…maybe?” I don’t like to argue for limitations, but it depends on your reputation and how persuasive you can be. Luck does not play a big role in business. Continue reading →

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