Voluntary Slavery

Something amazing and … scary

Only the truth will set us free!

America has been living on borrowed time and money for a few decades now. In the last decade things have really taken a grand scale. Below you can see the main bubbles getting to unsustainable levels. This is the sort of thing that used to happen in developing nations, the banana republics, the Brazils and Argentinas, or the Greeces of the world. Can you imagine when the following bubbles burst at the same time?  Our nation has never experienced anything like what is about to happen in the next few years. This is coming from the positive 7 nugget man. This is no new news for those of you that understand basic economics.  

1.      Healthcare Costs. $3.1 trillion per year. Our unhealthy habits are already costing $9,700 per person per year. Are you spending that much? No wonder Obama care made it unlawful not to have health insurance. Everyone now has to pay no matter if you are healthy or not. Sounds like socialism to you? The funny thing is that the more the country spends the unhealthier the people get.  Leave it to the government and it will be done in a grand scale!

2.      Government Debt. 18 trillion and growing! $18,167,409,937,221; now that is a very big number; $56,378 per person.  It took 205 years to get to one trillion in debt by 1981. The last trillion of debt was added in days not in years. Since 2008 $5.5 trillion of fiat money has been injected into the economy. All the new fiat money was added as debt to those who work to service their debt. The government debt of $18 trillion does not include other government liabilities (things like social security and healthcare). The total government debt rises to over $130 trillion when we include these long term liabilities. Who is going to pay for it? The dwindling working/producing souls. Does it resemble to Roman Empire? Leave it to the government and it will be done on a grand scale! Talk about voluntary slavery?

3.      Consumer Debt – Mortgages. $8.2 trillion. This is $157,000 per household.  The little equity in our homes will likely disappear during the next housing downturn. Fractional reserve banking is the greatest scheme ever created where banks can increase by 10 fold the money they can loan out. Loaning out fake money and collecting real money? Can it be legal? Only if the government does it. Leave it to the big banks along with government and they will siphon our money without us even realizing it. Talk about voluntary slavery?

4.      Consumer Debt – Student Loans. $1.2 trillion. The average balance per student is $37,000.  Can you imagine leaving college with a debt burden and not be able to find a job in the field of study or any field for that matter?  Do you still think it is a good idea to borrow money and to go to college to get a degree for which there are no jobs? Talk about voluntary slavery?

5.      Consumer Debt – Auto Loans. $1.0 trillion. Can you imagine financing a new car for 84 months? Many new car loans are upside down; the value of the car is lower than the loan balance. Talk about voluntary slavery?

6.      Consumer Debt – Credit Cards. $0.7 trillion. Imagine paying $9 billion a month on interest to service this debt. Talk about voluntary slavery?

7.      The Financial Matrix – voluntary slavery. How come all the above happened under our watch. Our nation and the majority of our people are trapped in this debt spiral, a debt growing in exponential proportions. Get educated. Learn the defense, offense, and the principles of financial fitness so you can get out of the Financial Matrix and help others do the same. We will survive the global meltdown that is certain to come. Let’s see if we can learn lasting lessons this time! An uneducated public is easy to be conquered, controlled, and enslaved. An educated nation can never be conquered.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Money Talks

Financial Matters

1.    Trust is the most valuable asset.

2.    The right asset provides the most reliable source of income.

3.    A paycheck is fast becoming the way we used to get paid.

4.    Entrepreneurship is the best way to create wealth.

5.    The best advice about money is to get out of debt and invest in your leadership skills.

6.    Old dogs learn new tricks when they get hungry.

7.    Making $100,000 per year and broke? “Houston we have a problem”

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

The Happiness Edge

The Happiness Edge

Happiness is an inside job. Happiness is a byproduct of our state of mind. What are the things one can do to increase happiness on a daily basis? Here are 7 things known to increase our happiness.

1.      Count our blessings. Yes, have an attitude of gratitude. The truth is we all have many things to be thankful for on a daily basis.

2.      Be a friend. Friendship is one of the great contributors of happiness. We all need real friendship encounters on a daily basis.

3.      Desire to live. Have you noticed those people who have a strong sense of wonder are happier? Cultivate curiosity about what is around you.

4.      Strong faith. Yes, people with strong faith about the future are happier. Life without faith is empty.

5.      Acceptance. Accept who you are and others where they are. Be fast to recover from the blunders of life and move on.

6.      Search for meaning. Yes, people who have meaning and purpose to their lives are happier. The journey in search for meaning leads to a happy state of mind.

7.      Emotional resilience. If you spilled the content of the glass, see it as an opportunity to fill it up again. Positive emotions lead to a general sense of happiness.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Something to think about

Something to think about

The life we have always wanted is found outside our familiar zone. Be willing to be uncomfortable long enough to be comfortable with the uncomfortable.

1.      Easy out. Playing victims relieves us from taking responsibility and that is why it’s easy to blame others.

2.      Not me. Our greatness comes disguised in our perceived handicaps what that is the reason they are ours.

3.      Not for me. Become a master cultivator of hope and faith because without them there is no progress.

4.      The way I am. Success only comes after we change ourselves because changes always come bearing gifts.

5.      My rights. We must fulfill our duties before demanding our rights since reparations lead to weaknesses.

6.      Can’t make ends meet. We voluntarily sell ourselves into financial slavery and then fight those willing to help us become free.

7.      So blind. An eye for an eye is making the world blind.  Are we that just to demand justice?

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

It takes courage

It takes courage …

Courage is the quality of mind and spirit that enables us to act despite difficulty or fear.

Like attitude, courage is cultivated every single day.

1.      It takes courage to say we need help.

2.      It takes courage to reinvent ourselves.

3.      It takes courage to admit we are wrong.

4.      It takes courage to unlearn and relearn.

5.      It takes courage to learn from our failures.

6.      It takes courage to take advice and implement it.

7.      It takes courage to bite our tongue and leave things unsaid.

What else do you think it takes courage to?

Life without courage is simply … boring.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

What is the problem?

How Big A Problem Solver Are You?

Picture by Tarcizo Lucas Fontana

PROBLEM = Potential Rewards Originate Because Lasting Energy Manifests

We all have problems. Problems surround us everywhere we go. There is a solution to every problem just like the meaning of the acronym PROBLEM above. Define the problems, and then focus on the solutions.

1.      Solve your own problems first. There are few people great at solving their own problems. Lead yourself before you can lead others.

2.      Help others solve their problems. There are even fewer people great at helping others solve their own problems. The world rewards problem solvers.

3.      Know what problems to solve. Major on majors first.

4.      Know why to solve problems. Solve the cause and not the symptoms of the problem. Know the rewards coming with the solutions.

5.      Know how to solve problems. Don’t just poke at the problem with any temporary solution. Find lasting solutions.

6.      Solve difficult problems. Tackle the the big harry problems with a vengeance. Get the underlying issues causing the problems and resolve the issues.

7.      Solve unexpected problems. Be good at solving unexpected problems.

Make the solutions bigger than the problems.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Is Vision Important?

Why is vision important?

Vision is future realities expressed as pictures today.

1.      Where there is no vision there is no progress. Progress comes from the actualization of ideas.

2.      Mental creation precedes physical creation. Ideas are turned into pictures in our minds.

3.      What we see in our minds is what we get in our lives. We only get what we picture.

4.      Vision is the culmination of our dreams. Vision is where things really start being created.

5.      Vision provides meaning, purpose to what we do. Vision inspires, motivates, and provides the focus needed to go through obstacles.

6.      Vision takes us to the end then back to the beginning. Vision provides directions to our destinations and the how-to get there.

7.      Vision trumps strategy. Vision comes first; the strategy has to fit the vision.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Time and Money

Time and Money

Are we living our priorities?

One can tell a lot by where one’s time and money are going towards.

1.      Tracking time. Where is your time going? Is your time going towards your priorities or your obligations? Time is the most important element in life; once time is gone it is gone.

2.      Tracking money. Where is your money going? Is your money going towards your assets or liabilities? Money is not the most important thing but in order of importance it comes just below time.

3.      Purpose. Shift your time and money towards your purpose. Are you being true to your purpose? Living a life without a purpose is like being in a ship without a rudder.

4.      Goals. Your goals should align with your purpose. Your time and money ought to go towards achieving your goals. Are you being true to your goals?

5.      Dreams. Your Goals ought to go towards achieving your dreams. Are you being true to your dreams or someone else’s dreams?

6.      Defining priorities. Living without priorities is like treating everything as a priority or nothing as a priority. If we don’t determine our priorities someone else will and we may not like it.

7.      Legacy. What are you going to be remembered by? Your time and money will determine your priorities.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Who is the leader?

Who is the leader?

Can we answer?

Have we become a leaderless society?

1.      Government. When the country is divided? Who is leading the nation?

2.      Business. When business lack imagination and innovation. Who is leading?

3.      Education. When our schools are failing. Who is leading our schools?

4.      Community. When communities are failing to serve. Who are the leaders?

5.      Faith. When our churches have become concerts. Who is leading the church?

6.      Family. When our families are falling apart. Who is leading the family?

7.      Culture. When our culture is decaying. Who is influencing our culture?

Educate yourself and start leading right where you are. Do it because you can. Do it because if you don’t others will not. Do it because it is deeply needed.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Does success have a price?

Does success have a price?

YES, success has a price worth paying for. The opposite of success is not failure; it is quitting.

The cost of quitting is much higher than the price of success. The cost of quitting is living a life full of regrets.

1.      Significance. The road to significance is paved with success and failure. 

       What are your sign posts saying?

2.      Work. The price of success is hard work. 

        How resilient are you?

3.      Worth. Success has a value. 

       What is success worth to you?

4.      Fear. Most fear is unfounded. 

       Are you willing to kill fear with action?

5.      Security. Most folks are after security. 

       Is there significance in a secure life?

6.      Safety. There is no fun in a safe life. 

       Is there significance in a risk free life?

7.      Treasure. The ones seeking security and safety will never find the treasure buried inside them. 

       How deep are you digging to find your treasures?

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."

Common Traits of Successful People

Common Traits of Successful People

Success looks different for every successful person; failure looks the same. Success comes from the application of proven principles known for centuries. Failure is one’s inability to achieve one’s goals and dreams. It all boils down to abilities! The great thing about abilities is that any of us can develop and master them. Here are 7 important ones.

1.      Choosability. They wisely choose their endeavors. To them it is not so much about making the right decisions as it is about making the decisions right.

2.      Stickability. They stick to their endeavors long after others have quit. They are willing to face strong opposition and ridicule on the pursuit of their visions.

3.      Networkability. They surround themselves with people who have abilities they may not have. They are great orchestrators and get uncommon results from dealing with common people.

4.      Couragability. They dare to go where others don’t have the courage to go. Their inner strength moves them in the direction of their goals and dreams, one little victory at a time.

5.      Rejectability. They are willing to face rejection and remain positive in the midst of negativity. They learned not to take it personal.

6.      Likability. Each in their own way they develop a form of charisma where others like to associate with them. There is something about them others like and would like to be alike.

7.      Luckability. They create their own luck (laboring under correct knowledge). They master the basics of their game and become professionals in their field.

Thank you for reading and reflecting on today’s nuggets. Share them with others.   

Be blessed and be a blessing to others

Carlos Fontana

Author of the book Priceless, Co-author of the book Follow to Lead

www.tatepublishing.com/bookstore/book.php?w=978-1-61346-494-6

"The future belongs to those who can see and pursue opportunities before they are obvious."

"Those that take swift action will always leave those that don't breathing the dust."