Saturday, October 31, 2015

Do you really know the difference?

Do you really know the difference?


Spending vs Investing

Do you really know the difference between spending and investing? An expense is gone forever while an investment is expected to bring a return. Do you know the different types of spending and investing? Learn and profit from knowing and taking action.

1.      First Party Spending. When we spend our money to buy something for us. This is when we are the most concerned about value, the cost and the quality of what you buy.

2.      Second Party Spending. When we spend our money to buy something for someone else. Here we are not as concerned about value because we are most concerned about the cost of what we buy.

3.      Third Party Spending. This is where we are spending someone else’s money to buy something for someone else’s. All types of government spending by definition are third party spending. The money is spent with the least concern about value. No wonder governments spend so much and get so little for what they buy.

4.      Fourth Party Spending. This is where we spend someone else’s money to buy things for ourselves. This is the easiest form of spending. Student loans, car loans, mortgage loans, credit cards, etc. This is where we mortgage our future for something we want today. The government and banks promote this kind of spending because they know we are not as diligent as we ought to be when spending someone else’s money.

5.      First Party Investing. When you invest your money in something for you. Investing in yourself is the best type of investing because it will bring you the best return. Invest heavily to improve your financial, personal, and professional life. Invest in great books, audios, and association (seminars, conventions, etc.). Apply what you learn. Knowing and not doing is not knowing.

6.      Second Party Investing. When we invest our money in someone else. Companies invest in training and development of their key employees because they expect a return on their investment. Investment in people brings the second best form of return.

7.      Third Party Investing. When we invest someone else’s money for someone else’s benefit. Investment companies through their investment brokers fit this type of investing. Be sure to ask your investment advisor if he or she has invested at least the same amount of money as you are about to invest in the same type of investment. This is the third best form of investment. Be completely out of debt (including your mortgage) before investing in stocks, bonds, CDs, mutual funds, etc.

8.      Fourth Party Investing. When we invest someone else’s money for ourselves. This is where many people get in trouble financially because of greed. We borrow money (margin) to invest is something to get rich quick. We get that hot tip and borrow money to invest. Stay away for this type of investing unless you want to go broke quickly in a grand scale.

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

"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."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Tuesday, October 27, 2015

The Value of Freedom

The Value of Freedom

1.      Freedom is most valuable when we are about to lose it. We are always only one generation from losing our freedom. If we are free and don’t fight for those that aren’t we will lose our freedoms.

2.      Freedom is more valuable than security. We should never surrender our freedoms for temporary safety. There is no freedom in safety and there is no safety in freedom either. We must keep on defending our freedoms.

3.      Freedom is only valuable when it is earned. Freedom is never given; freedom is always earned. Choosing safety is voluntarily choosing going into prison. We must decide to pursue freedom if we are to live a significant life.

4.      Freedom must be demanded by our choices. Freedom must be demanded and fought for by those who crave to be free. History shows that freedom is always fought for by a tireless minority willing to pay the price for the majority. Freedom is really PRICELESS.

5.      We are always enslaved by our own ignorance. Freedom never comes from the Government. Freedom first comes to those who get angry upon discovering the truth on what keeps them in bondage.

6.      Leaders and entrepreneurs are the propagators of freedom. They know they will always meet strong or even violent opposition by those who defend a system designed to keep freedom away from the masses.

7.      We were designed to be free. We all want economic freedom without the price and responsibility accompanying economic freedom. What many don’t know is that freedom is first birthed in our spirit. Spiritual freedom leads to economic freedom and economic freedom leads to political freedom. Freedom works from our inner core outwards. How can we demand freedom if we lost our spiritual compass? How can we be free when we are enslaved by a debt system designed to keep us in bondage? 

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

"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."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Monday, October 19, 2015

How Trustworthy Are You?

How Trustworthy Are You?



The most valuable asset in the world is high trust relationships.
An environment of high trust creates high speed and low costs.

1.    Truth. Do you speak and live the truth? Do you talk straight or use jargon?

2.    Transparency. Are you transparent and do you create transparency? Are you honest, open, and courageous with integrity and authenticity?

3.    Respect. Do you see value in others by living the Golden rule?

4.    Loyalty. Do you give credit to others? Do you defend others when they are not present?

5.    Results. How competent are you? Do you set clear expectations for others and do you meet your own expectations?

6.    Accountability. Do you hold yourself accountable first? How often do you ask yourself this question – what can I do to improve situations around here?

7.    Commitments. Do you keep all your commitments? Do you value your time and the time of others?

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

"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."
I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!


Friday, October 16, 2015

The mother of all skills

The mother of all skills


Communication is the mother of all skills.
What are the elements of great communication?

1.      Preparation. Choose content and message that convey meaning. Choose the right approach. Proper preparation gives the courage to overcome any fear. Are you ready?

2.      Words. Great communication is much more than choosing the right words; it is engaging, inspiring, clear, and relevant. Will the message be taken in?

3.      Images. Great communication creates images in the mind and emotions in the soul of others, leading into action. Will they be moved by the message?

4.      Illustration. Illustrations and stories cement the message being communicated. Stories ignite our imagination. Will they remember?
5.      Application. Give clear examples of applying the message being conveyed. Is the message being received and understood?

6.      Relevance. What is in it for them? Why, when, how will they benefit?

7.      Listening. Speak and listen with all your being. Use all senses to communicate. Are they fully engaged?

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

"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."

I would love to do a podcast or a blog interview and share my Nuggets with your audience!

Thursday, October 15, 2015

IN SHEEP'S CLOTHING

Leadership Lessons in Disguise.


Can an action-packed political thriller convey leadership lessons? After reading IN SHEEP’S CLOTHING by L. D. Beyer and having a discussion with the author, my answer is YES. The book just came out and it is a great read for fiction aficionados and for the non-fiction readers as well. Below are the 7 leadership lessons straight from the author.


1. Focus. A leader has the focus on critical tasks.  A leader needs to be able to focus himself and his team on the critical tasks required for success, especially during periods of adversity.  In my book, this is highlighted by the actions of the protagonist, Matthew Richter, in his mission to survive, to protect the President at all costs, and to see that those who have tried to harm him are identified and brought to justice.

2. Honesty. A leader is always honest with himself and others.  A leader needs to deal with others openly and honestly, without a hidden agenda.  This is about building trust with others and in modeling the behavior that should become the norm for the organization.  Those who do will find a much more loyal following of high performance individuals on their team.  This trait is modeled by several characters, including the President, the protagonist, Matthew Richter, and by the FBI Agent they ultimately seek help from.

3. Loyalty.  Before a leader can expect loyalty from others, he must be loyal first to his team and to the people he works with.  This is again about trust but reinforces that trust goes both ways.  A leader need to both trust his people but they in turn need to trust him.  Actions speak louder than words and a leader needs to model this behavior.  This trait is demonstrated by the President and by Matthew Richter who rises to the challenge and becomes a true leader by the end of the book.

4. Belief. A leader believes in himself and knows that if he perseveres he will succeed.  Despite setback after setback, a leader needs to pick himself up, reorient himself towards the goal and try again.  Matthew Richter demonstrates this throughout the story as he adopts and adapts to the many challenges he faces in his mission.

5. Power is not leadership.  Positions of power are fleeting.  My job title today may not be my job title tomorrow.  And power often is assumed to come with the title.  True power comes from the ability to build credibility and to influence others’ decisions.  Said another way, by building credibility, people will look up to you and seek you out for your opinion.  True power comes from being able to set a vision of what the future could look like and then guiding the organization towards that goal.  The President and Richter both demonstrate this throughout the novel.  Despite the lack of perceived power that comes from his position as a secret service agent, when compared to the movers and shakers in Washington, Matthew Richter is ultimately able to persuade others that there is only one solution and he’s the only one who can make it happen.

6. Courage. Leadership is about courage to always do the right thing.  In the struggle between good and evil, being able to not compromise your own integrity, especially during times of adversity, is the sign of a true leader.  Too many supposed leaders fail by compromising and then rationalizing their actions as justified.  Matthew Richter demonstrates courage throughout the book and there is a clear contrast between his actions and those of the bad guys.

7. Personal Growth. Leadership is about personal growth.  No one is perfect and all of us, including those we see as the very best leaders in our fields, need to continue to learn from our mistakes and grow.  Those who suffer from a lack of humility and their arrogance and hubris will ultimately fail.  In my book, no one demonstrates this better than the President.

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

"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."

Monday, October 12, 2015

A dream or a fantasy?

Is it a dream or a fantasy?


Do you have a real dream or just a fantasy?
Why don’t you put your dream to the test?
Dreaming is hard work, that’s why so few people do it.
People don’t lack talents; they lack faith in themselves and their dreams.
If we are going to think and dream we might as well think and dream big, really BIG.

1.    Is it yours?
Is it uniquely part of your being?
Does it ignite your passions?
2.    Is it real?
Is it compelling?
How will you know when you are fully living it?
3.    Is it emotional?
What emotions are awakened by it?
Does it move you move to action?
4.    Does it make you cry?
How strong are the images created by it?
Is it part of your mission and purpose?
5.    Would you live for it?
Does it move your soul and your spirit?
Will you fully live when reaching it?
6.    Can you smell it?
What feelings does it create when thinking about it?
What smells and taste it?
7.    Is it part of your legacy?
How does it impact others and for how long?
Does it bring out the best in you?



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

"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."


Saturday, October 10, 2015

How Come Some Can … ?

How Come Some Can … ?


Leadership is a choice and it is available to anyone!

How come some humanoids become leaders and keep on leading while others completely miss the opportunity? Here is why:

1.    Lifelong Learners. Leaders become leaders and keep on leading because they are always learning. They are voracious readers and listeners to obtain the right information to improve their thinking and decision making.

2.    Build Relationships. Leaders use the power of association to build long term friendships. They die to self and build ever stronger relationships everywhere they are.

3.    Build Character. Leaders work continuously to improve their character, growing in integrity and courage.

4.    Keep Ego on Check. Leaders a humble and know that ego stands for Edging Great Out. They are human, therefore vulnerable to the frailties, without surrendering their values.

5.    Master Communication. They maters the art and science of communication through speaking, listening, and writing.

6.    Pursue Opportunities. They have strong belief they will see their belief come true. They are able to recognize opportunities where others aren’t.

7.    Keep the Right Perspective. They have clear vision and mission. They tenaciously follow their duty to lead themselves and others to new opportunities to expand their influence.  

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

"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."


Friday, October 9, 2015

For Better or For Worse?

For Better or For Worse?


How better of are we? Enormous scientific and technological advances have been made in the last two centuries. Are we truly living better lives today because of these advances? Have we extended the quantity of life at the expense of quality of life? Think about these contrasts in the following areas.

1.     Arranged marriages vs un-marriages.
A.    Long lasting marriages
B.    De-arranged marriages and multiple divorces

2.     Self-education vs government education.
A.    Self-discovery and self-learning
B.    Conveyor belt education

3.     Business ownership vs employment.
A.    Entrepreneurship 
B.    Unsafe, unsecured jobs and disengagement

4.     Communication vs misinformation.
A.    Relationship from eye to eye conversations
B.    Impersonal misinformation and miscommunication

5.     Friendships vs unfriendships.
A.    Long lasting friendships
B.    Microwave friendships and unfriending

6.     Republicanism vs socialism.
A.    Self-governing, self-reliant, and self-sufficient
B.    Entitlement, dependency, and financial slavery

7.     Community vs government power
A.    Unity in local communities
B.    Centralized legislated federal power

What are your answers? # A’s:___   B’s:___

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

"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."


Wednesday, October 7, 2015

If you are NOT happy …

If you are NOT happy …
If you are NOT happy and you know it, CHANGE. Once I read that if I am not HAPPY with the results I am getting in my life perhaps it is time to stop listening to myself. Ouch! Truth can be powerful when applied to the way we live. Einstein said that insanity is to continue to do the same things and expect different results. 

1.      With the RESULTS in your life. Change your THINKING.
2.      With the STRESS in your life. Live your PRIORITIES not your obligations.
3.      With the INCOME in your life. Start INVESTING time instead of spending it.
4.      With the FREEDOM in your life. Stop playing SAFE and chase freedom.
5.      With the LOVE in your life. Be lovable and GIVE love.
6.      With the HAPPINESS in your life. Work on your DREAMS instead of someone else’s.
7.      With the PURPOSE of your life. Detect your CALLING and fulfill it.

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

"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."